Do I need a new battery?

[Wonko The Sane]

Just tried to start my varadero, it started initially with full choke and quickly slide the choke in once it's fired up, left it to warm a bit but by the time I'd nipped back inside for my helmet it had cut out again (nothing new there)

Tried to re-start it and while it ran on tick over, it just died when applying throttle,

re-starting it flattened the battery.

It's been stood for about a week, outside with a cover on, prior to that, two days of a 40 min ride to, and then 40 min ride back someplace,
before that I had a flat battery after doing a service and checking timing and compression before a 20 min ride home.

So, is it just the cold weather and lack of riding or is it likely I need a new battery?

Cheers
____________________
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[Benson_JV]

I'd give it a try with a charger first, no point buying another battery until you know this one is toast.
____________________
Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[map]

My advice would be to charge it first.
If you can use a 'recovery' type charger such as Optimate/Accumate (there are others, wemoto do one for example).

My lad's Varadero battery has failed. He didn't really mention this, just a vague "it's iffy" comment. Turns out push starting it is a doddle. Place in 2nd gear, pull in clutch and run with it. then let clutch out and it should catch. Remember to pull clutch in and select neutral before putting on side stand. Also don't set off in 2nd as found it can stall.

He will be getting a new battery. When I put the power pack on it (effectively a 12v jump start battery) I was a bit concerned it would not start at all. Just a click from the solenoid. So crossing fingers starter not fubared. Hope yours isn't.
____________________
...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Walloper]

SOunds like the battery is fecked or on it's way out.

It should be fully charged by the alternator after five or six miles running. Unless you run it in top gear all the way.

You could try charging but the battery should be good for more than six or seven long bursts of starting.

If you have a meter you can check it easy by measuring the 'open cell voltage' between the + and - posts. Stick it in top gear. Hold the rear bake Then crank the engine or hold the start button. The battery should hold 12 volts and not dive into single figures.
If it can hold at least ten volts for a few seconds then it is probably OK and only needs a good run.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[Wonko The Sane]

[Rogerborg]

Firstly, thou shalt buy or order thyself a cheap digital multimeter.

Then get it out and (unless it's a magic gel one) have a look at the level of the electrolyte in the cells. There should be clearly marked min/max levels. If any are low, top them up using deionised water, which you should be able to get from a garage or many supermarkets.

Then try charging it with a decent charger. That'll cost you about the same as a new battery, but will be an investment that will stay with you from bike to bike.

If that recovers it, I'd suggest getting a solar trickle charger and wiring that up, especially if it's used occasionally or for short trips. You can get 500mV ones for ~£10 from eBay which are ideal.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Snorty]

Regulator/rectifier could have blown too (if you charge the battery and it still loses its charge, that is).
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Current: Yamaha FZ1 '07 | GSXR 750 SRAD

Past: CB125TDC | TZR125 | GPZ500 | CBR600F3 | ZX9-R | GSXR1000 K4

[Wonko The Sane]

[Wonko The Sane]

Right, battery is inside overnight instead of out in the cold,

hoping that it'll have enough power in it for one attempt at starting.

failing that I have jump leads.

I need to know, I've jump started cars many times but never a bike.

Some people say you should have the car lights on when removing the leads so that it doesn't damage any relays or fuses, anything similar with bikes?


Is it ok to jump start a bike from a car? The car is standard 12 volts, the bike's battery says 12v so I'm assuming it's all ok?
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[Snorty]

[kawakid]

Have you got a multi meter?

If so crank it over and see what happens to the voltage, below 10 its fecked.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[Walloper]

[kramdra]

You can easily test the battery. Stick it on charge, until it indicates full. Discharge it with a small bulb, measure the current * voltage = power /12 * time = amps/hour.
Then do the opposite, charge it while measuring the rate (ideally 0.8A) * time = A/H.

Let it settle for a while between each. You shouldnt have any problems starting a bike if the battery measures over 2 A/H.

35 amps for half a second should start most fuel injected 600's .

[Wonko The Sane]