I tried to start my bike up on Sunday (those of you in Minnesota will remember the lovely day it was, one day before getting 8 inches of more freaking snow) after a long hard winter to discover my battery is dead.
I'm pretty cash-strapped and do not have a charger and left the battery in hoping it would be okay. The battery is probably the original and the bike is an '04. I've had the bike for 2 years.
Do you think I should just get a new battery and invest in a charger for next winter?
If so, any recommendations?
Thanks,
Squirrel
I'd jump it from a car battery and ride it around to charge it up. If it goes dead again after you get a good charge in it then get a battery. It could be OK but just dead or if it sat uncharged in below freezing weather it could be damaged and no good.
Buy a "Battery Tender Jr.", they're only $20. Cheaper than a new battery and you should have one anyway. Plug it in for a couple days and see what happens.
Also, check the water level in the battery and refill if necessary.
Last, have you tried run-starting it?
jeff
Hey Jeff,
I haven't run-started it. It's pretty flat where I live and don't have anybody to help push me......... :dunno_white:
Thanks for the tip on the "Battery Tender Jr." I can swing $20.00. And I'll check the water. Hopefully that will do the trick.
Squirrel
Quote from: Jeff P on April 02, 2008, 07:51:06 AM
Buy a "Battery Tender Jr.", they're only $20. Cheaper than a new battery and you should have one anyway. Plug it in for a couple days and see what happens.
Also, check the water level in the battery and refill if necessary.
Last, have you tried run-starting it?
jeff
I would go w/ GSJack... Try jumping it first, take it for a nice long ride (at lease 30 mins) to ensure a good charge. After that if you are still not riding for a few weeks at a time just take the battery out. that all I do w/ mine all winter. I take it out in the fall set it in the basement. and put it back in in the spring and she starts right up :thumb:
Be sure if you use a car to jump start LEAVE THE CAR ENGINE OFF! :thumb:
Quote from: scottpA_GS on April 02, 2008, 09:01:36 AM
I would go w/ GSJack... Try jumping it first, take it for a nice long ride (at lease 30 mins) to ensure a good charge. After that if you are still not riding for a few weeks at a time just take the battery out. that all I do w/ mine all winter. I take it out in the fall set it in the basement. and put it back in in the spring and she starts right up :thumb:
Be sure if you use a car to jump start LEAVE THE CAR ENGINE OFF! :thumb:
+1
Thanks for all the tips. I don't have any jumper cables (I know, I'm pretty useless........) I guess what I'll need to do is get the charger and go that route for now, since I'll need the charger again for next winter............ :icon_rolleyes:
You can also take it to an auto parts store where they can "test it" they will put it on a charge for you FREE! :)
JOY! Awesome! I will do that as well as get the charger. Hey, what else is an economic incentive tax rebate for anyway.
:cheers:
Quote from: scottpA_GS on April 02, 2008, 01:02:17 PM
You can also take it to an auto parts store where they can "test it" they will put it on a charge for you FREE! :)