BRM Summer Series Round 2 @ Taupo

**Mental Trousers** · 13th February 2013, 20:09

Friday morning I was off to Taupo for the Honda day. It turned out to be cheaper to do that, drive back home afterwards then head back down again on Sunday for the BRM Pacific Club Round 2. If I had've done Saturday/Sunday instead I would've had my wife with me so we'd have needed to get a decent motel room and food to keep her sweet about having to be at the race track 2 days in a row. I keep telling her Street Stock is perfect for her but she steadfastly refuses to think riding motorbikes is a fantastic idea.

When I got to the track on Friday it looked like there weren't that many people there, however it was early

Click to continue...

**neil_cb125t** · 13th February 2013, 20:29

Bike looks great matey! Real tidy package, thanks again for the batt charger - the shorai really did go flat instantly.

See you soon

**wharfy** · 13th February 2013, 22:01

Good write up mate, good to see you again and to meet your wife. It was a great weekend eh ?

**yungatart** · 14th February 2013, 06:40

It was good to catch up with you MT, as always.
I must pay more attention to you when you're racing!

**Edbear** · 14th February 2013, 08:11

Originally Posted by neil_cb125t

Bike looks great matey! Real tidy package, thanks again for the batt charger - the shorai really did go flat instantly.

See you soon

CAn you elaborate? Is it okay now?

**Mental Trousers** · 14th February 2013, 09:01

Originally Posted by Edbear

CAn you elaborate? Is it okay now?

I put it on my charger but and left it to do it's thing (alternate flashing LED's for recovery mode) but it only had about an hour on the charger. Funny thing is after a while the charger seemed to freak out and would flash the LED's 3 times then pause and kept doing that until unplugged. Plugged back in again it went back into recovery mode.

This charger seems to do that a lot. With my battery if I've had it on "Store" for a while and flick it over to "Charge" it freaks out and does the 3 flashes and pause thing. However, if I disconnect the charger, crank the engine over for about 3 seconds then reconnect the charger and press "Charge" it happily spends then next hour or so working as it should.

**Mental Trousers** · 14th February 2013, 09:09

Originally Posted by neil_cb125t

Bike looks great matey! Real tidy package

Thanks mate. I like the paint job on your bike, it looks very "military" for some reason I can't pin down. But that suits the bike and you and it stands out eh.

Originally Posted by wharfy

Good write up mate, good to see you again and to meet your wife. It was a great weekend eh ?

Sure was. I just love riding my bike with lots of mates. It's a very sociable activity where I get to learn and improve continuously and this weekend was a perfect example of that.

Originally Posted by yungatart

It was good to catch up with you MT, as always.
I must pay more attention to you when you're racing!

It's busy up in that tower. I'd wave as I went past but you might think somethings wrong!!

**Edbear** · 14th February 2013, 09:51

Originally Posted by Mental Trousers

I put it on my charger but and left it to do it's thing (alternate flashing LED's for recovery mode) but it only had about an hour on the charger. Funny thing is after a while the charger seemed to freak out and would flash the LED's 3 times then pause and kept doing that until unplugged. Plugged back in again it went back into recovery mode.

This charger seems to do that a lot. With my battery if I've had it on "Store" for a while and flick it over to "Charge" it freaks out and does the 3 flashes and pause thing. However, if I disconnect the charger, crank the engine over for about 3 seconds then reconnect the charger and press "Charge" it happily spends then next hour or so working as it should.

Interesting. Doesn't like being interrupted I guess. Next time plug in, switch on, wait for second beep before pressing charge and see what it does. If it's not right, I'll send you a replacement.

**neil_cb125t** · 14th February 2013, 10:31

Originally Posted by Edbear

CAn you elaborate? Is it okay now?

So my machines running total loss with a shorai 18amhr batt, did qualifying in F2 and F3 first F2 race was fine 5 laps, went out for F3, got red flaged on first lap, pulled into the pits, when we were released I made it to T3 then it stopped.

