Hi there,
Just bought my first firestorm last tuesday night but already have a bit of a problem with it...
Picked bike up from previous owner, rode about half way home,(approx 20mile) and pulled in to fill up with fuel. Went to start bike up again but wouldn't happen! Bike turned over but seemed as if battery didn't have enough power to start bike. Eventually got bike bump/push started with help from friendly passer by and rode rest of way home. Put battery on charge overnight and bike started first time next morning, but after a 15min ride my bike wouldn't start again! I re-charged the battery again and took voltage reading over terminals a with multi-meter with bike not started. This gave me 12.51v and battery seemed to be holding it's charge. Bike started again, but after another two starts refused a third time! I've now ordered a new battery and rectifier hoping that this could be the cause. Any advice, ideas or help would be greatly appreciated. (I'm dying to get out for a proper blast on my new toy without the fear of it leaving me stranded at another petrol station!)
Thanks,
Dave.
Rectifier, battery???
- DavieMac11
- Posts: 123
- Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 11:36 am
- Location: Ross-shire
- tony.wilde1
- Posts: 2230
- Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2003 9:32 pm
- Location: sussex
It's a Honda, the reg/rec is always the first suspect
It does sound like the regulator is fubared and not charging the battery enough, but it could also be the alternator, or just an old battery not holding its charge. I'd have made certain that I'd identified the problem before spending money on parts that may not solve the problem.
There's a good fault finding chart here.

It does sound like the regulator is fubared and not charging the battery enough, but it could also be the alternator, or just an old battery not holding its charge. I'd have made certain that I'd identified the problem before spending money on parts that may not solve the problem.
There's a good fault finding chart here.
“I don’t want to live in a society where some do gooder thinks my safety is more important than my freedom” – Richard Rutan
You've tested the battery but have you tested the output from the rectifier while the engine is running? Is it over charging or under.
If it were me I'd suspect the batt first. After a charge the batt seems to be holding 12 odd volts......but for how long. What you need to find out is the rate of discharge after charging it.
From what you say I'd suspect the batt rather than the regulator.
If it were me I'd suspect the batt first. After a charge the batt seems to be holding 12 odd volts......but for how long. What you need to find out is the rate of discharge after charging it.
From what you say I'd suspect the batt rather than the regulator.