New battery needed - Recommendations?

[mada]

Been bored as hell and lazy as these last couple of months with bookwork and studying. About 3 months back, the electrics in my bike shat itself and going by what I've read on here - the cause appears to be the battery - accessory electrics like horn, indicators, all went first, while the bike would still run and headlight still work and then about a week or so later nothing working at all - no lights/no longer starting/clicking nada.

Haven't really needed to use the bike over that period as I usually walk to Uni, so it has been parked up. Poor little thing. So battery will be well entruly dead by now. Did not really want to spend on time it, while not wanting to spend $$ at mechanics if it could be resolved cheaper. Now with a bit of a break am keen to get back on it and need the bike up and going for placements next year that could be over the other side of town or as far south as Rotovegas.

Prior usage of the bike has been on and off - on average last year and this year a couple of rides a month, in the summer months like December, Jan, weekly and often daily usage. Not as much as when I first got it and started riding unfortunately. Have a lot of things on at the end of the year (exams, family events, travel) which I can see resulting in me riding very little - but I want a battery that is more likely to last through that and long term, know that I need to get myself a charger though and try to maintain any battery that I get and a multimeter to check its not something else causing the electric problem.

Bike is a little CB250 2000 nighthawk, and the battery that I've pulled out is a "Poweroad YS12-7L-BS Battery". Exactly the same as listed here http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/parts-for-sale/batteries-mounts/auction-906807275.htm

Got no idea about anything to do with batteries or the coding numbers and am complete noob when it comes to mechanical stuff, Yuasa "YTX7L-BS" appears to be same size and equivalent to what was in my bike.

Seen lots of comments on Yuasa but also Motobatt, what's the main differences between them, what maintenance is needed in terms of charging and how suitable would either be to survive a potentially short period of riding over the next 4 - 5 months, but then some good usage next year? Anyone else using the same type of Chinese battery that was in my bike? Or any other recommendations for a CB250 in particular?

Cheers for your help.

[Nobbsie]

Hey man I like motobatt battery's as they are a cheaper good battery that comes pre charged, not sure what they are like with months of not being used.

http://www.motobatt.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=92&year=91-09&cc=250&manufacturer_id=16&category_id=63&model_id=379

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/parts-for-sale/batteries-mounts/auction-904460187.htm
Just my 2 cents

[bogan]

I'd see about getting some charge into the current one first. It might not be totally fucked. Then look at you electrics/wiring, a bad batt won't kill horn/indicators etc before the starter stops working, or before the bike dies. I'm picking you got wiring/earthing problems, and potentially charging circuit too. Is it garaged? and do you know how to use a multimeter?

[mada]

I'd see about getting some charge into the current one first. It might not be totally fucked. Then look at you electrics/wiring, a bad batt won't kill horn/indicators etc before the starter stops working, or before the bike dies. I'm picking you got wiring/earthing problems, and potentially charging circuit too. Is it garaged? and do you know how to use a multimeter?

Yeh was going to pick up a multimeter tomorrow and check just to be certain - haven't used one before, so was going to copy off youtube and try read up on here.

Bike has been under a carport for last three months. When it was working, it had only been out under the carport for about two weeks - before it had spent most its time at my in-laws in a garage. Last year it had been in and out of garage / the car port.

How would I be able to differentiate between the problems you listed?

Thanks!

[bogan]

Yeh was going to pick up a multimeter tomorrow and check just to be certain - haven't used one before, so was going to copy off youtube and try read up on here.

Bike has been under a carport for last three months. When it was working, it had only been out under the carport for about two weeks - before it had spent most its time at my in-laws in a garage. Last year it had been in and out of garage / the car port.

How would I be able to differentiate between the problems you listed?

Thanks!

Start with the battery, if you can get your hands on a charger, give it a full charge then see if it cranks the bike well. Then with the bike running check the battery voltage and make sure it is over 13.5V, there is other fault finding flowcharts for the charging circuit etc, but see how you go with those to start and will dig up the others if needed...

That sort of life shouldn't cause any issues with wiring itself, so I reckon you look at all the earth connections just to make sure they are not loose, and same for the fusebox and connections within.

[mada]

Start with the battery, if you can get your hands on a charger, give it a full charge then see if it cranks the bike well. Then with the bike running check the battery voltage and make sure it is over 13.5V, there is other fault finding flowcharts for the charging circuit etc, but see how you go with those to start and will dig up the others if needed...

That sort of life shouldn't cause any issues with wiring itself, so I reckon you look at all the earth connections just to make sure they are not loose, and same for the fusebox and connections within.

Thanks mate, will give that a try and let you know how it gets on.

[rambaldi]

Thanks mate, will give that a try and let you know how it gets on.

Also have a look at the shop manual for the bike (via google), it should give expected voltage readings for the rectifier etc. at specific RPMs. and give you useful fault finding flow charts.

[Akzle]

get a big ass can of crc66 and spray everything with it.


just not the cat.


...and dont smoke while you're doing it.

AMHIK.

[mada]

Thanks for the tips everyone.

Tried charging the battery but it was rooted (multimeter showed it wouldn't charge and voltage was less than an AA). So bought a motobatt. Downloaded bike manual and tried out all the fuses - turns out just a simple shorted fuse. :baby:
What an absolute muppet I am.. :brick:

Was good experience though learning new "basics" and where things are on the bike - like the free tool kit. Will be spending a bit more time reading up on things so I can understand how the bike truly works (I'm sure in some ways its very similar to the human body!)

Glad not to have forked out for a mechanic for something so small and simple.

Cheers :drinkup: