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Message started by rapatt95 on 03/31/21 at 14:11:42

Title: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by rapatt95 on 03/31/21 at 14:11:42

I purchased an 07 s40 last week and have been putting miles on it on the backroads by my house for some practice before MSF next month. I made the rookie mistake of leaving the key in the bike in the On position and drained the battery. I wasn’t able to find much on jump starting these bikes and wasn’t sure how to access the battery.

I ended up finding the battery behind the side cover and tool kit (obvious I’m sure to the more experienced members). After removing the tool kit and plate, I had access to the positive terminal for the battery. From there I jump started it with my truck (not turning on my truck at any point, though), connecting the cables in the proper order and using the rear brake pedal for my ground.

My question is: did any of this potentially damage something or is jump starting a motorcycle fine? I apologize if this comes off as a ridiculous question, but I only entered the 2 wheel world last week. Thank you

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 03/31/21 at 16:48:47

Welcome to the forum and to motorcycling.

If the bike is now running fine, you did it correctly and didn’t damage anything.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/31/21 at 16:58:08

I don't even remember how many times I did that.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by rapatt95 on 03/31/21 at 17:57:13

Yes the bike’s running just as it did. I’ll take that as meaning I didn’t destroy something. Thank you!

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/31/21 at 19:26:37

Yeah, don't make a habit of it. That can cook your ignition box

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by Ruttly on 04/01/21 at 02:14:59

Yeah , I’m gonna give that wire a clip before the cover goes on. ;D
Oh , Welcome

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by Dave on 04/01/21 at 03:46:04

I don't know what they teach you in the classes these days - but I never use the handlebar mounted Kill Switch to turn the motorcycle off.....I only use the key. That removes any doubt about the key being turned off.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by rapatt95 on 04/01/21 at 07:10:14

467D7067767A61677C747966150 wrote:

I am not sure what they’ll teach yet either, but the key will definitely be my new way of turning off the bike from now on. A new battery is most likely in order as well, as I believe this may be the OEM factory battery

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/01/21 at 07:49:01

new battery is most likely in order as well,

If not, you're looking at another rookie mistake.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by Tocsik on 04/01/21 at 08:02:20

6D565B4C5D514A4C575F524D3E0 wrote:

+1 on this. Just be sure you don't turn the key all the way backwards. That position leaves the tail light on and allows you to remove the key. "Safety" feature for parking on the side of the road. ::)

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by ckahleer on 04/01/21 at 12:20:18

Since the battery is hard to get to, I would recommend a maintaince free battery. Also, a Battery Tender Junior. It comes with leads you run from the battery to any convenient spot for charging and check battery voltage.
Also, get an inexpensive multi meter.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by twhitus on 04/01/21 at 13:46:22

they teach you to only use the kill switch so your in the habit of doing it in a emergency. i have yet to meat anyone who does tho lol.

5340514055551814210 wrote:

[quote author=467D7067767A61677C747966150 link=1617225102/0#6 date=1617273964]I don't know what they teach you in the classes these days - but I never use the handlebar mounted Kill Switch to turn the motorcycle off.....I only use the key. That removes any doubt about the key being turned off.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by stewmills on 04/05/21 at 06:54:10

38303A33373E3E295B0 wrote:

+1. I have one of these (link below) as well that has the leads and a USB adapter if you need a spot to temporarily charge something off the bike (while running of course).

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-Terminal-Accessory-Charger/dp/B08CBQYXY5/ref=asc_df_B08CBQYXY5/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=475811884312&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11435292772020411265&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013037&hvtargid=pla-1355212177672&psc=1

Get an AGM battery. I have had good success ordering from BatterMart.com and get their BigCrank house brand...great quality batteries at competitive prices.

And, to answer your initial question about jumping the bike, you did one critical thing correctly and that is NOT cranking the vehicle you are using for the jump. An automobile charging system can back feed too much voltage to these bikes. As long as the vehicle is NOT running, jumping off any standard 12v auto battery should not cause any problems. If it ever does, note the 20A main fuse under that right-side cover...if anything every blows that's the first place to check before thinking your system has fried. Personally I have a spare fuse taped to that wire harness...cheap insurance if you ever need it in a pinch.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by rapatt95 on 04/05/21 at 07:06:33

626574667C787D7D62110 wrote:

[quote author=38303A33373E3E295B0 link=1617225102/0#10 date=1617304818]Since the battery is hard to get to, I would recommend a maintaince free battery. Also, a Battery Tender Junior. It comes with leads you run from the battery to any convenient spot for charging and check battery voltage.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by twhitus on 04/05/21 at 14:57:31

+1 for a good battery
pushing your bike 5miles home at 2am sucks and will get you multiple interviews with the local police. was a long night...

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by rapatt95 on 04/05/21 at 18:22:46

27243B3A272620530 wrote:

+1 for a good battery
pushing your bike 5miles home at 2am sucks and will get you multiple interviews with the local police. was a long night...

Well that sounds officially like a miserable time. I pushed it to the top of the hill and tried pop starting it. All that got me was tired arms and legs.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by Yoshi on 04/07/21 at 17:37:33

Next time just run next to the bike and bump start it in 2nd gear

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by rapatt95 on 04/08/21 at 19:25:32

3223320B0709031011090B620 wrote:

Next time just run next to the bike and bump start it in 2nd gear

Tried and failed, it got my hopes up/came close to starting, but didn’t make it

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/08/21 at 19:46:42

3322330A0608021110080A630 wrote:

Next time just run next to the bike and bump start it in 2nd gear

Next time just

JUST,,
Yeah, tried that till I got to the bottom of the hill.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by Dave on 04/09/21 at 03:46:51

5B4859485D5D101C290 wrote:

[quote author=3223320B0709031011090B620 link=1617225102/15#16 date=1617842253]Next time just run next to the bike and bump start it in 2nd gear

Tried and failed, it got my hopes up/came close to starting, but didn’t make it[/quote]

When my bike was stock and pretty new to me, we were riding the bike to dinner and stopped for fuel. The battery decided it was going to become a weakling and it would not restart the bike.

At the time I was going to the gym daily and I had 165 pounds of healthy human trying to jump start the bike.....and it proved to be impossible. We were down by the Ohio River and the asphalt parking lot was flat. If I tried starting the bike in 2nd.....it would just slide the rear tire when I let out the clutch - even when I would bounce on the seat to help improve traction. If I tried in 3rd gear the engine would turn over - but the engine would fire once and then stall as it was impossible to get the clutch in fast enough to keep the engine from stalling. My wife and I were both pushing and we just could not make it happen. (When I as young we would often push start our dirt bikes - so the concept is not new to me and the problem was not operator error......I just don't weigh enough to get a proper amount of traction).

My life experiences has shown me that if you need a jump - you look for a ratty car with a laundry basket in the back seat (the fellow in the Lexus is not going to have a set of jumper cables). We found that car and jump started the bike (car not running), and we rode back home and got the car to go to dinner.

I am not saying it is impossible to push start a Savage - but I am convinced it is beyond the ability of folks who weigh less than 200 pounds and don't have a steep hill to help gain speed.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 04/09/21 at 05:17:50

It you are trying to bump a Savage, it's likely because the battery doesn't have enough juice to turn over the engine. At that point, the battery also doesn't have enough juice to power the ECU through a start either.

It's a waste of time and energy.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/09/21 at 07:25:59

That's why I say

If your batty is
Old
Been subjected to drained dead events

You might want a New one.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by ohiomoto on 04/09/21 at 12:34:56

I have successfully bump started my bike twice and failed once. Second gear seat bounce got it going. I'm over 250lbs and it was still hard. My failed attempt was a completely dead battery...no lights, nothing.

If it has enough juice to try and crank, it will have plenty to start it IF you get the wheel to turn over a few times because the starter isn't drawing current. I think it helps if you catch it while engine is warm. Not sure, maybe it's just luck.

If I screw up one more time, I'm getting one of these: https://antigravitybatteries.com/products/micro-starts/sport/

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by ckahleer on 04/09/21 at 16:12:04

I have found when trying to push start a bike, press the starter button at the same time you pop the clutch. If there is just a little charge, it will keep the rear wheel from sliding.

Title: Re: New to motorcycling, made a rookie mistake
Post by verslagen1 on 04/09/21 at 16:37:09

4A594E4F505D5B59520D3C0 wrote:

push starting

there's a trick to doing it, for the old and gimpy, yes I'm talking about myself.
set it up just like you normally start 'cept put the kick stand up, put in 1st
others will say 2nd or 3rd, I say 1st cause when it kicks over it's going to sputter and die if you take the clutch back in. This way you can leave the clutch in till it runs right.

So, clutch in, stand up, kill switch on, 1st gear, and you're standing beside it.
Now run like heck, don't forget the bike ;D
jump on and push the starter button and immediately let out the clutch.
as soon as the clutch goes out, it'll lock out the starter so don't worry about letting go of the starter button. it'll chug chug thump... thump thump thump...

you might want to have it in prime to make sure the bowl is full.

Alternate to pushing the starter button is to rotate the engine to the exhaust stroke.
put it in the big gear, bump it forward until you can rotate the decomp lever by hand. then it's in the exhaust stroke. don't forget to put it back into 1st.

DON'T PUSH THE BIKE BACKWARD!!!
This engages the starter clutch, on pre90's bikes this will bust out the starter gear bosses. On a post90 bike you will hear a twang instead, that's the torque limiter doing its job.

If the lights are on, the starter button method will work.
If you got no lights, use the alternate method.
And if that don't work, in desperation I'd pull the headlight till you get it started.