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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
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Message started by SkyHigh on 09/07/13 at 13:05:28

Title: Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
Post by SkyHigh on 09/07/13 at 13:05:28

I have a 2011 LS650 with 6,300 miles on it. It's been running great since I bought it new in May 2011.

I usually ride it a few times a week for 30 - 60 minutes each time. Three times a month, I take it on a 100-mile round-trip on the interstate. The bike always starts strong, never weak.

I haven't ridden it for about 10 days now, and the temps here have been 105+ for that duration. When I went to start the bike just now, I turned the key to ON, all the normal lights came on, bike was in NEUTRAL, and I enabled the kill-switch. When I went to start it, it turned over for about 2 seconds and then quickly died. Now, no electrical at all. So the battery's most likely dead, of course.

So three questions come to mind:

1. Can I jump-start the bike's battery with my truck, or would that blow the bike's battery and/or electrical system? The truck's battery runs 700-amps.

2. Car batteries in Arizona's severe heat last 2 - 3 years. You'll be lucky to get 4 years out of even the best battery. So should I simply replace the bike's battery or charge it with a battery tender?

3. Can a battery tender to charge my truck's battery also be used to charge the bike's battery? I don't think so, but I wanted to ask the experts here.

Thanks for your insight and answers. I appreciate it! :)

Title: Re: Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
Post by oldNslow on 09/07/13 at 13:35:56

You can jump the bike with your truck as long as the truck is NOT running.

You can charge the bike battery with your battery tender as long as it doesn't put out more than 1 or 1.5 amps.

Pull the battery out of the bike and check the water level before you do anything. Make sure all the cells are full up to the fill line. Use distilled water to top it off if you've got it.

Disclaimer: I've used tap water in a few batteries and never had a problem but distilled is what the mfrs. recommend

Title: Re: Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
Post by Gyrobob on 09/07/13 at 20:39:25

12 volts is 12 volts. Like oldnslow said, make sure the battery has the proper fluid levels in it. Then hook up jumper cables from one vehicle to the other, with neither vehicle running and with both electrical systems shut off. Let the jumper cables sit like that for 10 minutes, then start the bike, disconnect the cables, and go for a ride.

Ride the bike more frequently so it won't discharge so much between rides.

Get a voltmeter and make sure there is no load on the battery with the ignition off. If there is, find an electrical system expert, find out why the battery is being drained, and fix the problem.

Title: Re: Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
Post by SkyHigh on 09/07/13 at 20:42:54

Thanks, oldNSlow. Yes, I'll pull the battery out of the bike and check the water levels in each of the cells. I bet they're low due to the bike kept garaged, which probably gets close to 120 F May - September here.

One interesting thing I noticed after returning home a couple hours after I tried starting the bike is that the tail light was ON. I had accidentally turned the key to the "P" position before removing it, which I've never done. Thinking that the battery had some juice in it after all, I tried to start the bike. But there's no electrical power whatsoever except that the tail light will shine when the key's in the "P" position. I suppose that means there's enough juice to light the bulb in the tail light, but not enough to provide electrical power when the key's in the "ON" position.

So I'll do this after removing the battery:
1. Check the water levels and top them off with distilled water if needed.
2. Check the voltage of the battery with a multimeter (just curious).
3. Charge the battery with a 1 - 1.5 amp battery tender.
4. Put the battery back in the bike and see if she wants to wake up.

Thanks, again!

Title: Re: Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
Post by oldNslow on 09/08/13 at 05:32:20

Quote:

One interesting thing I noticed after returning home a couple hours after I tried starting the bike is that the tail light was ON. I had accidentally turned the key to the "P" position before removing it

You're not the first guy on here to have done that. Did it myself when I first got my bike. At least you were home. My bike was in a parking lot when I returned to it and discovered my battery was dead :)

Title: Re: Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
Post by bobert_FSO on 09/08/13 at 06:17:13

With all the examples lately of people leaving the key in parking position, I just had a thought. I have not researched this at all.

What would it take to disable the parking light feature? A simple wire disconnect or cut? Who has ever used this "feature". If the feature were really needed, I assume you could bypass the switch and configure a separate toggle switch to turn on the taillight.

Title: Re: Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
Post by Gyrobob on 09/08/13 at 12:44:09

5954595E494F3B0 wrote:

Put in a time delay relay. That way when you select "park" the light will be on for a selectable amount of time, then shut off.

This relay, for example, could be set for 15 minutes.

http://www.texasindustrialelectric.com/relays_996152131.asp

Title: Re: Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
Post by Serowbot on 09/08/13 at 13:02:54

030E03041315610 wrote:

Mine's been by-passed for years...

There are two taps on the ignition switch... just locate the tail light juice at the connector... cut it, and solder it to the main hot...
...( I'll try to get a pic soon)...

Title: Re: Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
Post by bobert_FSO on 09/08/13 at 13:16:25

I should have known that 'bot has been there, done that already!

Title: Re: Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
Post by SkyHigh on 09/08/13 at 17:09:40

Thanks, Gyrobob and oldNSlow!

After I top off the bike's battery cells with distilled water if necessary, I'm going to jump-start the bike using the truck's battery following Gyrobob's instructions. I'll then go ride the bike for 60 minutes to fully charge the battery. After the ride, I'll check the voltage with a multimeter.

I'll then ride it at least every other day for at least 30 minutes to keep it charged.

I'm between jobs right now, so I'm trying to avoid purchasing a battery tender. I'll buy one once I'm working again.

By the way, way to go Niners! ;D

Title: Re: Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
Post by Gyrobob on 09/08/13 at 17:42:05

675F4D7C5D535C340 wrote:

By the way, way to go Niners! ;D

I recorded the game because I was at work. I was just going to go watch it. Thanks a lot.

Title: Re: Can I jump-start my bike with my truck?
Post by stinger on 09/09/13 at 00:23:22

I drilled a hole on top of my chrome tool box and ran a thick electrical wire from the positive side of the battery thru the hole and clamped on a small electrical alligator clip that has a rubber boot over the top. Since the tool box is a royal pain in the butt for carrying tools in, I store some heavy gauge wire in it that I can clamp to the negative side of jumper cables and clamp to the real axle bolt. Positive jumper cable just hooks to the alligator clip in the tool box. Saves a ton of time when you do need a jump and you have to remove nothing but the chrome box with the key.