So I am finishing up my semester of college in Milwaukee, and I leave my 600f4i that I recently purchased at my house in my home town. I came back this weekend ( had been 2 weeks since my last ride) and the battery was dead. Charged it up and it was good to go, until...

yesterday I went for a long ride and pulled over in a parking lot to make a phone call. I turned off the bike, and had the key still in the "on" position, so all the lights and such were still on. I was on the phone for no more than 5 minutes, and then try to start the engine. Completely dead. Took the battery home, charged it, drove the bike home.

The question is. whats wrong? Do i need a new battery, or is it the alternator/something else?

 

The batteries on these bikes are small. If you left the key on everything was on while bike was not running. Possibly the high beams also. The battery could be fine and you drained it leaving the key on. You need to put a full charge on it, low amps, like 2 w/battery charger or if you have a trickle charger use that, then test it with a load meter. That is the best way to know if your battery is good. You can use a multi-meter but that can show good volts 12.5 or so with bike not running but the battery could be an its last leg. Also if you have a multi meter check it w/bike not running then start the bike and re-check to see if it is charging. Usually you find out the battery is shot when it gets cold and the bike sits a few days, then you go to start it an it just clicks. P.S. if you dont have a load tester go to auto zone or parts plus they will check battery and charging system at no charge. Good luck

 

Yeah I had the high beams on. and when i tried to start it both times it was completely dead. didn't even try to turn over just clicked and then didn't even click.

So I should charge it with a trickle charger and then take it to test at auto zone?

 

Yeah sounds like just a bad battery. Im sure its the one the previous owner has had in there for a couple years. I rode my f4i for a couple months with a battery like that and it was a hassle, i was always worrying about it, had to push start it a couple times. Get it tested or just replace it and youll have nothing to worry about it.

 

He replaced it last season but left it in a unheated garage for the winter. Will that kill a battery?

 

I'd take the bike to a reputable battery centre and have it checked for "load" - a battery may well show 12V or more on a voltmeter but cannot deliver the amps required to start your bike - it'll maybe turn over but won't start.
It's a common problem especially having drained the battery completely by leaving it on.
I'd check that the coils haven't been damaged by overheating too
I'd also check your charging rate - on a V meter you should get 13.5 - 15.5 Volts at 3000 RPM.
FWIW

 

Like Shadow said and basically what I said in my previous post. Auto zone will do all that for free except the coils. Really dont think they are damaged though. Just get the battery up to full charge, slow trickle charge is the best ror charging ALL batteries, then let Auto Zone test it for you, You will need to pull your seat, they will load test to see if it is good and they can also check your charging system. One other thing, you really should not let the bike idle for long periods of time, that really does not charge the battery, actually drains it because the idle needs to be raised to negate the drain from the lights and stuff. In other words starting it every few days is o.k. to keep it going but ride it or bring the rpm,s up so the charging system will deliver the 13.5-15.5 it needs to actually charge the battery, good luck.P.S. trying to start a bike with a low battery will damage components EG. starter, relays, coils, etc because the battery is not delivering the amps they need, SO if bike just clicks or SLOWLY turns over STOP and charge it up. Once you resolve this invest in a battery tender. Hook it up to the battery plug it in when the bike is sitting and your battery is ALWAYS at full capacity, About $30.00