| Author | Message | ||
     Two_buells |
 my bike is less than a month old. I have 620 miles on it. I just changed the oil. I road the bike three days ago. Went to go on a ride today and bike would not crank. 11.5 volts across the battery IN THE LAST 12 YEARS AND 11 NEW HD/BUELLS, I NEVER HAD ANY BATTERY/CHARGING PROBLEMS WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. I'M SO MAD MY HEAD IS GOING TO EXPLODE!  (Message edited by Two_Buells on April 05, 2008) | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Hey sorry to hear that. I had the same episode. I have not had any luck from Buell in diagnosing what might have happened. Good luck and please report back if you do get an answer of the "mysteriously discharging battery issue." | ||
| Baggermike |
Welcome to the electrical problem club. Mike | ||
| Tijuanajack |
You know, that is kind of funny in the fact that the almost the same thing happened to me. The dealer replaced my voltage regulator and I have been all fixed since then. I hope you're up and running soon. Toby | ||
| Two_buells |
I put my battery on my 6 amp charger for about 30 min. Volts were 12.3 after 30 min Just came back from a 20 mile ride. Battery is now at 12.51 | ||
| Two_buells |
I'd like to get a little voltage meter to mount on the dash and keep an eye on the voltage and maybe a little set of 10ga. jumper cables for under the seat. | ||
| Jpfive |
I will look again on the yuasa battery site (yuasa.com) to refresh my memory, but 6amps is more current than is recommended for charging a motorcycle battery. My Battery Tender + is rated at 1.25 amp, I believe, and Yuasa's Smart Charger is rated at 1.5 amp. I will report back after I review the article. Jack | ||
| Baggermike |
Two Buells if you race Al at A S B sells a shift light that also works as a voltage meter, I have on and love it, you can see it in my pictures, kisan sells a volt amp meter with a smart charger that knows what kind of battery you have and charges it to its specs, you can also get the meter with out the charger. I think more than two amp will hurt your battery? not sure. Mike | ||
| Two_buells |
 from the service manual (Message edited by Two_Buells on April 05, 2008) | ||
| Pariah |
Love me tender, Love me true, All my dreams fulfilled. For my darlin I love you, And I always will... I tender the battery about twice a week. I enjoy the process... walking the bike outside the garage to avoid hydrogen gas from exploding in an enclosed space. Popping off the passenger seat. Connecting the tender. Making sure to connect the tender BEFORE plugging it in. Who wouldn't enjoy the excuse to caress their 1125R?! It's worth it to keep Naomi running perfectly. And she does. I use the time to look over the bike, check the tires, controls, lines, fluid levels, etc. Within an hour the battery's at maximum capacity. BTW, perhaps a more powerful battery is in order... something like this perhaps? http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Odyssey-Drycelltrade-Battery-p-16976.html haven't looked at the specs to see how it compares, but their is a "Buell" version... (Message edited by Pariah on April 05, 2008) | ||
| C4bird |
Two Buells, I was having a constant slow voltage drain over the course of a few weeks. Was messing around with the bike last weekend and decided to tighten up the battery cable bolts. Sure enough, they were both loose (looks like the dealer had to charge my battery, as there is a battery tender install kit on there, may have been the culprit). Been 250 miles in the past week, and my voltage hasn't dropped below 12.5. Got back from a ride today, and it is showing 12.71. May be something to look into. | ||
| Ccryder |
Michael: I have been watching mine since some Buelligans have had a similar experience. Mine has sat since Wednesday PM. Then it was 12.73v. When I came in tonight she was at 12.68v. I'm going to play with her tomorrow and then go riding so my 3.5 day test will come to an end. FWIW: I have a set of the nice compact YUSA jumper cables with me on any M/C I ride, one does have to be prepared (I've been known to do stupid things  ) Time2Go Neil S. | ||
| Jpfive |
I can't quarrel with the chart, two buells. Since it's in the manual, Buell can't quarrel with it either. One thing worth noting, though, is the time limits at these rates of charge. You only went thirty minutes, so no harm done - but don't go away for the day and leave it cooking at 6 amps. I've spent enough time on the Yuasa site since coming home from work that my old eyes are bleary. I encourage all 1125 owners to visit www.yuasabattery.com and check out the wealth of articles on battery maintenance and construction, including the 44 page manual that is on the site as a pdf file. Let me quote the following, as it is pertinent to my earlier comment: "Of course, too much of a charge can be a problem, too - it can 'cook' a battery. For small engine starting batteries, don't use a charge greater than 2 to 2.5 amps for maintenance purposes." And later in the article, "For most motorcycle...starting batteries, charge them at 1/10 of the rated ampere-hour values.." Our batteries have a 12AH rating. Also, in relation to 'quick charges'... "The quick answer is, 'don't' .... and here's why: only the surface area of the battery plates can be quick charged ... excessive charging rates increase the chance of overheating, which can mean battery damage." The chart in the owner's manual seems to me to amount to quick charging, by Yuasa's definition. Since there is an apparent contradiction here, I will go with the battery manufacturer's recommendation. BTW, the Yuasa replacement battery for the 1125 is now listed (it wasn't the last time I checked). It is the Yuasa YTX14LFA, the same as for the V-Rod. Jack | ||
| Slypiranna |
