Electrics

Having learnt my RSV noob lesson I bought a gel battery (a size bigger as suggested) from M&P and put it in me Mille. All sorted? So it seemed so for a while...

The Mille was on the optimate during the bad weather last week and then I rode for the last couple of days of the week. Then it stood for the weekend while it rained Satrday and Sunday. Finally the rain stopped on Sunday afternoon and I went for a bimble - riding and stopping as the fancy took me. The last stop it refused to restart and the clocks reset. Seemed very odd that a brand new gel battery that spends most of it's time on an optimate was flat. After four or fives attempts it finally started.

I took it home and put it on the Optimate. The Optimate went to it's desulfate/deep discharge setting. Eventually it got to the normal green light setting.

On Monday I rode it to work and when I put it back on the Optimate when I got home and again it went into the whole desulfate/deep discharge recovery cycle again.

Today - exactly the same thing.

All I can think is that somewhere the electrics are earthing and draining the battery. I had the side fairings off and the tank up when I got home and I haven't managed to find any rubbed or worn wires anywhere yet.

Anyone have any other ideas about what's going on? Bearing in mind that it's an almost brand new gel battery.

DaveRSV said:

Another regular problem on any vehicle is when earths are not that good. Have you checked that the earth lead from the battery is making a clean connection and is tight and clean?

Out of interest, you say you were stopping and riding as the mood took you, what sort of distances are you doing between these stops?

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Yep I forgot to say that the first thing I did was check the battery connections were tight - and they are.

I probably did 5 miles and stopped, then 7 miles then stopped and that's when it wouldn't start.

MSmilleR said:

If you have access to a multi-meter you could check for amp drain disconnect the earth and attach it to the multi-meter probe then attach the other probe to the battery, then see what you got. (set to amps)
If there are any other earth points on the engine frame etc make sure these have no rust/corrosion as this would also cause an issue, clean them up and whack some grease on.

It could also be a dud battery if it had been sitting on a shelf, if these batteries drop below 12v it can cause issues:thumbup

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I don't have a multi-meter but I do have a mate with one, I'll go bug him tomorrow. Cheers

NewBoots said:

I know it sounds ridiculous but my understanding is that at least 10 miles 'normal' riding is needed between stops to top up the battery with the charge required to start it!!! I found that even in the height of summer my bike doesn't like stop/start short town journeys!!!! What we need is a thermonuclear device to maintain a healthy electrical charge on RSV's!!!

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Yeah if it was just that one failed attempt to start I'd put it down to the bike not having built up enough charge but it's the problems with the bike on the Optimate that make me think it's more than just that.

sergi75 said:

I use my RSV 02 to go to work everyday, 9kms through London, around 20/30min depending on traffic and the battery hasn't complained so far. Sorry cannot help much about the electrics but it seems odd that you battery discharges so quickly. I maybe naive but why don't you give a call to the guys in southern cross London? They might give you a clue or refuse to give you the info but you have nothing to loose. Sergi

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Cheers Sergi, I'm lucky enough to have a bike mad mechanic friend (the one with a multi-meter) who I will be bugging to help me sort this problem. If we can't diagnose and cure it it'll have to go to Speedaway as I think they're my closest dealer.

Ah looks like it's the battery. I took it of the bike to remove one of the variables in the problem and the Optimate goes through the deep discharge cycle every time I hook the battery up. I'm quite relieved. Cheers for your help guys