Full battery and still won't start
Hi all,
My first post here. Greetings from all the way from Finland
Bought just recently an 2008 Honda CBR 125 R with about 40K (kilometers) on it, but well kept bike ( I hope atleast … )
When I first had a test drive, and first started it, it hardly managed to start. This was at the moment of making the decision whether to buy it or not.
The guy selling the bike told me that the bike had been in the garage for the winter and that the battery must have been drained, but offered me discount for the price of a new battery. Ok, well after a few tries the bike started, run idle OK and I had a short test drive feeling confident this is a keeper.
After the deal, the bike stood a couple of days outside, but under cover. When I then tried again to start the bike, it did hardly show any light on the display for N gear, and the driving light definetly did not light and the bike did not start. So, I go to the shop buy new battery and replace it. Try again to start, and there is a little more try, it even tries once or twice to start the engine, I can hear it, but then it looks like the battery feels almost dead again. I cant believe this, go and return the battery, and get it replaced and try again and the very same thing. I put it to charger and it shows charging for a few seconds, then it shows battery is full and stops charging. So obviously the battery is charged right?
So I get frustrated, and feel there is no other way than try to jump start it with car battery. Connect it to my old Saab 9000 Turbo -89 year model (had to mention =) and cables connected, turn on the key. All lights on bike are bright as day, it starts like in 2 seconds - immediately. And runs fine. Dislocate cables, try to start again the bike, and same thing, just like before, no chance.
When the bike finally running, I drive for about 15 minutes and come back. Stop the bike. Try to start. No. It wont even promise.
Why obviously full battery wont start the bike and why connecting the external car charge cables immediately start the bike and it feels like first time having proper electric charge which the batteries did not give?
Thanks for any help!
Best Regards,
Marko aka NordicSpitz
My first post here. Greetings from all the way from Finland

Bought just recently an 2008 Honda CBR 125 R with about 40K (kilometers) on it, but well kept bike ( I hope atleast … )
When I first had a test drive, and first started it, it hardly managed to start. This was at the moment of making the decision whether to buy it or not.
The guy selling the bike told me that the bike had been in the garage for the winter and that the battery must have been drained, but offered me discount for the price of a new battery. Ok, well after a few tries the bike started, run idle OK and I had a short test drive feeling confident this is a keeper.
After the deal, the bike stood a couple of days outside, but under cover. When I then tried again to start the bike, it did hardly show any light on the display for N gear, and the driving light definetly did not light and the bike did not start. So, I go to the shop buy new battery and replace it. Try again to start, and there is a little more try, it even tries once or twice to start the engine, I can hear it, but then it looks like the battery feels almost dead again. I cant believe this, go and return the battery, and get it replaced and try again and the very same thing. I put it to charger and it shows charging for a few seconds, then it shows battery is full and stops charging. So obviously the battery is charged right?
So I get frustrated, and feel there is no other way than try to jump start it with car battery. Connect it to my old Saab 9000 Turbo -89 year model (had to mention =) and cables connected, turn on the key. All lights on bike are bright as day, it starts like in 2 seconds - immediately. And runs fine. Dislocate cables, try to start again the bike, and same thing, just like before, no chance.
When the bike finally running, I drive for about 15 minutes and come back. Stop the bike. Try to start. No. It wont even promise.
Why obviously full battery wont start the bike and why connecting the external car charge cables immediately start the bike and it feels like first time having proper electric charge which the batteries did not give?
Thanks for any help!
Best Regards,
Marko aka NordicSpitz
Hi, your situation sounds really frustrating.
You need to check all of the basics before going any further and at the very least you'll need a volt meter.
1) was the new battery fully charged? With the bike turned off it should be showing AT LEAST 12v across the battery terminals.
2) Go through the instructions that came with the new battery and follow them EXACTLY. Old fashioned lead/acid batteries require a lot of steps to set up properly.
3) Are the connections clean? Corrosioń on the terminals can keep the battery from being charged by the bike and from supplying the bike with electricity while it's running.
4) Is the bike's charging system working? Hold your volt meter across the battery terminals and have someone rev the motor. The voltage should go up and down with the RPMs
5) Check that the battery is connected with the correct positive/negative. It's possible for two batteries to look the same except that their polarity is reversed.
6) Is it the right battery for the bike? Substitutions are common and will work but the new battery has to be big enough to turn the starter. Example: the tiny battery from a 125cc kick-start dirt bike won't power the starter on a 2000cc tourer.
You need to check all of the basics before going any further and at the very least you'll need a volt meter.
1) was the new battery fully charged? With the bike turned off it should be showing AT LEAST 12v across the battery terminals.
2) Go through the instructions that came with the new battery and follow them EXACTLY. Old fashioned lead/acid batteries require a lot of steps to set up properly.
3) Are the connections clean? Corrosioń on the terminals can keep the battery from being charged by the bike and from supplying the bike with electricity while it's running.
4) Is the bike's charging system working? Hold your volt meter across the battery terminals and have someone rev the motor. The voltage should go up and down with the RPMs
5) Check that the battery is connected with the correct positive/negative. It's possible for two batteries to look the same except that their polarity is reversed.
6) Is it the right battery for the bike? Substitutions are common and will work but the new battery has to be big enough to turn the starter. Example: the tiny battery from a 125cc kick-start dirt bike won't power the starter on a 2000cc tourer.
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