Weird Electrical Problem

[Bulldog9]

As reported last week, the short shocks got the Baby Breva down to a safe flat foot situation for Mrs Bulldog, but she waived off the idea out of upper body strength and general 'wariness'

So I reinstalled the Bitubo's set preload, gave it a once over, checked tire pressures and threw the 1200S plate on it to go for a ride. UNTILL I tried to start it. Turned key on, got all the lights and sweep. Then I hit the starter button, it went 'klunk' and everything went dark. That was until I turned the key off where the dash lit up briefly, then went dark. Now it all stays dark.

Main fuse is good, as are the others.  I'm thinking (hoping) a dead battery. It was on a trickle charger most of the time. It is pretty old (likely 7-10 years) though a virtually unused battery. Everything was fine before putting it to the side waiting on the shocks. Weird behavior from the trickle charger too, it stayed at the 90% charged, and on the regular charger, it showed it at 100%, but failed the test.

We will see................

Any ideas other than a bad/internally shorted battery?

On another note, went on a ride with a bunch of guys from work...... Only ONE with the V turned the right way. As predicted, no one had seen a Guzzi like the 1200S.

[guzzisteve]

Batteries go bad all the time, get a new one, time well spent. Some get toasted on a tickle charger others OK.

[Vagrant]

It's the battery.

[Bulldog9]

Steve(s)

This bike hasn't really been ridden in at least seven years if not more, at least regularly. The battery is at least that old, and has been on and off a TC.

 It was the strange odd behavior even with a booster attached to the battery that had me scratching my head for something else.

It's a pretty little bike and set up nicely. I've changed all the gear oils and fluids and fork oil and have the bite to bow shocks set up for me so looking forward to getting some miles under it even though it is a wee little thing. I think I need to change the handlebars out for something a bit wider.

[John A]

Keep an eye on wires on the inside of the rear fender.

[chuck peterson]

AGM?

Mine died overnight with zero signs of giving up at 10 years to the month. Daily driver and never on a charge…

My guy at a local bike shop shrugs his shoulders about batteries. He says there’s no rhyme or reason to it

[Vagrant]

I forgot about sitting forever. I'd get out the deoxit and soak down the key switch, relays, fuses, remove the grounds etc.
I got this battery at a very reasonable price on amazon or ebay several years ago it's 240 CCA works great.

[guzzisteve]

The early smallblock FI like B750's don't have many issues. I swapped out a bunch of ECU's from them though, they ran ok but would not communicate with software.

[Bulldog9]

Keep an eye on wires on the inside of the rear fender.

The only ones I saw were for the tail/brake lights?

[Bulldog9]

AGM?

Mine died overnight with zero signs of giving up at 10 years to the month. Daily driver and never on a charge…

My guy at a local bike shop shrugs his shoulders about batteries. He says there’s no rhyme or reason to it

I think so, was a made in USA YUASA. I'm pretty sure they are AGMs.

[Bulldog9]

I forgot about sitting forever. I'd get out the deoxit and soak down the key switch, relays, fuses, remove the grounds etc.
I got this battery at a very reasonable price on amazon or ebay several years ago it's 240 CCA works great.

I did all that when I first picked it up. All was good for the first month I had it, other than the battery needing to be kept topped off. Was hoping leaving it on the tender and then regular riding would get it back up to snuff. Bike is very clean, was always garaged with PO.

[guzzisteve]

To keep batt good you only need to charge it 1 day a month.

[Bulldog9]

To keep batt good you only need to charge it 1 day a month.

That's generally what I do, I rotate the tender between the vehicles.

[Bulldog9]

*Update.

Well I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Battery came yesterday but had no time to install. Just finished installing it and I'm happy to report that all guesses were correct, it was the battery.

I was initially a little worried because when I connected the terminals there was no clicking of relays or even a minor spark jump that you sometimes get. Well I guess that's good that I have no parasitic draw to worry about, I was initially worried.

Turned on the key and got the normal fuel pump and relay click and gauge sweep. For good measure I turned the key back off again waited and then turned back on before trying to start.

Starter engaged immediately and the bike started and settled down to a beautiful twin throttle body small block hum.

Intoxicating..... Can't wait to take it out for a ride on Monday.

Thanks for the input and letting me vent folks. It's what makes forums like this so great.

[Vagrant]

Glad it's fixed. Grounds and batteries that "I know it's good!" are the cure to most issues.