I just bought this 1986 VFR 700cc. I brought it home started it up drove it around the block pulled back into my drive way then the bike died. Tried to restart it but it would not turn over. Charged the battery and bike started back up. So I call the guy I bought the bike off of and asked him about it. He stated that the battery goes dead all the time... I was wondering if anybody would know what would cause this? I'm new to motorcycles and I have no clue if it a major wiring problem or if it something common with these bikes.. Give me a shout back if anybody has had this problem before and can help me out.. Thank you bigwillie...
If the battery goes dead all the time, it sounds like it is not being charged. It could be the regulator/rectifier (r/r) or the stator, or it could have just been a bad battery. If you do not have a service manual, I advise obtaining one. But for now, to check the r/r, make sure you have a fully charged battery, get out your digital voltmeter (if you don't have one, Walmart or your local auto parts store should have one for a reasonable cost) and set it for 20 volts, touch the approbriate leads to the battery terminals, red to (+) and black to (-), and note the voltage. It should be about 13.5 volts. Then, with the leads still attached, bring the rpms up to 5,000. The voltage should increase to at least 14.5 volts. I know for my 93, the service manual says that the regulated voltage should be between 13.5 and 16.0 volts at 5,000 rpm. If the volts do not increase, or increase and then decrease, the r/r is most likely bad. Also, make sure the connetions to the battery are tight as well as the grounds on the frame are tight and not corroded. I am sure if I have left anything out, someone will fill in the gaps. Best of luck and hope this helps.
