Hi Guys I took my 2011 blade 1000RR-RA for a ride yesterday .I got to the plane viewing spot at RAF Lakenheath which I guess is about 60 miles from my home ,I stayed for about twenty minutes and returned to my bike only to find it wouldn't start ! It only clicked when I turned the ignition so felt it was a flat battery. The AA turned up and gave the battery a boost and it fired up straight away no probs. He checked the voltage which was good and checked for any electrical discharge but found none,he was surprised that how far I had travelled that it drained the battery. Does any one have any ideas where to start-should I get a new battery? should I book it into the local stealers?(just spent a fortune on it with a service and ABS service and tyres) The battery has been on a optimizer all winter but not summer and I haven't used the bike for a couple of weeks due to the shit English summer. I feel that I cant trust it but I suppose I could always try bump starting it but it's a bit heaver for an old fella like me....Thanks for your time guys Ufoxed
If the AA man tested the charging voltage and it was okay then that suggests the charging system is working. It could simply be the battery is no longer holding its charge. How old is the Battery?
I've the same bike & mine started doing the same a couple of years ago. Did it 3 times, once after a good ride like you, then a couple of times after only about 5 miles. It always bumped but I ended up getting a new battery & it sorted it. How olds the battery in it?
Hi thanks for replying-I did the ride home so same mileage and when I got home I left the bike for the same amount time as it stood at Lakenheath and it started beautifully? I tried it just now and it started no probs. The battery is as old as the bike about 5years old may be I should get a new one but it hasn't missed a beat up to now. Cheers
I think after 2 years, you can expect battery power issues depending on the bike, battery and your luck! Despite my original practice for few years, I do not keep the battery on trickle charger continuously and recommend you not to do so either. ONce fully charged, disconnect for 7~10 days and recharge (2~3 wks if off the bike) Your best bet it to do an on line search for batteries as prices vary a lot MDS batteries is a good starting place. I have posted a new threat for lithium battery you may find interesting
This peaked my interest. Why do you say this? Aren't the trickle chargers designed to 'maintain' the battery, keep a constant load, discharg/charge etc?
There's a way to check the state of your battery (assuming you have a multimeter). Starting Load Test Adjust voltmeter to DC volts (20 volt range). Place voltmeter leads to the battery terminals. (positive to positive and negative to negative) Watch the voltmeter as you start your motorcycle. If the voltage drops below 9.5 volts, the battery has very low capacity and should be replaced. Charging System Test Adjust voltmeter to DC volts (20 volt range). Place voltmeter leads to the battery terminals. (positive to positive and negative to negative) Start your motorcycle. Bring engine RPM's up to approximately 3,000 Compare the voltage reading to the specification in your owner's manual. (Note:the voltage reading should be approx. 13.8 - 14.5 volts to properly charge an AGM battery.)
And if you don't have a multimeter, you really should. http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-mas83...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CNPr_7Py79UCFVONGwodt48NHg
I had the same thing happen to me, had to replace the battery. Note the ABS blade has a bigger capacity battery fitted, think it's about 11 amp hour one.
Mines always plugged into a optimate as I work away ....every 3mths when I return no problem but once I have ridden again I do not plug it in again until I return....bike now 4yrs old.
Seems curious you have just had work done, I'd be checking all connections before spending money. Mick.
yes they claim they are but I do not understand why this is good for the bat. For years, I used my accumate (bought in 2005) maintenance charger connected long term to either a bike or a car until I bought a new smart one (ctek) in 2014 The cteck has a 10 day check & recharge cycle unless the battery volts drop dramatically whereas the accumate switches to full recharge cycle if the draw current gets to 200mA This made me think that perhaps it is betters not to constantly trickle charge the bat (ctek method); remember batteries have a charging life cycle and each time you put 15v to charge, to tick off one cycle. if you do a search, you may find some discussions related to this with facts & figures. But I prefer the expression: trickle chargers, tickle your battery to death
I have been using a solar charger for my bikes set to 13.5 volts max, you can leave this on all year round. When I got my R1 the battery was a bit tired but it was on solar and lasted another 5 years no problem until I sold the bike. battery's like to be kept at a user voltage, so a constant 13.5 will keep it charged but not overcharged. under or overcharging will kill battery's
2011 ABS, sounds like the classic ABS ECU issue. Depending on how the bike is parked, the ABS solenoids stay active and drain the battery in 15-20 mins. If the bike is parked typically by manoeuvring it back and forwards and turning the bars, like when you peddle backwards into a gap, the early ECUs had a design fault, and the solenoids stay active when the ignition is off. Fix is the upgraded ECU, but at nearly 2K is not an option for most, simple way to stop this happening is after turning off the ignition, turn it back on and then off again without moving the bike. Deactivates the solenoids.
had the same problem with my 2010 drove me nuts for 18 months couldn't work out why the battery was going flat every now and again followed advice on here turn of back on and of again sorted haven't had a problem since
Hi guys thank you all for bothering to reply lots of info to digest... Kent blade that is fascinating stuff about the ABS solenoids a real insight.... I worried loads on purchasing the bike as to whether or not I should have ABS just another tick in the don't box.....All I will say is the battery lasted for four years no probs I put a trickle charger on it in the fifth year and problems !!!!! Gonna get a new battery next year and trickle charge it every 3-4 weeks I think. Thanks Bororich I have a multi metre so will check it before buying new. Gotta say thanks again guys this site is soooooooo helpful
Obviously everyone has their own experiences and reacts accordingly, I have used Optimates on bikes for years, continuously charging when not in use and no issues, in fact my 400 has a battery I took out of a 2010 Blade that was getting getting drained, not realising it was the ABS ECU issue, and that's always been trickle charged and is still working perfectly, 7 years on and probably covered around 50k miles in total
Wow! I've just purchased a 2011. Had only a couple of days, but don't 'back' into a parking spot. Now if anything does go wrong, I might have a handle on it. Thanks for the info!
Had the same problem myself a few years ago, out for Sunday ride pulled up for coffee and bike wouldnt start , Green flag to the rescue connected up to whatever they connect it to and bike fired up. For peace of mind bought new battery no problems since .