Have you called the dealer to get her in for warranty diagnois/correction? So far, all I've read here is stator, vr's, bad battery and riding all the time with high beams on and not enough rpms... Mine has over 2k miles now and not have had any problems related to electrical. I did however, tighten the battery cables and ground right after delivery...they were a little loose... I do not ride all the time with high beams on. I do have extra electrical loads/accessories. I do not use a tender and I've never charged the battery. Just for what its worth. | ||
| Baggermike |
Guys go on the Buell web site and look under F A Q and type in electrical and the 1125r charging system will be in the questions and says what the bike is capable of doing as far as charging, above 3000 rpms with high and low beams and heated grips the battery should keep its charge, My bike does not and thence I think it is heat related I am riding to my dealership when the temps get warm, I will ride there with my high and low beams on the should get there with a fully charged battery if everything is good, I am going to try riding as close to 3000 rpms as I can and 70 is 4300 rpms and this is when I have had my battery discharge on me, coming home from the dealership, I am hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Mike | ||
| Blublak |
Just out of curiosity.. I had a problem a while ago when my 1125 went dead battery on me. I charged it and after speaking with Joe (RatBuell) at Frederick, I stopped setting the security system when it was in the garage. I haven't had a problem since. It seems the system might be a slow draw on the bike, anyone else setting the system and leaving the bike over a long period of time as well? | ||
| Baggermike |
Oddessey battery will not fit in the 1125r with out mods, in my the owners manual it says we have a 12 amp hour 200 cold cranking amps, I think apex makes a battery that is 14 amp hours and will fit the bike. the higher the amp hour reading the more storage it has, power is rated at cold cranking amps, I have not run the security system in a while and it does not drop in volts that much while sitting. Mike | ||
| Unibear12r |
My 1125 sat in the garage once for three weeks with security "off" and key to "lock" which is how I normally keep it. Voltage dropped only about .01vdc per 24 hours. It has spent a week here and there with the same results. Never a problem starting. | ||
| Dtx |
I decided to check mine today as well. Went for a 175 mile ride and when I got home the battery was reading 12.98 volts. I am becoming less and less worried about the charging system on this bike. I have never had a problem, but was concerned when I read others on here were having issues. | ||
| Doerman |
+1 on Dtx... My philosophy is to leave working mechanical systems alone. I've never checked mine since my evidence of a working system is that it starts. (5K miles) | ||
| Cataract2 |
DTX, could you do this for me. Could you set the security system on the bike for on over night and check the battery voltage before and the next day. | ||
| Blake |
"My bike does not and thence I think it is heat related I am riding to my dealership when the temps get warm" It is not heat related. The charging system should work as advertised for any operational temperature scenario. | ||
| Blake |
Meaning, that if your Buell 1125R charging system is not performing up to spec, then something is wrong with one of the components or connections comprising the system. (Message edited by blake on April 07, 2008) | ||
| Blake |
IN THE LAST 12 YEARS AND 11 NEW HD/BUELLS, I NEVER HAD ANY BATTERY/CHARGING PROBLEMS WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. A bit of an extreme reaction for one so fortunate (11 new H-D/Buells in twelve years). One such problem in twelve years and your "head is going to explode"? Dude... perspective. I'm worried about your health if that's all it takes to get your blood boiling. The good news is that a full charge will likely solve the issue once and for all. And I hear that there is counseling for anger management too.  | ||
| Bobup |
I keep reading these posts and I feel compelled to tell y'all that it probably is not the charging system....it more likely is an issue with DISCHARGING. Some of you keep looking at the charge rates, cranking amps and such....I think your looking at it from the wrong direction. It seems to be a matter of, not how much "IN", but how much "OUT". Especially when not even in use. This IS the issue with my bike....DISCHARGING when shut off for a few days. | ||
| Baggermike |
well I went for a ride around town and came back and my battery was at 11.9 running just the high beams, I could also feel the bike not running as good like when I shut the high beams off. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Bobup, how has your dealings with Buell gone? Any word on what might be the culprit? | ||
| Fresnobuell |
The good news is that a full charge will likely solve the issue once and for all. Blake, do you think this is an isolated incident? Mine SEEMED to be, that's why I ask. I still lack confidence the system is functioning correctly until someone can explain why it might have been a one time occurrence. | ||
| Bobup |
Fresno...have not gotten any word back yet. I just called the service dept. and the Mgr. does not work Sunday and Monday, so I may not get any real info until tomorrow. I am starting to think that BMC should be making a loan payment since my bike has been in the shop for a total of over 4 weeks. Like THAT will ever happen. I can tell you that I WILL NOT do the lemon law thing....I really like the bike and will keep it...BMC just needs to make it work correctly. | ||
| Baggermike |
Bob doing the lemon law gets you money for what you have to go through, I made a promise that I would not, and I was made a promise that has yet to be fulfilled, I am waiting one more week to see if it is going to be fulfilled, if not I am going through with it. |
