I ride my bike fairly regularly and keep it on a charger now when I know I won't be riding it for a few days. After about a week of riding my bike has to work harder to start, and finally this weekend it cranked down to a stop and after a few seconds it started cranking again and started. The odd thing is that after it started, the tach needle reset, as did my trip odometers and time. Is this just a weak battery or something with the bike not charging the battery correctly? Or something else? Thanks for any input.

 

Do you have any aftermarket electrical stuff (lights, etc.) on your bike?

 

I knew I forgot something in the original post, the bike is stock.

 

Possibly a rectifier/regulator issue? Heard those were horrible on past models. At least it was a huge problem on my F2. I actually had that issue with my F2, except it died faster. After a full charge and not riding for 5 days, the bike had a hard time starting. Lights were on and everything, but just wouldn't start. Problem solved after I replaced the rectifier.

 

Make sure your terminals are clean. Could possibly be symptoms of corroded battery terminals?

Always good to start simple

 

Thanks for the info guys, I'll have to look into the R/R issue, hopefully its not because I don't have money to replace it right now, but with my luck it could be.

Seaford, the terminals look clean. I've had the battery in and out a few times in the last month, and everything looks good, but I'll keep an eye on them as well. Thanks again.

 

How are you charging it? Are you charging it on a trickle charger?

 

I just dealt with something similar. Purchase a volt meter, relativley inexpensive. Check and see how many volts your getting from your battery. Should be in the higher 12s. Then turn on the bike (dont start, just turn the key). If the volts go down about 2-4v. one of your battery cells are dead and cannot be fixed. You will need to replace your battery. no point to charge....its simply dead. If this is the case purchase a new battery. Test the volts...should be around 12.9. Try to start the bike. If you start the bike you should see a increase to about 14.5 Volts. This is a good thing..If this happens it was just your battery. If you have the same volts when ur bike is up and running 12.9v..It Could be something more serious like your charging system. Try the first steps...could be a 55 dollar fix. Goodluck.

 

FFCBRf4i: Its not a trickle charger, it was an on sale one from Napa.

mabena84: I'll try that volt meter. Thanks for the detailed info. Hopefully it is just the battery. All the OEM batteries I've seen are up in the $100+ range, where did you find a $55 one?

Thanks again for the replies, they are very much appreciated.

 

I bought a brand new maintance free battery from ebay. It was 41.00 plus 15 shipping. Fully charged and worked like a charm. Dont forget just cause you check your battery with a volt meter and it says 12.8 volts that your acually getting that...thats why you test it with the key on to see if it dropped. 2 of my friends got new stator/ r/r. cause the battery said 12.8 volts..and it was a dead cell in the battery....500 bucks later and just for a battery. Ps. the store by me wanted 189 bucks for a oem battery. I laughed at them.