Tank Slap - Motorcycle Forum

I try not to start mine unless I'm going for a ride. It takes a lot out of the battery.

I try not to, but I'm a big fanny and don't ride through the winter, just wanted it to tick over.
I didn't think it'd take 83% away in a month or two though, but here we are!

Question: Does the voltage normally drop?

I just took it off the charger and the multimeter had it at 12.060 volts, but I noticed it was going down. By something like 0.001 volts every second or two.

Is that just because I'm holding the multimeter on it? Or is it indicative of a problem?

Have you got an alarm or anything that would use electricity? What year is your bike?

How old is the battery?

They don't last for ever, and from my experience when they go they drop off a cliff.

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Itchy wrote:I try not to, but I'm a big fanny and don't ride through the winter, just wanted it to tick over.
I didn't think it'd take 83% away in a month or two though, but here we are!

Question: Does the voltage normally drop?

I just took it off the charger and the multimeter had it at 12.060 volts, but I noticed it was going down. By something like 0.001 volts every second or two.

Is that just because I'm holding the multimeter on it? Or is it indicative of a problem?

When you charge a battery Itchy, you are inducing a chemical reaction in the battery and by removing the input it doesn’t instantly stop that reaction.

So best practice to get a true indication is to leave it a few hours with no load and then check the voltage.

2.5 V is a pretty deep discharge so depending on the type and/or age it may have cooked it. My Ducati one recently had the same issue and charged it, showing 12.5V but put a start in and it dropped to 2-3V.

Motobatt fitted August 2017
No alarm


I'll take it off charge tonight and test it in the morning.

Thanks for the replies, you hearty bunch of slappers.

an optimate should kick it back into life

Itchy wrote:Motobatt fitted August 2017
No alarm


I'll take it off charge tonight and test it in the morning.

Thanks for the replies, you hearty bunch of slappers.

My Motobatt died within 1 year and that was with me trickle charging it. I decided to not trickle charge my FOC replacement and so far it's been great. I'll be starting it again this weekend while I lube the chain then I'll leave it running til the fan kicks in again before a final fluids check.

I don't know if it's a thing with gel batteries not liking trickle charging or if I got a duff one.

12.66 and dropping last night (straight after I took it off charge)
12.44 this morning and holding steady.

I've put it back on charge before I put it back in this aft, but I think it'll be just fine.

Got an MOT for the versys.

I can't believe how busy the roads were at 3.30pm. it was like rush hour

It works!

A 60 mile trip is more than my backside can handle right now though, I am NOT match fit!

That lid looks great

Covered it in more bugs

C00kiemonster wrote:That lid looks great

It feels good as well, I stand by everyone that recommended it.

I love the strap locking mechanism. The drop down sun visor is awesome, it added so much clarity to the ride, and having used my old Shoei since I started biking I don't think I was aware of just how bad it must've been in terms of scratches and the like.
When I pulled out of the petrol station and popped the visor down I was genuinely surprised at the view I got instead of the view I was expecting. I felt like I'd switched over from normal TV to HD.

There's a little whine at 75ish though, not sure if it's just bedding in or what. (It wasn't me!)

And first time I've been beardy in a helmet too, I was expecting irritation but its all good. The Nolan is a nice place to be in.

That whine at 75 is your friendly reminder that you need to slow down you reckless fiend!

Got the leathers and lid on
Rolled her out
Pressed the starter
Got **** all
Rolled her back in
Took off the leathers (still in a pile in the lounge)
Borrowed a battey charger
Now watching the LED's to see if its a new battery or not

Slightly more German experience for me...

Put gear on.
Sat on bike.
Pushed starter.
Rode off.



Then did a mixture of easy flowing roads to get back in the groove, narrow country lanes covered in gravel (pic shows why), finished off with some well known roads and some very naughty riding

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Met Perkles and went out for a couple of hours.

Swapped bikes and had a go on the panzerfaust.