The battery has been spot on, never run down, and always kept "topped off". Yet, about three starts ago, out of the blue, I noticed it was clearly experiencing serious voltage drop when attempting to start the vee. Today, I drove to the store; and when I went to go home, it would not start. Not even close. Seems a bit more sudden than I'd expect, if it was just an old battery dying. Seemed to go from 90% to 20% in like one week.

So...after bump starting (yea, that's fun on a Vee) and heading home, I charged with the battery charger for an hour. Then, hooked the volt-meter up to see what was going on:

Not running- 12.5 volt

Idling- 12.3 volts

Running at 2,500 rpm- 12.9 volts (although one time I was able to get 14.4.....but on subsequent tries, never went above 12.9)

Assuming that pretty much all of those numbers are telling me the charging system is FUBAR .....what are your thought?

thanks much, as always!

Max

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'06 KLR650
'78 CB750
'04 DL1000

Can you start the bike up and remove the battery while it is running to test the alternator? Maybe put the hazards on as well. This is coming from a mechanically challenged perspective, fwiw.

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hi there,

had the same problem few weeks ago, exactly the same.

it looks like a charging problem. it can be the alternator or the regulator, in my case it was the alternator, it is pretty rare that the regulator goes bad but it is good idea to be sure before replacing the alternator,

some time bad alternator can cause a regulator failure as well

any way im not en expert, only telling you what happen to me and what i have been told

Lost my stator at about 13,000 miles did pretty much the same thing.When your in there check the magnets on the rotor,they have been know to come lose!!.
There is a very good test on here to check your stator!!.


Sent from my iPhone using Motorcycle.com App

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1982 GS850..BLACK SUNSHINE,the tripod
2007 DL996AR..BRUTUS
Ah screw it,I'm goin ridin !!!!!!!!

"""Can you start the bike up and remove the battery while it is running to test the alternator? Maybe put the hazards on as well. This is coming from a mechanically challenged perspective, fwiw. """"

damn sure way to fry every bit of electronics in the bike.

May have been a reasonable test in days of yore but once electronics made it to the auto scene not on your nellie.

Tom

stator and reg/rect for sure

Your charge rate generally won't kick up to the 14.4v mark while the battery is fully charged [which you did by putting it on the charger].

I'd be looking for loose connections as the most likely cause of the sudden loss of starting ability [battery terminals, connections at starter motor etc.].

Get the battery tested by an auto electrician, don't risk damaging the electrics by trying things you don't know about.

I know you said push starting the "vee" but is it a Vee or a Wee you own [haven't heard of too many Wee's having stator probs].

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Ock. in Oz
Australia, NSW, Windsor
ockerstrom@rocketmail.com

Member of The McGrath's Hill Mob.

Shiro Nakama Ju San

White '09 V-Strom DL650ABS, Blue '87 Kawasaki KLR650 [Sold]
Green '94 Kawasaki KLE500

"Normal" is only a cycle on the washing machine.....

If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.

I had a similar experience. A new battery was all I needed. Follow along here:
Battery? or Where to buy a good battery on-line

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- Voltar

Build your own V-Strom GPI and save, save, save!

You don't need to remove the battery to do a basic test of the alternator... A simple multimeter test across the bikes batt terminals at idle... Without electrical accessories the voltage should be above 13.4V or so if the alternator is outputting... Turn off the bike and the voltage should drop to about mid 12V or so...

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'12 DL650 Glee in White

Never argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.

My battery died over night and acted the exact same way.

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2007 Blue SuperVee 1000
2002 White HD Road King Police
2000 Red Honda XR 400r
2003 Green Honda Rincon 650 ATV

If it is not broken, it can still be fixed

Never disconnect the battery from a running engine. It buffers charging current. Without it, the regulator/rectifier and even the onboard computer can be damaged.

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Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A is just getting started.
Nicknames for posting ease on my part, Vee = all DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 DL650s. Glee = 2012+ DL650s