I just installed a pair of driving lights on the front forks of my '04 GS500f (I have to say I did an awesome job!!!) four days ago.
I went out riding that day (fun fun) with no problems. The next day, I went riding half the day with no problems until I got home and shut her off for a couple minutes while I went inside.
I came back out and tried to start her, but I seemed like the battery wasn't charged fully. I waited about 15 minutes and tried again. That time it started. I went to work and it died again. I tried unplugging the additional lights AND the headlight plug to take away some of the draw from the battery when the key was in the ignition. I tried again, but no luck.
So I worked the eight hours (BOO) and at 9:30 at night, started to leave for home, but it still wouldn't start. I had to get some cables to jump the battery and that worked.
As soon as I got home, I shut it off, and tried again with no luck. I took the battery out and plugged it into a portable battery tester/charger. I left it over night and in the morning it said it was fully charged, but I took my car to work that day.
I got home that night, and put everything back together including the addtional lights, and it seemed to work just fine. I even left as many lights on as possible without the engine running for about 15 minutes. It still worked.
At this point I thought I had just left the parking light on all day or something. I rode it all day today, with no problems (about 40 miles with an occasional shut off and restart).
After dinner, I went ouside to pratice starting the motor without using the starter button (moving the bike fast enough for the engine to start turning when I move from neutral to first, jumping down on the rear tire, letting go of the clutch, AND rolling the throttle on ALL AT THE SAME TIME!)
What a pain in the A##! I did get it going the very first time, but didn't get it again. So I gave up and tried to start the bike but had the same problem.
I think there is an alternator in the bike, but I can't find info to confirm. I have charge the battery again, but this time, I tool out the fuse for the additional lights.
If there is no alternator, this should help, but like I said... I think there is one.
HELP!!! I want to enjoy being cageless for the few weeks I have left before the too-cold weather comes.
I think I have to take my cage tomorrow to work just to be safe... :(
yes the gs has a altenator, called a generator in motorcycle speak. It is located within the left side engine cover (that round lump on the end of the crank).
If the bike was fine before you added the lights, i would suspect your installation before i went accusing the battery or charging system on the bike...
What is the combined wattage of those lights you installed? The GS, like most motorcycles. has a limited generation capability compared to cars, those lamps may have exceeded it and sucked the battery dry.
If it is a set of those aftermarket halogen foglights, they are particularly bad about draining 12 v. motorcycle batteries. I put a pair on my old ex-racebike to ride it on the street and they would kill the battery within 5 minutes if I left them on without the engine running.
Another thing to consider is the OFF state of the GS keyswitch. Some people have gone a little farther than LOCK and set the keyswitch to "P". "P" is the Park position and it leaves some lights on. Some states require this feature when the bike is on the side of the road. It is easy to do and may not be noticeable in the daylight.
+1 What JamesG said. The generator is only about 285 watts (on a good day). When I get my manuals back from ECB, I may play the total watts game and see what the theoretical max load would be.
That's what the engineers did when they designed it.
Probably.
Maybe.
:dunno:
i would say you are over taxing the charging system cause your driving lights are draining the battery and the alternator isnt able to put enough juice back in.
I suggest have a 'kill switch' for the driving lights. That way you can kill them when you get off the freeway and when you are close to home so the battery has a bit to charge up.. YOu can then ride without it during the day time, and only turn them on the night time.
Also battery loses charge easy (about 50%) as temps close to 40F.
I never thought about the weather. It started happening on the first really cold day. It was pretty nice yesterday (temp wise) and I had no problems.
I'm thinking that it's b/c of the cold weather.
Anyone have a suggestion to reduce the drain on the battery without putting a kill switch in? I thought about this, but I'm not too crazy about putting a switch on a bike and have it get wet during a ride in the rain.
i tested my battery with a voltmeter. The readings are never consistant... Close, but there's about a good .75 volt difference total...
I took out the fuse for the lights, and I've only had a small problem once.
Any ideas???