I looked at a few topics...seems like I just let my battery run down.  Bike has been sitting for three weeks, and I assumed by starting it every few days and letting it idle, that'd charge it (but this is not the case, from what I read, and in fact may have contributed to the problem).

So I'm wondering...the headlight still illuminates, as do the idiot lights, and it sounds like it wants to turn over...but then click, click, click.  So it seems like it's just below the range required to start.  Do you think I can pick up an eBay trickle charger and get this thing working again, or am I doomed to have problems with it now that I let it die down?

I've done the same thing before I got my trickle charger. You should have no problem charging it overnight and starting in the morning. Worst case scenario, you have to get a new battery but it will last longer because you have a trickle charger now!

Nice.  For reference, what's the model number, etc, of the GS500 battery ('06 bike)?  Thanks 

Try the trickle charger 1.0A to 1.5A, I used that for a year before finally replacing with a wal-mart battery (~ $40).  I'll toss on the trickle charger maybe once per week or as needed.  What would really help is if you top off your battery with some fresh battery acid, rather than water, a little bit will up the voltage pretty good.  Yeah, your battery has enough juice to turn on the lights but not enough cold cranking amps to turn the motor over. Been on the walmart battery for about 2 months now, and works great.

Do you think I can get away with just trying a water top up and the trickle charger, or do these batteries crystalize pretty fast?

It usually comes in a plastic bottle that you can attach a tube to.  When I bought the walmart battery, it came with more than enough acid, so I just topped off my old battery and charged it overnight.  I used my original battery for about 3+yrs ~25,000mi.  I switched to the new battery only last month, still have to return the core to get 9 bucks back.

In fact I got some still left over, where do you live?

.....

Yeah, thats way far, im by 57/60fwy. You can just top it off with any water, and charge it.  Yeah investing in a charger is great, you can always toss it on when your planning to ride it.  I seem to put it on for a few hours on Sundays so its good all week.  If you can, get one with an indicator that lets you know when it is fully charged.

+1 on the trickle charger 

If you know someone taking chemistry, the acid you need is H2SO4, sulfuric acid. You need about 4.2-5 Molar (mols/liter) concentration.  Usually I see in the lab they have 6M acid, you only need a little to top it off, but water is fine.  Its usually the end chambers of the battery that are low on fluid. 

Hmm...I pulled the battery from the bike.  It's really hard for me to determine where the levels are at.  I'm shining a flashlight through it and the whole nine.  Any suggestions?

EDIT...think I just needed a more powerful light

The battery tender is your friend. As far as amps? The lower the amps the longer you can leave it on with out boiling over the fliud. All the ideas are great. My greatest fear though with the battery when it starts having issues is it dieng in a remote place? So for 60$ I usually just get a knew a battery. If you take care of it with a tender it will last 4+ years easy.

Quote from: JB848 on November 08, 2010, 08:04:49 PM
The battery tender is your friend. As far as amps? The lower the amps the longer you can leave it on with out boiling over the fliud. All the ideas are great. My greatest fear though with the battery when it starts having issues is it dieng in a remote place? So for 60$ I usually just get a knew a battery. If you take care of it with a tender it will last 4+ years easy.

The batt is marked Suzuki, so unless they reupped with a stock battery (which may well have been the case), this could be original equipment ('06).  I'm def gonna replace it at the next major service, but I'm a broke grad student and can't swing it right now unless I have to.

The charger I got on eBay has some kind of float thingie that specifically says it prevents boil over.  Here's the link:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290416481117&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1156

Not the best one but it is sufficient. The good ones come with a quick disconnect that you install on the battery and hide it when not in use..BUT the most important feature is the voltage regulator that will stop charging when reaching like 13.9 vdc that's what you want.

In a pinch if you have like an old power supply from some other device like a radio or video game that goes from 110VAC to 12Vdc low amps you can also use that crude modification. Clip the end off and connect to your battery. Just make sure you use a Volt Meter and figure out the post of Negative and Positive and hook it up to your battery. It is in effect a trickle charger!

Pelikan,  Go to amazon.com and check out the battery tender junior.  it should be $24-25 and free shipping.  It is the best investment I've made on protecting my battery.  it also has the quick connect, which is very convenient as you can just leave it on your bike.  And if you ever need to have an accessory outlet for your gs, that quick connect comes handy and all you need to do is plug it in.

The battery tender is the best idea.
To just get the bike going, if it has enough electrical power to click the solenoid you can push start it. Put it in 2nd gear, pull in the clutch turn the key ON (check kill switch is on 'run') push it as fast as you can (obviously easier down hill or driveway). Then drop your backside on the seat while simultaneously letting go the clutch. The idea is to dump the clutch as your weight hits the seat, so the back wheel wont lock. Don't ease the clutch out, dump it. It should start and now you're off down the road sidesaddle. Pull the clutch, slow down carefully with the front brake and get on the bike and go for a ride. If your bike has the headlight permanently on, you need to run it at more than 4000rpm to run the light and charge the battery, it'll need half an hour or so to put much charge in a flat battery. It'll work better if before you start you pull the headlight and disconnect it. It'll start easier and pick up charge quicker.

^^^^ haha, I did that once!

Luckily I lived literally on a hill in downtownish Seattle. All I did was put it in neutral, coast down the hill and pop the clutch while pressing the starter. Kinda fun actually 

Quote from: the mole on November 09, 2010, 02:19:21 AM
The battery tender is the best idea.
To just get the bike going, if it has enough electrical power to click the solenoid you can push start it. Put it in 2nd gear, pull in the clutch turn the key ON (check kill switch is on 'run') push it as fast as you can (obviously easier down hill or driveway). Then drop your backside on the seat while simultaneously letting go the clutch. The idea is to dump the clutch as your weight hits the seat, so the back wheel wont lock. Don't ease the clutch out, dump it. It should start and now you're off down the road sidesaddle. Pull the clutch, slow down carefully with the front brake and get on the bike and go for a ride. If your bike has the headlight permanently on, you need to run it at more than 4000rpm to run the light and charge the battery, it'll need half an hour or so to put much charge in a flat battery. It'll work better if before you start you pull the headlight and disconnect it. It'll start easier and pick up charge quicker.

LOL I remember having to do this on my dirt bike back in the day ... only time I have had the rear wheel lock is when i try to bump start in 1st ....  I don't believe I have ever tried to do this side saddle, i either get on the bike and push down a slope, or run and get on the bike before dropping the clutch....


There are bikes without the headlight permanently on O_o

Quote from: Anaconda on November 08, 2010, 09:33:38 PM
Pelikan,  Go to amazon.com and check out the battery tender junior.  it should be $24-25 and free shipping.  It is the best investment I've made on protecting my battery.  it also has the quick connect, which is very convenient as you can just leave it on your bike.  And if you ever need to have an accessory outlet for your gs, that quick connect comes handy and all you need to do is plug it in.

Wish I would have known that a few days ago, but already purchased the eBay "float charger" and have it hooked up to the battery right now.  6.5 hours and counting...still charging.  Hope this thing works.