I made a fail

[Oblivion]

I made a fail today.

Needed to post something in the mail, So I don the proper gear and go for a ride up to the postbox. I hadn't been riding for a couple of weeks so the bike was really hard to start. I manage to get it started and ride up the road. On the way back, I pull up to the roundabout outside our house. So there I was idling, and the headlight dims, and the engine cuts out. Pulled off to the side and spent 30 seconds to get it started again. (turned the headlight off, and gave it a small push).

I have learnt a very valuable lesson here.

If you haven't ridden your bike for a while, always make sure you spend time idling to charge the battery a bit before you go riding.

I didn't and looked like an idiot.

[bogan]

are you sure it is charging properly? wouldn't expect it to cut out from a battery with a low state of charge.

[Katman]

If you haven't ridden your bike for a while, always make sure you spend time idling to charge the battery a bit before you go riding.

Why?

Riding it will charge the battery faster than idling it.

[steve_t]

Why?

Riding it will charge the battery faster than idling it.

+1 Just what I was about to say.

I think you need a new battery

[Oblivion]

Its still rideable to say the least. I just think something is wrong somewhere and I can't be bothered to fix it. I'll just deal with it until I can get my full.

The only problem that I hate is the bike not being able to start with the headlight on. At all actually.

And then I ride with the headlight off accidentally.

[Edbear]

Its still rideable to say the least. I just think something is wrong somewhere and I can't be bothered to fix it. I'll just deal with it until I can get my full.

The only problem that I hate is the bike not being able to start with the headlight on. At all actually.

And then I ride with the headlight off accidentally.

I think I see your problem...

[Usarka]

I made a fail today.

Needed to post something in the mail, So I don the proper gear and go for a ride up to the postbox.

You have to ride the bike to get to the letter box?

[Oblivion]

You have to ride the bike to get to the letter box?

My legs were....uh......indisposed......on the footpegs....

[AllanB]

Bummer - give the battery a good old fashioned charge up - it may be on it's way out if it has gone flat after 2 weeks. It is getting colder and about that time when batteries fail.

Agree re idling - it will not charge much that way. I notice in my workshop manual that max charging for my bike is just on 5,000 rpms .

A good excuse to hoon - 'honest office I had to ride like that as my battery will go flat if I stick to the speed limit'.

A good investment for a bike that sits for a while is a battery tender - heaps of brands out now and they start from as low as $70. Usually some on Trademe any given week.

[steve_t]

A good excuse to hoon - 'honest office I had to ride like that as my battery will go flat if I stick to the speed limit'.

LOL. Reminds me of the guy that was busted at 140 (don't actually remember how fast he was going but it was quite a bit over) because he'd just washed his car and wanted to dry it

[Oblivion]

Bummer - give the battery a good old fashioned charge up - it may be on it's way out if it has gone flat after 2 weeks. It is getting colder and about that time when batteries fail.

Agree re idling - it will not charge much that way. I notice in my workshop manual that max charging for my bike is just on 5,000 rpms .

A good excuse to hoon - 'honest office I had to ride like that as my battery will go flat if I stick to the speed limit'.

A good investment for a bike that sits for a while is a battery tender - heaps of brands out now and they start from as low as $70. Usually some on Trademe any given week.

The battery itself is only a few months old. The old one was completly dead and wouldn't hold a charge. Put the new battery in and it still takes a while to start.
Methinks I should replace the spark plugs or something. That might make a difference.

[steve_t]

Check R/R and stator

[Oblivion]

LOL. Reminds me of the guy that was busted at 140 (don't actually remember how fast he was going but it was quite a bit over) because he'd just washed his car and wanted to dry it

Sorry Officer I was uh.....trying to get to the donut shop before it closes. Want to come?

[ducatilover]

Why?

Riding it will charge the battery faster than idling it.

Just let it idle at 2000rpm Most decent condition bike charging systems put out far more than needed (To my little knowledge) the problem is the reg/rec is letting out less as the input voltage is "low"

I think.
Or summat like that.

[AllanB]

The battery itself is only a few months old. The old one was completly dead and wouldn't hold a charge. Put the new battery in and it still takes a while to start.
Methinks I should replace the spark plugs or something. That might make a difference.

Hmmm, what's the bike?