Battery help-URGENT!Will a smaller one work?

Got home from work today and the battery's flat as a pancake. Had the bike out on Sunday night for a good 70 miles and must've left the ****ing parking lights on (Although I had the whole of the back off the bike checking the wiring for about two hours because I fitted a tail tidy on Saturday-until my mate suggested the parking light!DOH!!).

This is urgent by the way because I have a track day tomorrow!

I got a mechanic friend to bring home a battery for me which is different to the original, even though I gave him the model number. I have the old one on an optimate and it is slowly charging but it might not make it. Do you think the smaller one will work ok if the old one has had it? Should the old one charge up ok and is it charged when it gets to 12v? (at the moment showing 8v after about 3 hours on charge).

Specs of the two are:
Old one;
Voltage=12,
Capacity=10,
Acid volume=0.6,
Amps=1.2,
C.C.A.=180.

New one;
Voltage=12,
Capacity=9.5,
Acid volume=0.5,
Amps=1,
C.C.A.=175. Incidently the new battery that I really don't want to fit if I can help it is the correct model for curveys up to and including 2002.

If anyone has any experience with these or advise can you reply asap. I have to leave at about 5.30 in the morning for Brands Hatch. I'm sure the neighbours won't mind the wailing alarm when I fit whichever battery!

Not much help on the battery size front, although as long as it connects up and has enough juice to crank it, it should work...cant guarantee anything though.

I would of thought that 7 hours on an optimate would be fine....mine can get enough juice to start it in an hour...if from flat the headlights might not be amazing though. IMO 7 hours should be fine for the old battery.

Enjoy the trackday

Cheers ASM. Panicking a little though. Have to get up even earlier now to try the charged battery and then if it doesn't work take a gamble on the new one. It's charging at 9v now. Yours must've been in good condition. There's always something before a track day. Never when I go out for a little spin on the roads. It'll hopefully be our first dry one too. Suppose at least it's taking my mind off the fear!

I reckon you will be fine, should have enough juice to get it going then high revs to get that headlight up to strength.

Probably too much hassle but i have a Halfords car/boat/bike charger, that seems really powerful. Makes a god awful racket, but is super quick to charge. Might be too much of a trek if you are in Ruislip, but the offers there. My SV has always been really great on the battery front but i had a Cagiva that was a nightmare electronically...the halfords charger powered it up in no time.

Still probably fussing over nothing though...should be fine.

Not bothered about the headlight! Still not over 9 volts yet although it is steadily going up. Thanks for the offer of the other charger. I got the cheapo one from lidl but it says not for gel so I won't risk it. Half decent roads around Marlow!

can you not jump start it off a car? or bump start it?

a smaller battery will work fine (within reason - ie 1/2 size should be okay), it just won't last for as long

anyway, hope you get it sorted & have a good day tomorrow. where are you going - anywhere good?

PM sent

Roads around Marlow could potentially be good, but quite congested as there is no ring road just a through road. Can be decent heading out of Marlow towards Henley/Reading, but a few ****e 30MPH Shiplake and the road surfaces are quite poor. Its a main bus route though so you get to hoon past them, whilst practising all sorts of lunacy

Weazelz is right though...worst case scenario= bump start....extra points for doing it by yourself with legs going behind you like a frog!

Yeah can jump start it but don't really wanna do that 7 times after getting there! Had running prblems with a dodgy battery too and speedo reading 184mph! I may take the battery and jump leads and optimiser with me! I'll be damned if I have to buy ANOTHER battery just because I left the parking light on. What's the point in it anyway? Anyone know an easy way to disconnect it?

Doing Brands Weazelz.

Taken my nitol and am going to bed and WILL sleep!

Originally Posted by teriyakimonkey

...left the parking light on. What's the point in it anyway? Anyone know an easy way to disconnect it?

Doing Brands Weazelz.

you can always take the bulb(s) out

oo .. brands .. not jealous, honest