Any known battery drains for Road Stars?

[Trex Star]

I know we don't have a lot of factory electronics on our bikes, but I'm wondering if any of you have found anything draining your battery.

The reason I ask is I just recently put a brand new battery in my bike and I keep it on a battery tender, but the other day the bike almost didn't start after an hour long ride. Got back to the house and the battery tender reported it at 25%.

Battery:Yuasa YTX20HL-BS - I newly activated it.
Battery Tender: BatteryMinder 2012-AGM - supposed to be one of the best.

[Bikerron]

...but the other day the bike almost didn't start after an hour long ride.

Well, yea. All the electronics, while riding the bike, will drain the battery if.... the charging system took a dump.

You’ll need a volt meter to check what the stator/regulator is feeding the battery while it is running. A fully charged battery should read around 14v at a fast idle if the system is charging.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Digital-L...eter/397764208

[Lug Nut]

If bike is stock with no additional electrical bullshit and you have a good charging system, battery, connections etc then no. Should be able to let bike situ touched for several months and fire right up.

[Horsehammerr]

Mine did EXACTLY the same CRAP ! New Regulator / Rectifier , All Good . Only use OEM electric parts.

[Bikerron]

Just don’t assume that’s what you need. A multimeter will tell you what’s working, and what isn’t.

[Trex Star]

Just don’t assume that’s what you need. A multimeter will tell you what’s working, and what isn’t.

OK, I have a meter; where do I land the leads to monitor what the rectifier is doing vs the battery's voltage?

[Bikerron]

You need to establish what the voltage is at the battery first, with the bike running, to determine if the system is even charging. Like I posted earlier. Should be close to 14 volts at a fast idle.

Check the link below.

https://wayback.archive-it.org/10073...t/view/18/103/

[Trex Star]

Thanks for the link - will monitor and report back this weekend.

[Trex Star]

Well, my battery showed 13.4V resting and then with the bike running and wrapping the throttle it hung around 14.5V. The guide cautions anything over 14V may be bad, but other sources list that as within the acceptable range.

Next step is to let bike set with no trickle charger and see if the battery drops significantly.

[davej]

It's OK at 14.5v

[Bikerron]

If it craps out again, the only thing I can suggest is that you get that battery load tested.

The battery you mentioned. After filling the battery with acid that was supplied did you allow it to sit over night, to allow the solution to soak into the plates, before charging it?

[davej]

And a nice low amp slow charge

[Trex Star]

That's a Yes on both accounts.

[Bikerron]

A must!