Yesterday I took delivery of my new (used) FXST and when I tried to start it... NOTHING... fuck all. I rang the seller and he assured me the battery was fine when it left him (the bike is less than 12 months old).

So, it seems the carrier didn't leave the FOB with the bike during the trip up from Newcastle and the alarm must have been going off the whole time. He mentioned he heard an alarm going off. Anyway when it arrived it was DEAD FLAT... ZIP... NOTHING AT ALL.

I pulled out my trusty CTEK Battery Charger and plugged her in. After about 18 hours she was well and truly showing 3 lights on the charger (80%+ charge) so I kicked her over and went for a ride of about 1 hr.

On my return I thought I'd plug her in again and keep the charge going but when I did the charger was only showing 2 lights. Please forgive my inexperience but I would have assumed the riding would have continued the charge? Now I'm a tad concerned because it seems to have dropped during the ride? Could the battery be fucked from a complete discharge? (I wouldn't have thought so) or does that sound right? I was concerned too that the alternator mightn't be working.
Thanks guys

Batteries dont like going completely flat. Its a sure way of fucking a once good battery.
And its even quicker for a bike battery cause of their size.

Get it load tested to easy ya mind, but it'll probably die sooner than you expect.
As these bikes can be a bit touchy with voltage drops I'd get it replaced first signs of trouble.

Battery smattery, just ride it until it dies. So how did ya like the ride and are ya hooked by it already already?

Good stuff! good practice leads to great competency.

Hi crookneez, I've got a ctek as well it doesn't matter whether I put the charger on the bike , car, boat or ride on lawn mower after I've been using them it will still show 2 bars when ya hook it up. At the start it's bulk charging your battery for a while then it'll move up to 3 then 4 bars. To check out what I'm saying once the charger is up to 4 bars disconnect it then hook it back up and it will only show 2 bars again for a few hours, that's just the way they are. Hope this helps, my battery is 6 1/2 years old and is still strong as......I'd recommend them to anyone........Cheers JOEY............................

Thanks guys, this is a pretty big step up for me because I'm only riding a 150cc motor scooter at present. I find the extra weight a challenge and I definitely don't plan of hitting the traffic until I feel totally confident and have my unrestricted license. The biggest challenge for me today was the throttle, it is so sensitive and I find it difficult to get smooth launches and smooth line around the roundabout. I'm sure I'll get there pretty quickly though if I practice enough. After I get my license I'll do a safe riding course.

It's nice to know the CTEK does that because I've not used it like that before. A new battery is no big deal but I was hoping all was OK.

Crooky,

Those roundabouts are a bitch, and if it's slick, it's worse. So feather the clutch old mate, it's easier than trying to keep a smooth response on the throttle.

I had to change my Map when I dropped my Kurry air kit back in, and the map has a really sensitive throttle down low - it's ugly on roundabouts.

Hi all...The C-Tek has got a recondition mode on it.It is meant to be used after flattening a battery.

 Hi,

slow down and make sure you look where you going not down or just in front, I been riding for 14mths and a professional now

thanks

robots

Your funny robots, I've been riding for 32 years and am still learning. I must be a slow learner.

Since you are a professional rider now after 14 months, maybe you can teach me a thing or two! lol.  good stuff!   

Congratulations on the Softail Crookneez.

Friction point (ie slip) on the clutch is your friend in the slow stuff.

In regards to recharging the battery if it still fires up ok after a few days after the ride and recharging, the battery should be OK. Probably lost some service life.

Modern teachings for low speed cornering and manoeuvrability suggest riders keep a steady throttle and adjust speed via the rear brake. Yes that's right, you have the throttle open whilst using the rear brake at the same time. Goes against everything taught about driving but that's what they teach now and it works

I read somewhere in this forum that it took approx 15 mins of highway riding to put some good charge back into your battery.  Maybe the local housing development riding took a bit more out of it and not enough was put back in as you were probably only barely hitting 60k's.

I would think that after you get your full licence then maybe after you get a few highway k's underneath you, the battery may turn out to be just fine.

 

Hesh