Bike won't start -advice - is it the battery?

[n7750]

I have a 55-plate SV650S, and was commuting on it daily with no problems until the snow fell a week ago. I tried to start it this morning and it won't start at all - I just get a sort of unhealthy clicking sound.

I know embarassingly little about the technical side of the bike (keep meaning to find a basic mechanics course) but I have checked that the stand isn't down and the ignition shut off has not been pressed (!)

I have tried searching this and other forums - it seems the sort of clicking sound I describe is often connected to a flat battery. This really surprises me as the battery was fine when I was using it just a week ago - do you still think it is likely? (the main lights turn off automatically, I didn't leave the parking light on as I would have seen it, and I'm pretty sure the neighbours would have told me if the alarm had been set off).

Could it be connected to the cold weather? (is it worth just waiting a couple of days and trying again or is that very silly optimism?)

Desperately to avoid an expensive trip to the garage just before Christmas so any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks, Nikki

[B1k3R]

Probably the battery. A few of us on here with similar problems today.

[munkygunn182]

Could be a flat battery, but i'm almost sure its more likely to be a dead battery (i'm sure other members of the org could say with more certainty). However the surefire way to check it out is trying to charge it, if it takes a charge, the battery isn't dead as such, but may not hold enough charge to start the bike due to the cold damaging it. If it doesn't take a charge at all, i'm afraid it's a new battery!

I stripped my battery out last week to avoid this :D

[andrewsmith]

Could be a knackered battery. Where you based?

If its been baltic and the battery has been on the way, the cold will have killed it.
Try charging it and see what happens, then get it tested at halfords as the kit they have checks overall condition on the battery

[n7750]

Thanks all for such quick responses. Did not know you were supposed to strip out batteries in the cold - live and learn I suppose....!

I'm based in Putney (SW15), London so any offers of battery chargers near there would be great :-) Otherwise I'm sure I can find a shop that is able to do this - at least its easier to transport the battery than it is to move a broken down bike so fingers crossed this is the problem!

[Biker Biggles]

Do you have access to mains leccy where the bike is?If so buy yourself a trickle charger.It will be cheaper than getting a garage to do it,and pay for itself many times over the years.Optimate is the best,but cheaper ones are available.
Theres a few orgers that lurk around there south of the river who might be able to help out if needed.