Boo low Batt

[bryant8]

So after work, I noticed my low fuel light was on so I stopped at the Texaco station just down the road from the office.  I fill the bike up and go to hit the starter.... nothing 

I click up twice on the gauges and see 11.8v, not nearly enough to crank the bike on.

I try to see if it's bullshit or lying that you can't bump start an 848.  I rolled it down the parking lot of the grocery store and I get a few coughs out of the motor but it doesn't/won't turn over.  Battery is at 10.8v now

I decided to give Ron a call to see if he was in the neighborhood, luckily he was on the back from DFW airport.  He's on the way if I need a jump.  So at the least I have somebody on the way to give a hand with getting the bike started.

I finally spot the garage mechanic at the Texaco and he let's me borrow a 3mm allen and take the plastic off to get to the battery.  He the offers to jump the battery as well.  Ron gets there as soon as the bike fires up.  I really appreciate the gesture Ron , next beer is on me.

Bike's in the garage, on the battery tender.  Tomorrow morning I'll see what's the deal with it.  I hope it's just the battery if anything and not the voltage regulator (which there is a history already of them dying) or anything else.

[Bonwilder]

We had to replace the voltage regulator on the R1 after it died one day on a trip home from Gold's Gym in Arlington.  It's an inconvenience, but not too big a deal.  Prob just low battery though on your 848. Do you use a tender?

[♣ McKraut ♣]

that sucks dude...glad you were able to get a jump.  i'll be sure to listen to this tonight in case you need help mounting a new regulator:

[♣ McKraut ♣]

as long as we're talking about low battery causes, though...what ill effects would come from me leaving my alarm armed on my bike for say, three or four days at a time between rides, over...say...six months or so?  does it matter at all?

i'm doing a "dry run" right now...the alarm has been armed since sunday night (motion/shock sensor, tilt sensor, and current sensor...and an LED that blinks very frequently)...and is still going fine.  just wondering if i'm looking at having to replace a battery much sooner by leaving it on for a few days between starting it.

[Ronr]

 

[Ronr]

my POS iPhone lost my post. Glad you made it home safe. Wish I coulda given you a push start.

[♣ McKraut ♣]

hey, this isn't the bullshit thread....

[bryant8]

I do use a tender most of the time, but since I've been using the bike 5 days a week at least, I haven't really bothered much with it.  We'll see, I think Saturday I'll be wrenching on the bike, I may go ahead and scope out the ceramic coat for the exhaust while it's down.  First I'll have to kill off the fresh tank of gas

[♣ McKraut ♣]

see, that's your problem right there...unfortunately you're just a wannabe poseur that barely rides his bike.  a real rider rides 7 days a week, 8 hours a day, at a bare minimum.   

[bryant8]

Just checked, bike is only at 12.0v right now... hopefully by morning it'll be back up the 14.4v.  If not AMS is going to replace the VR

[fastwin]

Just checked, bike is only at 12.0v right now... hopefully by morning it'll be back up the 14.4v.  If not AMS is going to replace the VR

I saw your Battery Tender Jr. plugged into the wall of you way too sano garage in one of your pics of the 848. Looked like one, the wall socket was on the right side of your bike about chest high... I figured it was a BT Jr. plugged in. If you use it like you say that shouldn't be the problem. Not on a bike you got eight months ago. I've got the original batteries in my '04 GSXR1000 and RC51 and they are fine to this day. All my bikes stay plugged into a full size Battery Tender every moment that I'm not riding them. I'm thinking regulator issues.

[bryant8]

Nice spot on catching it in the pics, it's actually a Yuasa battery tender.  Either way though, it's looking like a VR issue, warranty please

[RichD]

B-man, here is what "they" do to check your bikes VR:
Start the bike.  Click up to the voltage page.
After the bike runs until it is warm the voltage should read 14.2-14.4V on the display.

If your still around 12V (or dropping, etc,) it is the regulator.

...been there!   

[Kevin848]

Had the exact same thing happen to mine... THE DAY I GOT IT. It was the VR, put a total of 40 miles on it then was down 2 days while AMS replaced it.

[Duc L'Smart]

Start the bike.  Click up to the voltage page.
After the bike runs until it is warm the voltage should read 14.2-14.4V on the display.
If your still around 12V (or dropping, etc,) it is the regulator.

Good call.
I also seem to remember that unless the bikes running around 3500rpm or higher it's not charging the battery, so a low rpm commute would actually run it down. Someone check me on that...