Hello. Im Adam from Chicago. I recently purchased a 1999 CBR600F4. I bought it Wednesday night. Before that, my friend (experienced rider) took it for a spin last Saturday, and again on Wednesday. Although when I came to pick it up on Wednesday it wouldn't start... But after a push-start and a 5 minute ride around the block, it would start continuously on it's own.. Thursday it rained all day, so the bike was spending it's time under a cover untill today. We took the bike out at about 4PM. It started fine, and we took it to a nearby parking lot where my friend started to teach me how to ride (I knew basic stuff, never really rode a bike). After he kept teaching me how to take off from a stop (and after i killed it about 5-6 times) the bike suddenly died while idling.... We tried to start it but the starter kept turning slower and slower each time. So we push started it, and it was good again. BUT, then once we stopped the bike and left it at idle, it shut off on us again... It took another 8 tries to finally push-start it again, and we took it home right away. On the ride, my friend told me he had to kep the RPMs above 2,000. Once we got home and pulled into the spot, the bike died again at idle... At this point, the starter wouldnt even crank. We ended up jump starting it with some jumper cables, but once it got down to idle again, it died.... So we jumped it again, and my friend took it for a 10 minute ride, when he came back it idled for about 3 minutes and then shut off. But when he tried the starter again, it would crank. And then it just kept cranking slower and slower and then it would just 'click'..... I've read numerous threads on this forum about the R/R, or the battery, but im not sure what I should do. The owner told me the battery is new, and when I bought it on Wednesday it started just fine after it got pushstarted. Even sat a whole day in the rain and then started right up, so I doubt the batterys at fault... Any ideas?? Help would be very very appreciated!

 

could be either one. But, it sounds like a weak battery to me.

Ask the guy what a "new" battery is. 1-2 year old battery to some is new, but for a cylce, thats not new. Especially if he didnt winterize the bike properly, batteries will die rather fast.

The thing to keep in mind is that the bike at idle, will not be charging the battery. The charging system at idle is not recharging the battery. the bike should be above 2000 rpms if you want the battery to start charging.

My first step would be pull the battery, take it to an autoparts store and have them check it. If it checks out ok, then move onto your stator or rectifier. You can get volt meter and check your stator. Unplug the wires from your rectifier and test across the leads. All 3 leads should be the same. If they are not, you may have a stator issue. The ohms should be around .6, I think. But the important thing is that they are all the same. I think its within .1 across all 3. so you could have one at .5 and two at .6 and I think its still ok. I'm not 100 percent sure on the ohms, but like I said, the important thing is they are all the same.I'm not sure of way to check the rectifier. But, if the battery is good, the stator is good, its the rectifier... kind of a process of elimination. But, you can also check to make sure your rectifier plugs isnt melted at all. If its, then your rectifier is bad.

Also, start the bike, take your volt meter and measure the volts at the battery. It should be high 13's or low 14's with the rpms above 2500 rpm. If they are, your stator and rectifier are probably ok. Make sure its within that range though. If its around 16 or 17 volts, then your battery is being overcharged and your rectifier is bad.

 

thank you! im going to test the battery right now and take it to autozone. i called the guy and he says he bought the battery recently, about3 months ago. this may be an easy question but where is the stator and rectifier located on my cbr? and when i test for ohms am i supposed to test with the key off, key on, bike on, bike off, idle, 2000 rpm, 4000 rpm?? thank you again. will update you with results in a few hours!

 

the rectifier is on the right subframe rail should not be any reading differant from one wire to the next.

 

Your stator is located behing your left side engine cover. The wires that come from this plug into your rectifier. there will 3 wires. Unplug at the rectifier and check the resistance in ohms at the plug. you do this test with the engine off. All your checking is to make sure one of the legs of the stator (3 of em) isnt weak or isnt grounded out.

 

on the F4 the rectifier is on the left side

n =1 on it being the battery or rectifier.

 

 

the bike needed a jump yesterday, then after a 15min ride, we took the battery out and ittested bad, (i dont think the guy knew what he wasdoing though).but after the battery was out of it for an hour or so, it started up by itself. i put it on a trickle charger for 3 hours, and it started up by itself for the rest of the night... it only died out at idle twice yesterday. so i dont think the full issue has been checked. my voltmeter was broken so i couldnt test any components yesterday, that will be the plan for today. thanks for all the help guys!

 

well i rode the bike most of the day on sunday, and it kept starting on its own and only died once (when i left it idling in 1st). so i think the biggest issue WAS the battery. i will see how long it lasts on the charge, and if there is in fact a parasitic draw somewhere. but thanks to everyone for the help and getting me on the road! i will keep you all posted if this problem arrises again! thanks again

 

you really need to test your charging system. If your rectifier is bad, it would be what killed your previous battery, and what will kill this one. If its over charging or not converting AC to DC like it should, your new battery will suffer the same fate. test the system.