Continuing battery problems.

Hi guys. I posted last year about my bike not starting (it was just clicking etc) and after getting lots of advice of you all and doing various tests to test if it was charging etc everything seemed to be in order. I put it down to maybe leaving the parking lights on, I charged the battery and the bike was starting fine again. This has happened twice since, the latest being today and both times after the bike being unfortunately unridden for a period of time. The first time the bike had been stood since the end of September over winter and started on the button when it went for its MOT in early March, and started every time until the end of April when I was nearly finished putting on the GSXR front end and I had to put if on charge again. After then getting the bike back on the road I went on a couple of short rides and then a reasonable ride out to Oulton Park with the bike being fine apart from my other problem of the speedo which meant its not been ridden since (4 or 5 weeks). I fitted the speedo today and was going to go out and make sure it was working but the bike didn't start. It'll be going back on charge and I'm sure it will be fine again but I'm a little concerned that now I'll be out on it regularly that this might happen again whilst I'm up in the Lakes or Peaks etc.

So a bit long winded but wanted to give the details. Could this all be down to lack of use or could it be something else?

Cheers
Mike

[Biker Biggles]

If the issue seems to happen after the bike has been left for a long period it sounds like your battery is not holding charge,or there is a current drain.Either way it will damage the battery thus making the problem worse.Regular charging will prevent the problem if not actually solving it.

It does seem to be after being stood but I wouldn't have thought a few weeks is that long. In March it was about 5 months and started first time but then wouldn't start. I can only assume as I was working on it but starting it occasionally without being ridden that that's taken its toll on the battery.

What could be draining the current? I've only fitted heated grips recently so other then that there's nothing else connected to the battery.

[Biker Biggles]

Batteries are damaged by going flat,and that damage is worse the longer they remain flat so it may be that your battery is no longer able to hold its charge very well.May be worth getting it checked,but most of all it will be worth getting a trickle charger and making sure the battery gets regularly charged.

Been thinking off getting one anyway so I think that'll be my next move before maybe looking at replacing the battery, which I think is relatively new anyway.

I need to get to the bottom of this problem now as the bike is perfect otherwise. I went out both days last weekend covering about 300 miles in total and the bike was fine starting every time. It's not been used then through the week and as I'm planning another blast out tomorrow I've gone to give it a clean and wax today. Sure enough it didn't start and got the clicks again. Luckily my other job today was to connect the optimiser that arrived during the week so I did that and put it on charge whilst I went about cleaning and waxing. By the time I'd finished it had charged and obviously then started fine. I'd had enough by this point then so didn't want to mess about getting to the battery to take some readings with the multimeter, I'll do that tomorrow both before and after the ride out.

The battery will be left on the optimiser from now on so there shouldn't be any problem starting but there is still something not right and I want to get it sorted. So what could the options be. A sh** battery (was apparently quite new when I bought the bike just over a year ago), the reg/rec, power drain from somewhere ( hoping its not this as sounds like an ar** to find the cause) or something else, stator maybe? Any thoughts? I know it's not much help without the readings, I'll post them up tomorrow.

[Bibio]

well if its ok when your out and about it's charging. if its sitting doing nowt and draining then there is something draining it.

do you have an alarm or any other electrical accessory's fitted?

there is usually a date of manufacture on battery's and if you find this it might give you an idea as to how old it is and weather or not it needs replacing.

No alarm all I've got connected apart from the optimiser lead at the moment is heated grips but they've not long been fitted and I've had this problem before that. I'll be fitting a new 12v power socket as well soon but I've managed to get one of your accessory gizmos so once that's connected I think I'm right in saying that anything connected wont be able to drain the battery. The reason for the 12v socket is so I can charge my camera but I'd be scared to do that at the moment anyway.

I'm leaning towards either the battery or reg/rec but I just want to be sure before I go buying parts. Again, I'll have a check of the date on the battery as well tomorrow when I take some readings.

[Bibio]

sound like a duff battery.

Is there anything else that can drain the battery?