eeekkk! that battery died suddenly

[MCsanandreas]

went out on the T/A Sunday eve,bike started fine. rode about one mile to the petrol station filled up, paid for fuel, back on bike and nothing! just a click from behind the side panel where the battery is. bum!
managed to push bike to a friends who lives nearby and got it to local bikeshop yesterday.
lucky for me it was just the battery but that was only just over 2years old. anyone else had a battery die like that? or should i budget for a new one every two years?

[Alba]

I've had my 650 for 2ish years now (52 plate 53K on the clock), only time it did not start was down to the way i started it (no mention in the service manual of battery change), the bike is ridden 5 days a week. Has yours not been ridden for long periods?

I would say there is an under lying issue which needs to be addressed, the battery should be lasting.

If you post what the bike usage is and storage I'm sure you will get some pointers here

[MCsanandreas]

Originally Posted by Alba

I've had my 650 for 2ish years now (52 plate 53K on the clock), only time it did not start was down to the way i started it (no mention in the service manual of battery change), the bike is ridden 5 days a week. Has yours not been ridden for long periods?

I would say there is an under lying issue which needs to be addressed, the battery should be lasting.

If you post what the bike usage is and storage I'm sure you will get some pointers here

mine is a 600 and gets used at least 4 times a week and i try to get at least one good run in each week. had it checked and charging is ok. just looks like a duff battery. i had nasty visions of the whole charging system frying itself! off to get bike (with new battery) and go ride now.

[StumpyFingers]

It is possible for the battery to die just like that.
Electrics are finicky, most batteries have a two year life cycle, after which it is recommended they are renewed.

[MCsanandreas]

the only good thing about this is that i was still in my hometown. if the bike had not been on reserve when i went out i would have been many miles up the road!

[bikerknight]

I just had pretty much the same thing happen to me this evening. I pulled out of the gates at work and pulled to one side in order to put access cards away and sort gloves out and the bike suddenly died. Only the clock was working and pressing the starter caused a loud click and then nothing.

From taking the side panel off and fiddling with the wires appears like it was a loose connection, possibly on my alarm / immobilizer that was causing it to cut in and kill the electrics. I'm not a 100% sure of that but as its now going again I intend to have a good strip down tomorrow and clean all the contacts (while I'm there I can see where all the wiring goes as there are several other bits and pieces fitted)

I wonder if it may genuinely have been vibrations over a period of time causing the wires to work loose? Will have to test the battery as well and see how good that is.

Weird

[chalky4]

Bought a new battery for my 88 TA was fine for 4 days, a couple of decent rides then decided to die at petrol station on way to Peak district. Mates bumped started me, tried to charged over night with an Optimate when we got to B&B but no success, needed bump starting at every stop. When its running the lights brighten when reved so it is getting some sort of charge but just not holding it
Took back to supplier on return who checked and tested it overnight. Conclusion knackered cells. Battery replaced. I am worried that it is something that could occur again being caused by a short or wiring fault and haven't had a chance to check it out, the supplier Bedford Batteries (really helpful people) did say that very occasionally a duff battery comes of production line and I was just unlucky. Going to have a quick look at earths and connections today as off to Wales camping tomorrow with the Mrs so fingers crossed that she does't have to learn how to bump a fully ladened bike

[MCsanandreas]

Originally Posted by bikerknight

I just had pretty much the same thing happen to me this evening. I pulled out of the gates at work and pulled to one side in order to put access cards away and sort gloves out and the bike suddenly died. Only the clock was working and pressing the starter caused a loud click and then nothing.

From taking the side panel off and fiddling with the wires appears like it was a loose connection, possibly on my alarm / immobilizer that was causing it to cut in and kill the electrics. I'm not a 100% sure of that but as its now going again I intend to have a good strip down tomorrow and clean all the contacts (while I'm there I can see where all the wiring goes as there are several other bits and pieces fitted)

I wonder if it may genuinely have been vibrations over a period of time causing the wires to work loose? Will have to test the battery as well and see how good that is.

Weird

mine was deffinatly the battery but it maybe an idea to check your alarm as they can cause a battery to die due to the constant drain of power. had that happen to a car i owned once,never bothered with a car alarm again!

[StumpyFingers]

Last night I had a bus out from 21:15 Hrs to 01:05 hours, in that time the engine was not switched off and it was constantly working.
At 01:12 went to restart the bus and it as dead, it had to be jump started so it is possible for the batteries to go suddenly.