The battery has gone on my Mar 24, V4S GT. When not in use it is kept on a battery charger/maintainer, especially as it has a tracker on it. I first noticed a problem whilst on tour in May/June and using the bike at least every other day. On riding for about 2 hours or more, it would stutter on start up, but I put this down to the bike being hot but is more likely due to 2 starts that day. I have checked the voltages and the charging system appears okay (lowest on multimeter 13.57V, normally 14.4V) but the battery is definitely shot (after 1 day off charger 11.38V and cold crank 8.96V). My question is; could the charging system still be faulty? Why the problem after 2 hours riding if the charging system is working okay? It starts fine straight off the charger. Ultimately, is the battery a warranty issue? Is it reasonable for it to fail after 12 - 14months?
A couple of extra bits of information would be useful in coming to a conclusion about your issue. What make/age is your maintainer/charger and how is it connected to the bike ? Andy
It's the Oxford Oximiser 900, no more than 18 months old. Connected via the workshop fitted SAE connector.
Three choices, a duff battery, the Oxford charger or the bike. I’m not familiar with the Oxford but the web site spec page seems to say all the right things and a direct connection to the battery is my preference. It’s not unheard of for a relatively new battery to give up the ghost when it’s on a maintainer for any period of time but it is rare. The bike is still under warranty so my first point of call would be the supplying/nearest authorised dealer who might be able to offer you a replacement battery. They should at least verify that the charging system is working properly. If it is, toss a coin, heads it’s a duff battery or tails it’s the Oxford charger. Depending on the dealer’s response, Halfords stock the Yuasa (AGM) and I’d buy a new charger regardless. Halfords stock the NOCO which I’ve used for 4 or 5 years on 6 bikes without any issues. Andy
I'm fairly confident the charger is okay; bike starts fine after being on it and the charger I replaced this with worked well until I got it wet, although this one could be a rogue charger. It's going in to M&P tomorrow but their service department indicated it was a 'consumable' and therefore not covered.
Mine failed after 18 months. Dealer (Glasgow)said it was only guaranteed for 6 months from new. But other dealers may be more sympathetic. I may have caused its premature demise by started it in gear with clutch in on quite a few occasions . (wont do that again)
Thanks for the offer but a little too far away to nip over, and I know the battery is fried. It's the cause I'm trying to get to the bottom of - duff battery or charging issues? The 6 month guarantee is interesting. Not sure the in gear, clutch in starts should overly tax a healthy battery, if done over a period of time.
If it was me (and you are not, so feel free to ignore) I would leave the battery off the conditioner after it's been on there for a week, Give it a week and then try to start the bike. If the battery does not spin up the engine, then the battery is duff. If it starts the engine, give two or three more goes. Then leave it for a week and try another start. If all good then it is probably the conditioner not charging the battery. Get something else. If course it could be both and I would be tempted to just buy another battery charger/conditioner anyway. That way if you still have problems then you know it is the battery and it will normally be the battery. Ducatis need a really good condition on the battery as they are high compression and a sod to turn over.
It’s the tracker. Just pulls too much out of it when not on a trickle maintainer device. Interestingly most LiPo battery suppliers won’t warranty their products with a tracker. Tells me all I need to know.
Perry, yeh, I've done that and that's how I found out the battery was shot. It's okay straight off the charger but stuggles after a day off it. Also, see previous post about Voltages.
My V4 Multi is on an Optimate but if I forget to put it on after a few days it won't start , I do have a tracker. Annoyingly the other day had done about 140 miles, pulled over and turned off engine but had left ignition on and fan was super busy as it was very hot and when I went to restart it wouldn't, Ducati roadside assistance called and the AA arrived and jumped the battery, got me going but a bit of a wait in the middle of the Peak District ! Is there not a battery upgrade of any description that can tackle this ? Thanks.
In my experience, no, there is not. I found this article, https://academy.gs-yuasa.eu/wp-cont...ead-acid-battery-failure-modes-overview-1.pdf. Of the lead chemistry batteries, the AGM (amalgamated glass mat) is probably the most reliable and as has been already said, lithium chemistry batteries have a problem with a constant small drain, like a tracker. I have both chemistry batteries in 4 bikes on maintainers and in my experience, the choice of maintainer can be the difference. The technology behind the latest battery maintainers is a lot more sophisticated today than even as recently as 2 years ago and on advice, I replaced and recycled my older maintainers for latest technology. Andy
I have an Optimate 1 Duo , still current model on Optimate website , although it is bottom rung, will look into the AGM .... Thanks.
My V4S is now 4 years old with a Biketrac tracker fitted and is kelp on an Optimate 3 in the garage when not on the road. 6 months ago the OE Yuasa battery died, it had been on the Optimate, I rolled it out of garage and the ignition on cycle was fine but it wouldn't turn over the engine. I put a new Yuasa battery in and all is fine. 3 1/2 years for a battery is not too bad so not complaining. Oddly the original battery once off the bike would not take a change at all, it was one very dead battery, no idea why and no early signs of problems just died completely.
Been using JMT lithium batteries myself with battery backed trackers.....my RSV4 JMT battery has been in there getting on for 8 years now, starts fine on the button, it sits on an optimate tender and that in turn is on a smart plug which is off about 12 hours of the day, enough to unload the battery a bit. When we go to the TT its not on the optmate then (for about 5 to 6 days) and starts up fine every day...while were at the TT i could be starting it over a dozen times a day with no issues... That being said as of yesterday the JMT on the zed failed i think about 7 years old, ish [so more than happy with the life of that]...fitted a noco - 2nd one ive bought, got one on the SXV which i was impressed with so taken another punt but no issues with the JMT's
Not aure any of this is helpful but here goes…. My Triumph 1200 XE Scrambler has a tracker. I very rarely use my Optimate Duo on it and never have an issue even if left for a week or so. My 1098 used to have issues so I use the Optimate overnight once a week. No issues. I also have the exact cables fitted.
