Complete then incomplete electrical failure Curvy

Hello all, I just bought my bike yesterday, a 2002 SV650S converted to naked. My 3rd bike and 1st SV650. Rode it 60 miles home and during the trip, it started to pour so I pulled into a gas station and waited it out. Rode the last 18 miles home, and about a mile from home my speedo and tach (aftermarket from PO) went nuts, and the needles started bouncing everywhere. No change in engine or throttle though.

Today, I have no power at all (no headlight, horn, gauges). My guess is water got into somewhere it shouldn't. Bike has aftermarket headlight, gauges and turn signals.

I have checked:

all the 10 & 15 amp fuses
both 30 amp fuses
starter relay
battery (which failed a load test, so I replaced it)

With the new battery, I get a neutral light, but no gauges, and the bike doesn't have enough to crank. I tested the new battery, ignition off, and got 12.39. I turn the ignition on and it shows 12.10...then 12.09...12.08. It was ticking off at about 1/10 per second, just like a clock.

So something is drawing hard off the battery to the point a brand new battery can't crank the bike. Ideas?

[Trev B]

Does it have an alarm fitted?if so disconnect and try with volt meter

No alarm.

How do I check power to and from the fuse box? That would at least clue me in to which direction I need to start checking wires and components. I'm not very experienced with a multimeter, so idiot-proof instructions would be amazing.

[Trev B]

Have you tried to see if kill switch works?

I haven't, but it tries to turn over, just doesn't have the amps because of the drain, so I don't see it being the kill switch.

[Trev B]

Well I'm same as you with electrics,I just go for the obvious stuff that has a switch first,brake lights side stand,anything etc then it's HELP,sounds as if something large is draining the power that quick( I know that's obvious)someone will know later on,they've helped me out,there's a lot of knowledge out there,sorry!!!

[Dave-the-rave]

Today, I have no power at all (no headlight, horn, gauges). My guess is water got into somewhere it shouldn't. Bike has aftermarket headlight, gauges and turn signals.

I'd start right there.

Ok, so taking some advice, I started pulling fuses one at a time to see when the drain stopped. It stops when I pull the 15A fuse marked "signals" in the fuse box. I can have every other fuse in with no drain.

I traced where the wire comes out at the front of the bike and it is one of the wires for the gauge cluster. Do you think it is a ground issue, frayed wire between the fuse box and gauges or that the gauges themselves may be crap?

I know people that are looking for answers like hearing resolution on these things, so here is mine.

Two issues. First, I had frayed wires behind the headlight which came off the gauge cluster. That, combined with riding in the rain, caused my gauge whackiness and blew a fuse when I tried to start the bike. Cut and spliced back together, gauges are good.

Second, not starting was the starter relay. It clicks when I hit the starter button, and one time, the starter tried to spin, and it tested fine with the multimeter. I got an extra pair of hands though, and registered less than 1 volt on the cable out of it going to the starter when the start button was pressed. It clicks, just one time, like it should, but barely any voltage is passing through. Good for me, as it was the cheaper solution.

I just want to say thanks to everyone that offered tips and advice. It's great to know that people with years of knowledge are willing to take the time to help someone new to these bikes and pretty new to wrenching.

Thanks!

As a follow-up to the follow-up, now that the bike is running, I put the multi-meter on it to test the charging system. I got 18.1 volts at idle! That might explain the blown fuse, why the headlight's low beam is out and the battery the PO bought a year ago dying. Thing got boiled.

So, I'm changing that out and hopefully that is the end of the electrical demons. Seems to be the root cause.