2004 Suzuki GS500 wont start

[Bob_signy]

Hello I am new to the forum and a newer rider.

I purchased a 2004 Suzuki last May (2013) with around 9k miles.
Towards the end of summer, around August I noticed my bike wasn't started so I started hooking it up to a trickle charger and it would last for a few days. At the end of September when it started to get cold I brought the battery in my house to store so the winter cold wouldnt damage the battery.

Yesterday It was nice outside and hooked up my battery to the bike, took a volt meter and since it read 11.7 volts I decided to hook up a battery charger/maintainer that I purchased (Megaboost 4000). This morning The charger told me it was fully charged and so I decided to start it. Well..the bike refused to start after many attempts and a quick recharges with the maintainer. After each attempt I would plug in the maintainer and the it would take about 5 mins to charge back up.

I currently have it hooked up to a trickle charger, in hopes that this might work better than the maintainer.

Can anyone help me with this issue? Do I need a new battery? Or could it be the starter ?
I am sort of new to the motorcycle repairing so any help would be great! 

[gs500Faddicted]

Sounds like you have a dead cell in the battery.  Without a load (battery unplugged) you should get at least 13.8 volts on a meter.  If that does not happen your battery is shot.  We had a similar problem with mine so replaced the battery, charged the new one up and have not had any more problems.  However, if you have a situation where the bike doesn't even turn over you may have to clean out your starter button.  Was riding mine in Dec and stopped for a few moments.  Went to restart it and it would do nothing.  After testing every switch, safety switches, etc. it had to be starter switch.  Opened up the switch housing and found the contact had all kinds of crud in it.  Cleaned it out and it's working great.

Hope this helps.

[mister]

Before just giving up on the battery or thinking a charger will solve all your ills... check the electrolyte levels - and - top up if necessary. Only then should you popped the battery on the charger.

You may indeed have a dead cell. But a battery will often still work with a dead cell. Just not very well. So, fluid levels first....