Post up your rides!!!

[grasshopperglock]

Better image from last weekend, first warm day of 2018. It wasn't adrenaline fueled action packed fun, but it was still 3 hours better spent than I usually do. Rode to Riflegear and couldn't get any service, so I just went for a cruise.

Strange problem though; started just fine at 9am, let it warm up for 2-3 minutes to idle without any choke, drove about 1/8 mile to the gas station, filled up, then it simply would not start. Just click click click. pushed it back home, put some jumper cables on it and all was well. Got a chicken sandwich, saw some things, waved at other bikers, and quit before fatigue set in.

View attachment 128568

I'd check the stator. If that was fine, then the battery. If it's the battery. It's a good excuse to buy one of the new lithium ion batteries.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Had it been sitting a while?
Do you have a battery tender for it?

 

[OutlawStar]

It sat for about a week, no battery tender because it sits outside under a cover. Do batteries normally drain enough in about a week? I stalled once trying to get out of that grass field, started right up, no problem. Started right up at riflegear, started right up after my lunch. I have a feeling it was the battery, just didn't know about batteries going flat in a week.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

It sat for about a week, no battery tender because it sits outside under a cover. Do batteries normally drain enough in about a week? I stalled once trying to get out of that grass field, started right up, no problem. Started right up at riflegear, started right up after my lunch. I have a feeling it was the battery, just didn't know about batteries going flat in a week.

Typically not in a week, but it might be time.
Not familiar with the bike, but it can't be push started in emergencies?

ETA: Went back and looked at the picture again, looks like shaft drive, so I guess not.

 

[grasshopperglock]

You can push chain, belt, and shaft to start. The drive doesn't matter. The battery can have a parasitic drain. If the top of the battery is dirty, it can conduct electric flow between the post.

The battery needs to be load tested regardless. It should be able to sit a couple months with no problem. Harbor Freight has $9 maintainer that'll work. If it sits longer then six months. Starting it once a month should keep the battery ready.

 

[OutlawStar]

I was told by the safety class instructor you can bump start a bike, but it has to be in 2nd gear and you should be going down hill because its a bear to do. Luckily the bike didn't start at the gas station less than a 1 minute walk from my house. Just walked it back, hooked up some jumper cables for 5 minutes and it was good to go for the day. I wish I had access to a power outlet, I'd keep a battery tender on it even if its just for a couple days, unfortunately for the next couple months, I don't have that convenience.

I didn't see a date code on the battery, but it looks in decent shape, wasn't crusty or even dirty, legible duracell label. I'll pull it out of its cavity to see if theres a date somewhere on it, if its 4 years old (Bike is 2014) I might just replace it. I'll see about the startup tomorrow; I'll go for a little ride provided the weather is nice and see if the bike starts up. Like I said though; it was a strange failure of starting right up, idling for 3 minutes, 1/8th mile drive, shut off to put fuel in (2 gallons), and the starter would only "click click click". Pushed it home, jumper cables, no issues for the rest of the day. My only guess is I turned the engine off with the button on the bars, but left the key in the on position while fueling. Could have been worse. I'll have to monitor and see what happens.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Weon for a couple minutes, and the battery went dead, time to replace for sure. , if you did leave the key

 

[ZX9RCAM]

You can push chain, belt, and shaft to start. The drive doesn't matter. The battery can have a parasitic drain. If the top of the battery is dirty, it can conduct electric flow between the post.

The battery needs to be load tested regardless. It should be able to sit a couple months with no problem. Harbor Freight has $9 maintainer that'll work. If it sits longer then six months. Starting it once a month should keep the battery ready.

I had a shaft drive Suzuki GS1000 back in the 80s, battery never died, so never had to try. Just figured it wouldn't work.

 

[easy rider]

It sat for about a week, no battery tender because it sits outside under a cover. Do batteries normally drain enough in about a week? I stalled once trying to get out of that grass field, started right up, no problem. Started right up at riflegear, started right up after my lunch. I have a feeling it was the battery, just didn't know about batteries going flat in a week.

Freezing temps can drain a battery quicker. Mine sits outside, but during those days that the temps dropped below freezing I had the tender on it. I bought a connection that is hooked to the battery so that all I do is plug in the tender.

 

[easy rider]

I'd check the stator. If that was fine, then the battery. If it's the battery. It's a good excuse to buy one of the new lithium ion batteries.

I won't use anything but AGM. Many others have gone that route, that or gel, just to find out the charge doesn't last as long.

 

[avvidclif]

First stop, clean the battery connections. You described the symptoms of a corroded or loose connection. Even if you couldn't see it. Buy a genuine Battery Tender Jr, not a knock-off, and use it. Mine is either being ridden or hooked up to the Tender. I typically get 5 to 6 years out of a battery.

 

[easy rider]

I use the Genius G750, you can use the clamps that come with it or buy a separate battery connection that stays on the bike.

 

[TimberWolf7.62]

 

[grasshopperglock]

Three hours of hand washing, clay rubbed and synthetic wax. I’m up to 12,500 miles.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jdcalve]

Mine is currently on a boat, so here's a placeholder.

 

[RedArmy]

Another muscle car owner checking in.

 

[grasshopperglock]

Well hell. Guess I am buying the high dollar SS for the grill.

 

[Shotgun Jeremy]

Blazer out - Midnight Frontier in

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[orbitup]

Nice. You've had that Blazer for a while right?

 

[orbitup]

neat, first I've heard of the diesel... 1.6L turbo. Kinda small for that size car, but I bet it gets great gas mileage.

I've been getting just short of 40 mpg. That's a lot with a foot as heavy as mine. I'm liking this thing a lot more than I thought I would. That engine is great in the highway and around town.