Need a bit of advice as having some battery woes. 2019 SP with the lithium battery. Tracker installed on bike. No other accessories or changes electrically from OEM spec. All been fine until 3 or 4 weeks ago. Went out for a long ride, came home and then left the bike sitting for just under a week. Went to go for my next ride and switched on ignition, fuel pump started to prime, dash lit momentarily and then everything died. Quick check with the multimeter showed battery at 5.4V!! Plugged into Optimate and battery brought back up to 13.4V however during optimate voltage retention test phase it showed a red light (battery's general state of health or excessive self discharge or higher than expected power loss through the vehicle electrical system). Disconnected battery from bike and reattached optimate and it charged, passed the test and continued in maintenance charge cycle. Left battery for a few days and then re-attached optimate and got same tests results. Think that rules out battery general state of health or excessive self discharge and suggests there is an issue in wiring in the bike? Alternator and reg/rectifier seems fine as when running battery readout on multimeter direct to terminals is about 14.5V. Also if ridden every day, bike fires up first time nice and easily. I know that both the HISS and tracker are likely to drain the battery over a prolonged period without the use of a charger but to go down to 5.4V in under a week seems excessive. I suspect there is a more substantial problem and the Tracker might be a good place to start in terms of the drain, but have I missed anything else obvious? Or even am I completely on the wrong track?
Just as a preliminary response, I am sure someone else with a 2018 or 19 suffered the same problem with a tracker. I'll try to locate the thread. Found: https://www.1000rr.co.uk/threads/2019-sp2-battery-dead.38036/
I don't know why people don't keep their bike on charge!! Sometimes people forget and sometimes think..... Ah it'll be alright for a few days Even on a new bike I would always keep on trickle charge ..... I do on mine and never had problems. I don't have a tracker though...... Thank fuck!
2019 should be still under honda warranty so get them to earn their money before doing anything that can void it. It is well documented that LiFePo batteries do not tolerate high state of discharge (below 12v I think!) and the Ah rating is much lower than Pb batteries. I would not be surprised if the Ah rating on your OEM battery is just above 2Ah, in which case it will discharge at a drop of a hat. At 5.4v, there is a good chance you may have killed a cell or two. Some BSM of these batteries have low discharge protection that kicks in completely shutting it down but it looks like your doesn't have one since you read 5.4v. Depending on what the dealer says, if they replace the battery, ask them if the can fit a higher capacity one and pay the difference. BTW LiFePo do not do trickle charging. Once charge using a classic charger, you should disconnect it. Th dedicated chargers would obviouly have the right steps.
Thanks @nigelrb I saw that thread but (maybe wrongly) assumed that was more a case of not putting on charge as it was mentioned the bike had been left for a month. For me it was only 5 days off charge, hence my thoughts of something more substantial. @bonjo The OEM battery says it is 4.5Ah and the optimate looks like it has recovered it without damage as it was giving "green" on all the test results and that's on a specific lithium charger not a standard trickle one.
Maybe I misunderstood. You disconnected the battery then charge it , all ok followed by resting. Re attached optimate and you got problem battery status? Or was it a different scenario? If you find out the current draw of the tracker, this should give you a good idea of battery performance. I would still get it checked by a Honda dealer if it were me.
More than likely the tracker is to blame. It may have already killed your battery. Although some people on here dispute it, the battery needs a special lithium charger.
My interpretation is, @Kevin1 , that one can use a 'conventional' charger to recharge the battery, but cannot leave it connected for long-term maintenance. I understand that would cook the lithium battery because of too high a charge rate (in layman's terms).
I had the issue!! It's all sorted with a lithium battery charger but it needs to be constantly plugged in which was a suprise after having 2 BMWs which I could leave for months over the winter and always started first time. However now it has its lifeline it's fine and I love it.
You can buy a lithium charger at £80 or a new battery and lithium charger when your lead/acid charger has fried the dead lithium. The decision is yours. Not to mention the fact that the battery might catch fire if your lead acid charging stint gets forgotten about. Pay the £80, and save a call to 999, to tell them your £22k bike is on fire.
Hey, I'm on your side. Merely explaining why some say that a lead acid charger can be used. Among my 7 Oximisers I have the dedicated Optimate for my SP2:
The trouble with that optimate is that it looks boring. For £80+ I want digital readout, back lighting etc
