well i went out to ride today and the damn bike wouldnt start.
im guessing because it had sit for about a week and a half or two weeks but either way i need a charger now.
im at work now so i cant go check the bike out in person so i have just a couple questions:
1. the battery is a 12v correct?
2. the battery tender plus is probably the best to get?
i tried to turn over for a couple minutes then just started clicking. i know the battery cant be bad cuz its only a month old so i can only assume its just dead. any help would be great.
thanks guys
Could you not bump start it?
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on March 08, 2006, 04:34:32 PM
Could you not bump start it?
i tried it a few times, it started once but died before i could get the choke on
Quote from: afplayboy18 on March 08, 2006, 04:37:43 PM
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on March 08, 2006, 04:34:32 PM
Could you not bump start it?
i tried it a few times, it started once but died before i could get the choke on
Try it with the choke on next time and possibly get someone to help push you. It might take a few trys, but it should get there.
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on March 08, 2006, 04:39:46 PM
Quote from: afplayboy18 on March 08, 2006, 04:37:43 PM
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on March 08, 2006, 04:34:32 PM
Could you not bump start it?
i tried it a few times, it started once but died before i could get the choke on
Try it with the choke on next time and possibly get someone to help push you. It might take a few trys, but it should get there.
i store it at a buddys house and he wasnt there today, thats why i had to do it by myself. but id rather not have to do that every time i want to start it up. hopefully i can get a charger and charge it up and it should be fine if i ride it regularly.
also about the volts of the battery...its 12v correct?
Quote from: afplayboy18 on March 08, 2006, 04:42:03 PM
i store it at a buddys house and he wasnt there today, thats why i had to do it by myself. but id rather not have to do that every time i want to start it up. hopefully i can get a charger and charge it up and it should be fine if i ride it regularly.
also about the volts of the battery...its 12v correct?
Do you not ride it very regularly? If you bump start it once and ride it around for a while the battery should recharge. Don't forget to check your water levels and fill them appropriately. As for battery... I dunno the voltage. I know that a Battery Tender Jr. is what you need though.
gotcha...works for me.
also i did not know that i could hook it up to my truck and charge the battery that way, i thought that was just for cars.
i'm going to walmart tonight and i'll pick up some jumper cables and maybe a trickle charger...thanks alphafire
Either will work, depending on your needs.
http://www.motoemporium.com/btender/batterytender.html
Does pop starting have any ill effect on the bike? Never done it.. but was thinking of trying it a few times come riding time again so i at least know how to do it.
Quote from: bargovic on March 08, 2006, 05:07:04 PM
Does pop starting have any ill effect on the bike? Never done it.. but was thinking of trying it a few times come riding time again so i at least know how to do it.
ive read that it is ok to do it when you need it but not to rely on it.
Yes, it's a 12 Volt battery. (6v has gone the way of the early 60's VW Beetle, really cool, but hardly seen nowadays)
Bump starting gets the motor turning by the rear wheel pulling the chain, pulling the c/s sprocket, through the clutch, and then the crank (yes I missed a few things); normally you don't start the bike with the clutch engaged. It might "wear" the clutch fiber plates, and that's why it's not always suggested as a way to start your bike. Occationally, when the circumstances warrant its need, ok.
[3
well i went to walmart and picked up a Schumacher Battery Charger/Maintainer 1.5 amp.
its supposed to rain in the morning but maybe i can go get the batter and get it charged...and just thinking about it i forget to pick up a volt tester...damn....
Quote from: bargovic on March 08, 2006, 05:07:04 PM
Does pop starting have any ill effect on the bike? Never done it.. but was thinking of trying it a few times come riding time again so i at least know how to do it.
Also, what is a good technique for bump or pop starting? I tried it once when I drained my battery and all it did was get me really tired from pushing the bike back up the hill I was rolling down.
well something weird happened yesterday because when i went to ride it today it fired right up, no problem.
guess all is well since i did get to ride, and i got a charger out of it for future use...
Quote from: flyingbeagle71 on March 08, 2006, 08:49:12 PM
Quote from: bargovic on March 08, 2006, 05:07:04 PM
Does pop starting have any ill effect on the bike? Never done it.. but was thinking of trying it a few times come riding time again so i at least know how to do it.
Also, what is a good technique for bump or pop starting? I tried it once when I drained my battery and all it did was get me really tired from pushing the bike back up the hill I was rolling down.
Click the bike into second gear. Pull in the clutch and get rolling fairly quickly, then pop the clutch out.
that's the same charger I have; about $18 right? It works well, I leave the ring terminals connected to the battery all the time and just plug in the unit when it's time to top off.
-M
Quote from: Mandres on March 09, 2006, 10:55:10 AM
that's the same charger I have; about $18 right? It works well, I leave the ring terminals connected to the battery all the time and just plug in the unit when it's time to top off.
-M
yea, $17.44 to be exact. thats what i'm thinking...keeping the connectors on and just hooking up the charger whenever i need it.
[d
whats the difference between a float charger and a trickle?
