Maintenance and Adjustment
124
Battery Discharge
Under normal conditions, the motorcycle
charging system will keep the battery
fully charged. However, if the motorcycle
is unused, the battery will gradually
discharge due to a normal process called
self discharge; the clock, Engine Control
Module (ECM) memory, high ambient
temperatures, or the addition of
electrical security systems or other
electrical accessories will all increase
this rate of battery discharge.
Disconnecting the battery from the
motorcycle during storage will reduce
the rate of discharge.
Battery Discharge During Storage
and Infrequent Use of the
Motorcycle
During storage or infrequent use of the
motorcycle, inspect the battery Voltage
weekly using a digital multimeter. Follow
the manufacturer's instructions supplied
with the meter.
Should the battery Voltage fall below
12.7 Volts, the battery should be charged
(see page 125).
Allowing a battery to discharge or
leaving it discharged for even a short
period of time causes sulphation of the
lead plates. Sulphation is a normal part
of the chemical reaction inside the
battery, however over time the sulphate
can crystallise on the plates making
recovery difficult or impossible. This
permanent damage is not covered by
the motorcycle warranty, as it is not due
to a manufacturing defect.
Keeping the battery fully charged
reduces the likelihood of it freezing in
cold conditions. Allowing a battery to
freeze will cause serious internal
damage to the battery.
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