Hello everyone

I recently bought a 2005 GS 500E, it's great and it's my first bike ever. I've done all the minor stuff on it by myself up till now, with help from the internet, especialy this forum. But it seems I've hit a brick wall this time. 

I bought it with 19k miles, and the only major issues was the broken lock. Without a functioning lock to close the electric circut, the previos owner bypassed it and installed a switch below the seat within hand reach. I told myself I'd take care of that one day, as my work is season oriented and I have little to no free time during the summer.

A couple of days ago I went to work, and forgot to turn of the switch, resulting in a completley dead battery (new, bought a month ago). Of course the bike wouldnt start, so i jump started it with help from a friends car.  The mistake I did there was removing the clamps as soon as I started the bike, it operated in a strange way, and the RPM meter was dead only springing upwards for a split second every now and then. Also all the lights on the bike were shimmering. When i tried to kick start it again I got a weird buzzing sound, coming from the battery area...

I have zero expirience with electric circutry and the elements that make it, but i managed to unplug the starter, and I connected it to a car battery, it didn't click (if that's relevant).

If a battery (wet battery, acid) is drained so badly as mine was, is it even still functional? Also the bike is working properly if i push start it.

Sorry english is not my primary language, so I'm very weak with the technical phrases, but i made a video to show you my problem.


Thanks in advance, A. 

Most battery chargers will NOT charge a completely flat battery....some will however,so it's always handy advice to ask when your buying one.

You have a bad battery. Try charging it. You may get the battery to work. Charged it should be over 12 volts.

Low voltage: the tachometer will not operate very well with low voltage.

Your battery might have a short in one of the cells. That will keep the voltage low.

Have a shop test your battery. You may need a new one.

With my experiences, be it minimal, once these batteries are allowed to go completely dead, you're better off just getting a new one.  I've read and been told that you can bring them back and they will function again, but I've never had any such luck.  Save your self the time and headaches and take it to a place like AutoZone or Advance auto... they can check it for you, for free.