Tuesday I noticed my bike didn't turn over with its usual gusto, so I charged up the battery, and, given how long it took to charge, it was very low. Then yesterday I took a 15 mile ride to watch a friend's kids soccer game, followed by a 25 mile ride home. This morning the bike had trouble starting, and when I tried to start it after filling up with gas just a few miles down the road, it wouldn't start at all. I pulled the battery and am charging it again so I can get the bike home, but is the problem the charging system, the battery, a drain on the battery? And how do I tell? (You will not insult me if you explain in detail . For example, if I use a multitester to check the charge going to the battery, what do I set the dial on?) The bike is a 2007 with 18,000 miles on it. I would think that even if the charging system was not working, the battery would hold its charge longer than that, but maybe not? Thanks!
sounds like the dreaded rectifier... welcome to VFR ownership. could be a bum battery though, would have it tested.
I would fully charge the battery then set your voltage meter on the DC .20(or maybe 2.0) setting. Connect to battery with bike running. Should read 14+ volts. Injected bikes can drain the battery fast.
The stator and rectifier went on my Honda Shadow. You could see the burned wires on that bike going into the rectifier, but the ones on the VFR looked all right when I glanced at them yesterday. Plus it is a 2007 and should not be prone to that, but that could just be me hoping. I will definitely have the battery tested. A bad battery would be my favorite scenario.
Thanks, Yonan. I will check the charge going into the battery after it is fully charged and reconnected. Since the battery went from fully charged to discharged overnight--though I did ride it the 40 miles or so--I assume either a bad battery or a short, given that the charging system is working. And this weekend is supposed to be perfect for riding!
Turns out it was the stator. A little disappointing given that the bike has just 18,000 on it and I don't ride it very hard and do regular maintenance, but I am hoping that it was just a manufacturing defect on this one. It is nice to have it back in the stable!
