Oldfeller--FSO wrote on 08/30/11 at 07:57:26:
Note the resting voltage of the battery as it sits before being started. Write it down. 12.0 to 12.6 is a common resting range.
Crank the bike and get it to a good fast idle (at or over 1,000 rpm) check the battery voltage again with the engine running.
If resting voltage is over 12 volts and the running voltage is just over 13 volts you have a charging system that is working, but the regulator rectifier is getting marginal and old. This bike may have issues with the battery not getting charged enough with short trips.
Running voltage at 13.5 to 14.5 is pretty sweet, your regulator rectifier isn't getting old and tired yet. Your bike should recharge itself on short trips.
Over 15 volts, regulator rectifier is sick and is over charging your battery.
Stators rarely ever go bad, regulator rectifiers crap out much more often.
All this while keeping in mind that a standing voltage of 12.0, would be considered a near dead battery, and most likely would not start the bike.
And you could have a low v reading of around 13.0 from a good charging system,....if checking it while the battery is very discharged,..... as the charge comes up, so does the voltage. A fully charged batt should read 14+ volts on a good charging system.
Also voltage readings of 15+ can be seen from a good charging system,.....if the battery is severely sulfated,.....namely.....bad. And altho rare, this can sometimes ruin a rectifier.
AIMEO (all in my experience only)