Quote from: scratch on March 08, 2006, 05:34:18 PMBump starting gets the motor turning by the rear wheel pulling the chain, pulling the c/s sprocket, through the clutch, and then the crank (yes I missed a few things); normally you don't start the bike with the clutch engaged. It might "wear" the clutch fiber plates, and that's why it's not always suggested as a way to start your bike. Occationally, when the circumstances warrant its need, ok.
Wow, I have never heard that argument. I would think the clutch goes through a lot more abuse in everyday riding than it would bump starting the bike... but it was still an interesting theory.
Bump starting 'shocks' the clutch as opposed to smoothly feeding in the clutch when riding normally.
You must ride a bit smoother than me... I mean, when drag racing you pretty much rev the motor and dump the clutch... which has to be pretty 'shocking' to the clutch also.
Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on March 09, 2006, 12:26:51 PM
Quote from: afplayboy18 on March 09, 2006, 09:46:44 AM
well something weird happened yesterday because when i went to ride it today it fired right up, no problem.
Sure you didn't leave the "parking" lights on the first time? Fits the symptoms, and it's amazingly easy to do on a GS- I've caught myself walking away with the lights on a couple of times (once about 10 minutes ago), and others have pointed it out to me a couple of times...
"parking lights"??
when i turn the key off everything goes off...there's nothing to leave on if im correct...atleast i dont ever remember seeing anything on after i take the key off.
even if i did leave it on the battery wouldnt charge up on its own would it??
Quote from: belome on March 09, 2006, 01:05:52 PM
You must ride a bit smoother than me... I mean, when drag racing you pretty much rev the motor and dump the clutch... which has to be pretty 'shocking' to the clutch also.
Riding smooth is the key to riding fast. Dumping the clutch is bad technique.
Quote from: average on March 09, 2006, 12:42:12 PM
whats the difference between a float charger and a trickle?
I wonder what would be faster in drag racing, keeping the revs high in the powerband and feeding in the power with the clutch, or dumping the clutch and waiting for the rpm's to get back up to the shift point? I don't drag so I don't know, but this is interesting.
Quote from: average on March 09, 2006, 12:42:12 PM
whats the difference between a float charger and a trickle?
They're pretty much the same. A float charger just keeps a battery topped up, while a trickle charger will actually charge a battery til it's topped up (same thing).
:laugh:if its.....not too much trouble, i was wondering if anyone could answer my question? :cheers:
bump :bowdown:
Quote from: average on March 09, 2006, 03:57:29 PM
:laugh:if its.....not too much trouble, i was wondering if anyone could answer my question? :cheers:
and...
Quote from: scratch on March 09, 2006, 03:56:47 PM
Quote from: average on March 09, 2006, 12:42:12 PM
whats the difference between a float charger and a trickle?
They're pretty much the same. A float charger just keeps a battery topped up, while a trickle charger will actually charge a battery til it's topped up (same thing).
Quote from: afplayboy18 on March 09, 2006, 02:53:23 PM
Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on March 09, 2006, 12:26:51 PM
Quote from: afplayboy18 on March 09, 2006, 09:46:44 AM
well something weird happened yesterday because when i went to ride it today it fired right up, no problem.
Sure you didn't leave the "parking" lights on the first time? Fits the symptoms, and it's amazingly easy to do on a GS- I've caught myself walking away with the lights on a couple of times (once about 10 minutes ago), and others have pointed it out to me a couple of times...
"parking lights"??
when i turn the key off everything goes off...there's nothing to leave on if im correct...atleast i dont ever remember seeing anything on after i take the key off.
even if i did leave it on the battery wouldnt charge up on its own would it??
Your GS does have a parking light; turn the key all the way left past the "OFF" position to the "PARK" position, and you'll see the taillight turn on. Some states require the motorcycle to be illuminated if it is parked on a dark road (i.e., broken-down) at night.
See this thread from the FAQ:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?&topic=17998.0
That will show you how to disable the parking light, so it won't drain the battery if you leave it on.
In Europe, most countries require parking lights front and rear, so Euro headlights have an extra bulb inside (or a second, smaller light, nounted in a fairing, for example).
See this thread for more details:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?&topic=3064.0
Now you know, you really do have a parking light... I don't think your battery actually charged itself; I tend to think that you didn't leave the parking light on last night, so therefore the battery wasn't drained the next time you started the engine...
[3
damn...didnt know that...guess i skipped over it in the manual.
if i turn it to the left, then take the key out is the light still on....and if so how do i turn it off?
g3
Just pay attention as you shut the ignition off; turning the key all the way to the left puts the ignition into the "PARK" position, so make sure you don't turn it that far. If your parking light circuit is working (seems like it is), you should be able to see the brake light is ON with the key all the way to the left. Double-check the light; if it IS on, slowly turn the key back toward the right until the brake light goes off. Once you find that position, you should be able to remove the key without a problem; the steering should remain locked, and there shouldn't be a drain on the battery.
Look closely at your ignition; if it is still legible, it should be easy to see the markings around the rim. If it is heavily scarred from use, you'll have to pay close attention to the position of the key to learn where the OFF and PARK positions are located. You could make a mark (with Wite-Out, or a similar product) on the rim of the ignition to indicate the different positions, if the markings around your ignition are no longer legible, to make it easier to turn the ignition OFF without turning the parking light ON.