Hi from a newcomer
What's the experience of our community when it comes to battery charge. I have recently bought a 98 Storm and a couple of weeks ago the (you guessed it) the front tensioner went. Whilst the bike was laid up and i was getting the parts for that and the service - 2 weeks, thebatery only just had enough life in it to fire it up. The only extra is a Datatool system.
Is this usual or is there a fault in either the charging system or battery?
Mr Bean
Ps, David Silver had all the parts with me in two days - top notch
Batteries
Thanks for the reply, I'll run a voltmeter across the battery when running at full charge and switched off. As they're only 10ah can anyone advise on a higher capacity one that fits with no mods?
I was suspicious about the CCT going as there was a 'fluttering' noise that started (I wasn't convinced that it was not there before) from the engine on the overrun. Fortunately, it went about 100 yards from my door so scooted it home. It has now disappeared.
A word from experience (that I hadn't seen - I missed it in the Haynes bible), do not turn the engine (with either a socket or back wheel) in the opposite direction of normal travel. I did and the chain jumped a couple of teeth resulting in me having to re-set the cam timing with the hassles that go with it. It could have been worse, but i already had the cam covers off to check the clearances and to make sure it was on the compression stroke to avoid the chances off the chain jumping off!!!
Anyway, runs better than before with a much cleaner pick-up.
Any comments from experience on the battery side of things would be appreciated.
Bean
I was suspicious about the CCT going as there was a 'fluttering' noise that started (I wasn't convinced that it was not there before) from the engine on the overrun. Fortunately, it went about 100 yards from my door so scooted it home. It has now disappeared.
A word from experience (that I hadn't seen - I missed it in the Haynes bible), do not turn the engine (with either a socket or back wheel) in the opposite direction of normal travel. I did and the chain jumped a couple of teeth resulting in me having to re-set the cam timing with the hassles that go with it. It could have been worse, but i already had the cam covers off to check the clearances and to make sure it was on the compression stroke to avoid the chances off the chain jumping off!!!
Anyway, runs better than before with a much cleaner pick-up.
Any comments from experience on the battery side of things would be appreciated.
Bean
Welcome aboard Mr Bean 
Kaz is definitely right about alarm/immobiliser draining the bikes battery, most people use a proper bike charger such as an Optimate or Data-tool which not only charges the battery but monitors the level of power in the battery and keeps it topped up, you just plug your bike into it when you put your bike away in the garage at night, that's providing you have a garage of course
Battery life can vary but according to my local bike shop a battery (just a standard priced one) will probably last only 2 to 3 years, obviously depends on how it's used IE short trips etc against long runs. The one I replaced in my bike was the original Yusa fitment and it nearly lasted 7years which was excellent
If you are going to put a multi meter across the terminals which I think would be a good idea before you go far, with the engine off you should
have approx. 12volts, with the bike started and charging (may need to rev it a little) you should have approx. 14volts, next turn the headlight on and you should have approx 13volts,
HTH,
Chris.
Kaz is definitely right about alarm/immobiliser draining the bikes battery, most people use a proper bike charger such as an Optimate or Data-tool which not only charges the battery but monitors the level of power in the battery and keeps it topped up, you just plug your bike into it when you put your bike away in the garage at night, that's providing you have a garage of course
Battery life can vary but according to my local bike shop a battery (just a standard priced one) will probably last only 2 to 3 years, obviously depends on how it's used IE short trips etc against long runs. The one I replaced in my bike was the original Yusa fitment and it nearly lasted 7years which was excellent
If you are going to put a multi meter across the terminals which I think would be a good idea before you go far, with the engine off you should
have approx. 12volts, with the bike started and charging (may need to rev it a little) you should have approx. 14volts, next turn the headlight on and you should have approx 13volts,
HTH,
Chris.
Thank you all for the welcome
Thanks Chris
Garage? Unfortunately, I only have a small front garden. It's just about big enough to sqeeze the bike in
. Hence the question about higher capacity batteries.
Thanks for the info on voltage. I have around 14.6v with headlight off, 14v with it on and 13.1v without engine running. This last one was taken after I had checked the others. Probably should have done first
Bean
Film star looks??
Thanks Chris
Garage? Unfortunately, I only have a small front garden. It's just about big enough to sqeeze the bike in
. Hence the question about higher capacity batteries.Thanks for the info on voltage. I have around 14.6v with headlight off, 14v with it on and 13.1v without engine running. This last one was taken after I had checked the others. Probably should have done first
Bean
Film star looks??
That sounds reasonable to meMr Bean wrote:Thank you all for the welcome
Thanks Chris
Garage? Unfortunately, I only have a small front garden. It's just about big enough to sqeeze the bike in
Thanks for the info on voltage. I have around 14.6v with headlight off, 14v with it on and 13.1v without engine running. This last one was taken after I had checked the others. Probably should have done first
Bean
Film star looks??
I don't see why you couldn't fit a bigger capacity battery myself, which I have done in the past in my car. Probably best to check with someone who knows first, perhaps your local bike shop
Chris.