Warmer day today, morning off, wanted to take my bike out for an hour or so. It's been very cold here (down to 4F), then warmer and rainy. Took the bike cover off, lots of condensation. Tried to start it, no juice at all. Battery is completely flat. Couldn't push start it, either.

I don't think it naturally discharged, as I usually ride for a good hour and it started fine last time I rode, 10 days ago. More likely some kind of short, possibly related to the condensation. Charging the battery now, but if the bike does have a short and the charge won't hold, where do I start looking?

Don't know about your electrical problem - but I can comment on condensation.  When your bike gets cold, really cold.....and then the air gets warm and/or rainy....your bike is going to get soaked under a cover.  The bike is cold and the warmer, humid air allows moisture in the air to condense on the cold surfaces.  Some surfaces will warm up quickly (seat, pegs, grips, levers) - but the heavier stuff (engine, fuel in tank, frame, wheel hubs) will take a long time to warm up and will stay wet for a long time.  You need a cover that is vented or can breath to allow the moisture not to become trapped under the cover.

gone fishing wrote on 01/30/13 at 09:44:18:

A battery that just died is a cheaper problem than trying to sort out an electrical problem. Hope that's all it is. If so, I'll go with your battery recommendation. Battery is about 10 months old.

although I don't think it's a problem, but a few here had their decomp controler fill up with water causing it to corrode and fail.  And I believe that's a circuit that's on all the time.

I'd double check the amperage in the off condition.

Little black box on a rubber bracket attached to the frame over the top of the carburetor. Right where water can roll down the tank and into the connector plug. Which isn't sealed (and the looks sealed but is not sealed relay sucks in water like a dry sponge). Thank you Suzuki for another cut rate cop out part...

verslagen1 wrote on 01/30/13 at 14:14:31:

Battery won't take a full charge and seems to have a shorted cell, so maybe that's the only problem I'm having - or maybe a short killed the battery. Checked the resistance between + and ground and it seems to be about 1000 ohms. If I remember Ohm's law correctly, that's only a 12 milliamp drain, which isn't much. Anyone know what the circuit resistance should be? Can't check the amperage as I don't have a functioning battery (though I guess I could hook the bike up to my car battery to check, if the resistance check is not reliable).

The only thing I did between shutting the bike off 10 days ago and trying to start it up was spray corrosion protectant on the metal surfaces. Seems unlikely it's a conductor, but if 1000 ohms is abnormal I'll look for places I may have created a short while I'm waiting for the battery recommended here to arrive.

Thanks!

WD wrote on 01/31/13 at 19:05:57:


Points and a kicker would be a plus!

I grew up with points.  Spent a few afternoons in camp filing and adjusting same (remember the dollar bill trick?).

Glad to see 'em go.....JMHO!