The batt hit 11volts, we changed batts to get me up and running (put in a std type batt) We plugged the shoria charger in, it beeped 3 times then flashed a sequence which was explained on the charger as batt to lower voltage = batt dead.

pretty shitty as its the biggest shorai aval 18amphr - I need a batt that continues to run a total loss machine for more than 10laps. The operating window is too tight.

**Edbear** · 14th February 2013, 12:18

Originally Posted by neil_cb125t

So my machines running total loss with a shorai 18amhr batt, did qualifying in F2 and F3 first F2 race was fine 5 laps, went out for F3, got red flaged on first lap, pulled into the pits, when we were released I made it to T3 then it stopped.

The batt hit 11volts, we changed batts to get me up and running (put in a std type batt) We plugged the shoria charger in, it beeped 3 times then flashed a sequence which was explained on the charger as batt to lower voltage = batt dead.

pretty shitty as its the biggest shorai aval 18amphr - I need a batt that continues to run a total loss machine for more than 10laps. The operating window is too tight.

A lot of riders are using Shorai in total loss systems, (including speedway cars, TQ's, Midgets and Superstock), due to their weight, size and the fact that they maintain their max output without dropping away. Having one third the reserve of lead-acid, though, they should be topped up between races on any charger, except a desulphering charger, for about 10-15 minutes.

Reconnect it to the Shorai charger, switch on and wait for the second beep. If it is flashing alternately, orange-green, leave it overnight as is. In the morning, if not showing as charged, switch off and repeat. After the second beep, press charge and see what happens. If the charger beeps loudly and the lights flash four times repeatedly the battery is dead. Contact me for a replacement and I'll put it down to lack of instruction.

**neil_cb125t** · 14th February 2013, 15:27

Originally Posted by Edbear

A lot of riders are using Shorai in total loss systems, (including speedway cars, TQ's, Midgets and Superstock), due to their weight, size and the fact that they maintain their max output without dropping away. Having one third the reserve of lead-acid, though, they should be topped up between races on any charger, except a desulphering charger, for about 10-15 minutes.

Reconnect it to the Shorai charger, switch on and wait for the second beep. If it is flashing alternately, orange-green, leave it overnight as is. In the morning, if not showing as charged, switch off and repeat. After the second beep, press charge and see what happens. If the charger beeps loudly and the lights flash four times repeatedly the battery is dead. Contact me for a replacement and I'll put it down to lack of instruction.

Yep I do plug it in between races, think its because F2 is always 1 race away from f3, so you get 5 mins or less on the charger. I have asked for the shorai charger through my supplier but haven't heard back as yet. I don't currently have one im using a run of the mill 4ma car batt charger. Could I send the batt to you to check over? Im not bitter the operating window is pretty tight - would using a shorai charger all teh time help the situation??

**neil_cb125t** · 14th February 2013, 15:33

Originally Posted by Mental Trousers

Thanks mate. I like the paint job on your bike, it looks very "military" for some reason I can't pin down. But that suits the bike and you and it stands out eh.!

yep was an older Kawaka Gp scheme but in green - I used to run that scheme, now gone white.....less kawasaki more kwiasfuki

Get some HRC parts and you'll get that thing singing!

**Edbear** · 14th February 2013, 16:35

Originally Posted by neil_cb125t

Yep I do plug it in between races, think its because F2 is always 1 race away from f3, so you get 5 mins or less on the charger. I have asked for the shorai charger through my supplier but haven't heard back as yet. I don't currently have one im using a run of the mill 4ma car batt charger. Could I send the batt to you to check over? Im not bitter the operating window is pretty tight - would using a shorai charger all teh time help the situation??

The. Shorai charger would help but prob better if you can plug it into a 10amp car charger between races. Having said that if it is in top condition it should do the job. What is your bike?

I'll PM you my address to send it to for checking out.

**neil_cb125t** · 14th February 2013, 18:46

Originally Posted by Edbear

The. Shorai charger would help but prob better if you can plug it into a 10amp car charger between races. Having said that if it is in top condition it should do the job. What is your bike?

I'll PM you my address to send it to for checking out.

Ta, ER650 motor, running total loss.