SV wouldn't start. What's the battery life expectancy? - SV650.org

16-01-05, 09:56 AM

My SV wouldn't start on Friday morning - the battery was struggling to turn the engine even a quarter of a turn. Never happened before, always been 100% reliable.

It's an Apr 03 K2, garaged and used every day (including the day before). It was a cold night, but probably not below zero.

I charged the battery up and all was well. Just touched the button and she roared into life.

Sticking a meter acros the batt at idle speed showed 15 juicy volts, so looks like the charging system is ok. Dropped to 14.8 volts with heated grips on.

Questions:
a) Is the battery knackered or is there some other fault lurking? Would you expect a motorcycle battery to last less than two years? I've never considered an Optimate necessary as I use the bike every day.
b) I have Oxford HotHands fitted. How much of a strain are these on the electrical system? Should I moderate their use, or is the stated 2A insignificant?

And before anyone asks, no I hadn't left my lights or heated grips on overnight.

Rob

16-01-05, 10:29 AM

My batteries four year old and going fine. Maybes you left the parking light on?

16-01-05, 11:26 AM

Mines a '99 on the original battery. Bike gets left on the drive, never been on a charger, but is used everyday. Never had any bother.

16-01-05, 02:01 PM

I have only had my K4 since November and have done 1100 miles on it, I removed the battery and optimised it the other night and was amazed to find how low the battery voltage was. I have had no problems starting the bike I just optimise the battery as a matter of routine. I would reccomend using an optimiser, there is nothing worse than struggling to get a bike going.

*Kicks seven bells outta his old RS125*

16-01-05, 02:04 PM

mines also four years old, no probs with it..... Could be the new grips

ophic · 16-01-05, 02:57 PM

mine's a year old K3, with an alarm. It hadn't been used for about six or more weeks over xmas and i fully expected it not to start - but it did, once i'd managed to get the alarm out of power-conservation mode. I was convinced i'd have to jump or bump start it.

16-01-05, 04:28 PM

I tried bump starting the SV once - talk about impossible!

16-01-05, 07:24 PM

And mine is a March 03 K2 with the original battery, I left the parking light on once and it is a pig to bump off. No actually it was impossible

I only charged it up again and it has been fine since.

Probably more likely to be the heated grips, eh?

16-01-05, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobSV

My SV wouldn't start on Friday morning - the battery was struggling to turn the engine even a quarter of a turn. Never happened before, always been 100% reliable.

It's an Apr 03 K2, garaged and used every day (including the day before). It was a cold night, but probably not below zero.

I charged the battery up and all was well. Just touched the button and she roared into life.

Sticking a meter acros the batt at idle speed showed 15 juicy volts, so looks like the charging system is ok. Dropped to 14.8 volts with heated grips on.

Questions:
a) Is the battery knackered or is there some other fault lurking? Would you expect a motorcycle battery to last less than two years? I've never considered an Optimate necessary as I use the bike every day.
b) I have Oxford HotHands fitted. How much of a strain are these on the electrical system? Should I moderate their use, or is the stated 2A insignificant?

And before anyone asks, no I hadn't left my lights or heated grips on overnight.

Rob

I would keep an eye on the charging system... puting out 15 volts at idle is NOT normal, at idle, normally the engine is running off the battery and charging system is barely putting out.

what counts as far as your charging systeme is concerned, you should be getting 14+ volts @ 5000 rpm after everything is warmed up, it is not uncommon for the regulator/rectifier to work properly when cold then not work correctly when warmed up.

Heated grips should help your electrical system. RRs in bikes regulate the voltage by grounding out the excess and disapating it as heat...heat is the enemy of the RR. any excess electricity you use is less that the RR has to ground out, and less heat that it will subject itself too.

16-01-05, 11:44 PM

dunno, could be considered normal to me. but im not an expert. if its started often in the cold. always have lights on. mabe your draining it faster than its getting charge.

same thing happened with my 125cc.
charged it up once, now its fine.

push starts are easy - get someone else to push you - or do it down a hill.

16-01-05, 09:56 AM	#1
RobSV Guest Posts: n/a	SV wouldn't start. What's the battery life expectancy? My SV wouldn't start on Friday morning - the battery was struggling to turn the engine even a quarter of a turn. Never happened before, always been 100% reliable. It's an Apr 03 K2, garaged and used every day (including the day before). It was a cold night, but probably not below zero. I charged the battery up and all was well. Just touched the button and she roared into life. Sticking a meter acros the batt at idle speed showed 15 juicy volts, so looks like the charging system is ok. Dropped to 14.8 volts with heated grips on. Questions: a) Is the battery knackered or is there some other fault lurking? Would you expect a motorcycle battery to last less than two years? I've never considered an Optimate necessary as I use the bike every day. b) I have Oxford HotHands fitted. How much of a strain are these on the electrical system? Should I moderate their use, or is the stated 2A insignificant? And before anyone asks, no I hadn't left my lights or heated grips on overnight. Rob

16-01-05, 02:01 PM	#4
JoeyBananas Guest Posts: n/a	Optimisers I have only had my K4 since November and have done 1100 miles on it, I removed the battery and optimised it the other night and was amazed to find how low the battery voltage was. I have had no problems starting the bike I just optimise the battery as a matter of routine. I would reccomend using an optimiser, there is nothing worse than struggling to get a bike going. Kicks seven bells outta his old RS125

16-01-05, 02:57 PM	#6
ophic Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Whyteleafe Posts: 3,395	mine's a year old K3, with an alarm. It hadn't been used for about six or more weeks over xmas and i fully expected it not to start - but it did, once i'd managed to get the alarm out of power-conservation mode. I was convinced i'd have to jump or bump start it. __________________ Silver SV650SK3, Fuel exhaust

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16-01-05, 10:29 AM	#2
snoopy Guest Posts: n/a	My batteries four year old and going fine. Maybes you left the parking light on?

16-01-05, 11:26 AM	#3
Scoobs Guest Posts: n/a	Mines a '99 on the original battery. Bike gets left on the drive, never been on a charger, but is used everyday. Never had any bother.

16-01-05, 02:04 PM	#5
Iansv Guest Posts: n/a	mines also four years old, no probs with it..... Could be the new grips

16-01-05, 04:28 PM	#7
snoopy Guest Posts: n/a	I tried bump starting the SV once - talk about impossible!

16-01-05, 07:24 PM	#8
wheelnut Guest Posts: n/a	And mine is a March 03 K2 with the original battery, I left the parking light on once and it is a pig to bump off. No actually it was impossible I only charged it up again and it has been fine since. Probably more likely to be the heated grips, eh?

16-01-05, 11:44 PM	#10
Warren Guest Posts: n/a	dunno, could be considered normal to me. but im not an expert. if its started often in the cold. always have lights on. mabe your draining it faster than its getting charge. same thing happened with my 125cc. charged it up once, now its fine. push starts are easy - get someone else to push you - or do it down a hill.