Battery / Electrical Question from a Newbie

[WowWhoaWeeWa]

Ok, this might have asked before but I didn't see any recent posts about this. Can we talk about batteries for a moment? My bike is going to be used almost on a daily basis. I was told even though it's going to be used often, I still need a battery maintainer because, unlike a car, a motorcycle engine does not have an alternator keep the battery charged. O_o That seems odd to me. My only experience with "alternator free" motors consist of lawn mover engines. I recall they maintained the battery just fine.

Are motorcycle engines very different and, in fact, don't charge the battery as the engine runs?

Thanks

[jonathan180iq]

Motorcycles have generators just like every other vehicle on the road. If you use the bike everyday, like I did, you will probably be fine.

Everyone needs to own a battery charger, regardless. You can get cheap ones at Wal-Mart and sometimes find great deals on the internet. Just look around.

But don't worry about bikes not charging batteries. That's absurd...unless your stator fails. But that's rare.

[alanmcorcoran]

Does the headlight on the TU go off automatically when you turn off the engine? (One click, not all the way.) If not, sooner or later you're gonna join the "Aw Crap club" and then, if you already have the charger, you'll save yourself a walk to the Auto Parts store. Don't ask me how I know this, but let's say I've already learned this lesson four times - on two different bikes!

Also, beware of the "park" position if it has one. on the GZ250 it leaves the taillight on and the net result is the same as the above - a dead battery after an hour or two.

My Strat is at least smart enough not to turn the headlight on before I start the bike, but unfortunately, DOES leave it on after you turn it off.

[Water Warrior 2]

Pick up a Battery Tender. They are relatively cheap and provide good service. They are a smart charger that you can leave hooked up with no fear of overcharging and cooking the battery.


Alan, how, why would the headlight stay on when you turn the Strat off ??

[sc_frontier]

BIkes have stators, which perform the same task as alternators, and they are attached on the left end of the crankshaft. They are inside the motor.

[alanmcorcoran]

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

Alan, how, why would the headlight stay on when you turn the Strat off ??

When I put down the kickstand it kills the engine but not the headlight.

[Water Warrior 2]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

When I put down the kickstand it kills the engine but not the headlight.

As it should be. 2nd question. Does the headlight not come on with the key turned to the on position until the engine is running or in the run position ?

[alanmcorcoran]

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

2nd question. Does the headlight not come on with the key turned to the on position until the engine is running or in the run position ?

With key in ON position, headight stays off until the engine is running. (For Strat.) (Not true for Geezer.) However, once the engine stops (from kickstand) the headlight stays on.

I say, no engine, no headlight or force some sort of special override with beeps or something. You can't tell the headlight is on when you pull into the garage in the missle of the day, and if you forget to switch the key to off, you're only about ten to fifteen minutes from a mostly dead battery.

No engine should = no headlight! Or, at least, kickstand down - no engine - no headlight w/o special override.

[blaine]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

With key in ON position, headight stays off until the engine is running. (For Strat.) (Not true for Geezer.)

My 454 is the same,headlight stays off until the bike is running.
:cool:

[Water Warrior 2]

Ah, now I understand. Sounds like you need to get in the habit of hanging the keys on a nail close to the bike and always looking back at the bike before making an exit.