Battery Problems - SV650.org

18-06-05, 05:18 PM

Considering I picked the SV up on Thursday night I was hoping I wouldn't have to post any 'oh bugger, it's not working - help' topics for a good while, but apparently I'm not going to be so lucky.

Basically I went over to the blokes house on Thursday evening, took the bike for a 20 odd minute test ride to be sure it worked and then paid, filled in the paperwork and headed home. The bike was absolutely fine the whole way.

Friday morning I tried to start it but it just didn't have the legs to turn over, indicating a dead battery. I borrowed an optimate and had it on charge all of last night, and this morning it was showing a healthy green light to say that it had charged up ok and was not losing charge either.

Good news, yay, yipee etc; off for a ride. Did that, got back, big fun. But as I was expecting just a few hours after that it's back to it's old tricks and the battery isn't charged enough for it to start.

Now what I'm wondering is basically, should I just go out tomorrow and try to sort a new battery or does the fact that the optimate thingy didn't say it was losing charge indicate I need to look someplace else?

Would appreciate any advice atm. Not happy.

(I have checked that common wiring prob between the fuse box and under the rear seat but it looks ok to me)

18-06-05, 05:23 PM

Get hold of the manual on this site and check the regulator and rectifier. If they're ok then the battery might just be knackered. Those battery tenders aren't foolproof.

18-06-05, 08:20 PM

Identical problem with my old'n'. Would appear to hold full charge (voltage) but current would not last. Optimate can't show this, but turning motor over will! Changed the battery on mine and fine ever since.

fizzwheel · 18-06-05, 08:28 PM

Mine had a spell of doing that, new battery sorted it out. But checking that the regulator / rectifier is working correctly as Carsick suggests is a good idea

18-06-05, 09:48 PM

Does it have an alarm on it??

When I crashed mine

it sat in storage for a while with the alarm on (grrr!!) and it killed the battery

I replaced it and it has been fine ever since.

18-06-05, 10:34 PM

Cheers for the responses guys. I don't have an alarm on it but a look at the service book tells me he's done less than a thousand miles in the last year so I'm not surprised it's playing up really. I've had a look at the service manual and I would check the RR before forking out for a battery but I don't have a voltmeter/multimeter to check it with, so I think I'm going to gamble on a new battery.

I wonder what my chances are of finding an affordable one on a Sunday.

19-06-05, 06:53 AM

I would go for a new battery.

My 99 SVS is on its 3rd battery.

I had the same problem as you with the 2nd battery. Optimate said it was ok but it wouldn't hold charge for more than a couple of days. New battery sorted it.

19-06-05, 10:10 AM

ok im worried now, my 2000 svs is still on its original battery , its been stood for a year , run flat twice and lives outdoors in all weathers and still fine. Only a matter of time i suppose. will get a slightly narrower one to replace it so the under tray will fit back in its original place with the gsxr shock

18-06-05, 05:18 PM	#1
Dom_ Guest Posts: n/a	Battery Problems Considering I picked the SV up on Thursday night I was hoping I wouldn't have to post any 'oh bugger, it's not working - help' topics for a good while, but apparently I'm not going to be so lucky. Basically I went over to the blokes house on Thursday evening, took the bike for a 20 odd minute test ride to be sure it worked and then paid, filled in the paperwork and headed home. The bike was absolutely fine the whole way. Friday morning I tried to start it but it just didn't have the legs to turn over, indicating a dead battery. I borrowed an optimate and had it on charge all of last night, and this morning it was showing a healthy green light to say that it had charged up ok and was not losing charge either. Good news, yay, yipee etc; off for a ride. Did that, got back, big fun. But as I was expecting just a few hours after that it's back to it's old tricks and the battery isn't charged enough for it to start. Now what I'm wondering is basically, should I just go out tomorrow and try to sort a new battery or does the fact that the optimate thingy didn't say it was losing charge indicate I need to look someplace else? Would appreciate any advice atm. Not happy. (I have checked that common wiring prob between the fuse box and under the rear seat but it looks ok to me)

18-06-05, 08:28 PM	#4
fizzwheel Super Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,614	Mine had a spell of doing that, new battery sorted it out. But checking that the regulator / rectifier is working correctly as Carsick suggests is a good idea __________________ Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. K5 GSXR 750 Anniversary Edition

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18-06-05, 05:23 PM	#2
Carsick Guest Posts: n/a	Get hold of the manual on this site and check the regulator and rectifier. If they're ok then the battery might just be knackered. Those battery tenders aren't foolproof.

18-06-05, 08:20 PM	#3
snoopy Guest Posts: n/a	Identical problem with my old'n'. Would appear to hold full charge (voltage) but current would not last. Optimate can't show this, but turning motor over will! Changed the battery on mine and fine ever since.

18-06-05, 09:48 PM	#5
pedrosis Guest Posts: n/a	Does it have an alarm on it?? When I crashed mine it sat in storage for a while with the alarm on (grrr!!) and it killed the battery I replaced it and it has been fine ever since.

18-06-05, 10:34 PM	#6
Dom_ Guest Posts: n/a	Cheers for the responses guys. I don't have an alarm on it but a look at the service book tells me he's done less than a thousand miles in the last year so I'm not surprised it's playing up really. I've had a look at the service manual and I would check the RR before forking out for a battery but I don't have a voltmeter/multimeter to check it with, so I think I'm going to gamble on a new battery. I wonder what my chances are of finding an affordable one on a Sunday.

19-06-05, 06:53 AM	#7
Clunk Guest Posts: n/a	I would go for a new battery. My 99 SVS is on its 3rd battery. I had the same problem as you with the 2nd battery. Optimate said it was ok but it wouldn't hold charge for more than a couple of days. New battery sorted it.

19-06-05, 10:10 AM	#8
pjsv650s Guest Posts: n/a	ok im worried now, my 2000 svs is still on its original battery , its been stood for a year , run flat twice and lives outdoors in all weathers and still fine. Only a matter of time i suppose. will get a slightly narrower one to replace it so the under tray will fit back in its original place with the gsxr shock