Bike won’t start

[dududuckling]

2017 V7 III Stone with 2100 miles.

I last rode it on Thursday and the bike wouldn’t start this morning. This morning: Turned the key to ON, kick stand off, gear in N, kill switch to ON, hit the start button and it just “click click click” with DRL flickers everytime it clicks. With the kill switch to OFF, it kept clicking and drl flickering nonstop. It only stopped after I turned the key back to OFF.

Battery - Still stock since March 2018, rode it daily and is now at 2100 miles.

Gas - Might have 1-2 gal of gas left (normally used 3-4 gal of gas every two weeks), but the gas light was not lit on Thursday.

The only thing that bothers me most is it clicks and clicks even with kill switch off. Could it be electrical or not enough gas?

Thanks in advance!

 

[GuzziMoto]

That sounds electrical. And it sounds like a weak battery. It is near impossible for it to have anything to do with how much gas is in the bike (I really think it is impossible, but I hate using absolutes).
You should check your battery.
I would either put your battery on a charger or replace it. I would also check your charging voltage once you do get it started. You may have a charging issue.

 

[kiwi dave]

I suggest you check all your battery connections and where it earths to the bike.

You could try a jumper from another battery if you suspect the battery itself is faulty.

 

[GTM®]

As Mike says above, it's the battery. You actually got a decent amount of life out of the stock battery. Replace it with a lithium version; https://gtmotocycles.com/collections/all-products/products/antigravity-battery-atx12 -- and ride on.

 

[Mayakovski]

As Mike says above, it's the battery. You actually got a decent amount of life out of the stock battery.

Seriously? 2100 miles is considered good? Man, the stock battery must really be crap.

I put over 8000 KM on my 1981 Ducati in the early 1990's and never changed the battery, and over 12000 km on my 1994 KLR650 on the stock battery. Guess the new batteries these days are just junk.

 

[dududuckling]

As Mike says above, it's the battery. You actually got a decent amount of life out of the stock battery. Replace it with a lithium version; https://gtmotocycles.com/collections/all-products/products/antigravity-battery-atx12 -- and ride on.

I'll be in touch!

 

[dududuckling]

Here’s a video of it. It is still clicking away even with the kill switch OFF (00:14), until I turned the key OFF.

 

[GTM®]

It is still clicking away even with the kill switch OFF (00:14), until I turned the key OFF.

Ah, so the ECU knows the engine isn't running, so it is continuing to try to engage the starter motor relay. You might want to check the cables at the battery, or best yet to know the voltage at the battery (before you buy a new battery). It might be something simple.

 

[kiwi dave]

Classic low battery situation captured on your video.

 

[GTM®]

Seriously? 2100 miles is considered good? Man, the stock battery must really be crap.I put over 8000 KM on my 1981 Ducati in the early 1990's and never changed the battery, and over 12000 km on my 1994 KLR650 on the stock battery. Guess the new batteries these days are just junk.

They are... I've been stating this for 2+ years, always met with similar comments.
Old lead-acid batts were good, AGMs have gotten continually worse over the last few years.

 

[Mayakovski]

They are... I've been stating this for 2+ years, always met with similar comments.
Old lead-acid batts were good, AGMs have gotten continually worse over the last few years.

What is the expected life span of the lithium battery (Anti-Gravity ATX12-RS) you listed in your post?

 

[GTM®]

What is the expected life span of the lithium battery (Anti-Gravity ATX12-RS) you listed in your post?

I have a AG lithium from 2011 in my Stelvio I've never even once put a charger on. The upside to the ATX is if you abuse it, it has a button to jump start the bike automatically. I would expect a modern lith-i to last 4-5 years (easily) or a lot more if not abused.

 

[Mayakovski]

I have a AG lithium from 2011 in my Stelvio I've never even once put a charger on. The upside to the ATX is if you abuse it, it has a button to jump start the bike automatically. I would expect a modern lith-i to last 4-5 years (easily) or a lot more if not abused.

Great, will be on my shopping list next year as I have about 3300 KM on the stock battery at this point.

 

[john zibell]

Great, will be on my shopping list next year as I have about 3300 KM on the stock battery at this point.

It is not miles that takes a battery out but time and lack of maintenance (occasional charging).

 

[Mayakovski]

It is not miles that takes a battery out but time and lack of maintenance (occasional charging).

So a well maintained battery, taken care of, and run daily or at minimum charged once per month (when bike is uninsured) should have a better life span. Good to know.

 

[kiwi dave]

So a well maintained battery, taken care of, and run daily or at minimum charged once per month (when bike is uninsured) should have a better life span. Good to know.

Once a month is probably pushing your luck. My philosophy on keeping my motorcycle batteries charged is to use an ordinary (read cheap) low capacity charger on a timer, charging the battery for 15 minutes four times a day. I've had batteries last as long as twelve years using this technique. As Todd has noted, the modern ones ain't so good.

 

[Vagrant]

if you bought it new this march they didn't charge it before delivering it. it should be replaced by the dealer assuming it's bad in the first place. fully charge it then take it to a auto zone etc for a load test if it fails call the dealer and by yourself a trickle charger like the battery tender.

 

[GuzziMoto]

Ah, so the ECU knows the engine isn't running, so it is continuing to try to engage the starter motor relay. You might want to check the cables at the battery, or best yet to know the voltage at the battery (before you buy a new battery). It might be something simple.

I think it is doing that because once you request a "start" it triggers a timer that keeps trying to start the motor for a preset amount of time. That is how they now have the single push to start. When I get on an older bike and hit the starter sometimes I forget and only push the button that one single time, expecting it to keep trying to start until it starts. But all I get is a short burst of starter motor and then silence. Followed by me saying "Doh!!!".

 

[GTM®]

if you bought it new this march they didn't charge it before delivering it. it should be replaced by the dealer assuming it's bad in the first place. fully charge it then take it to a auto zone etc for a load test if it fails call the dealer and by yourself a trickle charger like the battery tender.

Been there, done that, same result. I even took delivery of it in the box and put it into service myself on one occasion... it lasted 4 weeks. I'm done with AGM batteries for good. Seems that if you buy a pre-charged version from Yuasa, you'll get better results... up to 2 years max.

 

[dududuckling]

It is the battery. I took it to O'reillys to have it checked. They charged it for 15 mins before doing load test, it simply won't retain charge.

The bike is still covered by warranty. But the closest Guzzi dealer is in Thousand Oaks, and then Orange County, and then San Diego, and I have to take time off work to drive there and back, and end up with the same battery that might go kaput in a few months.

So, I will be getting the new antigravity battery from Todd next month, then it's one less thing to worry about when riding the bike. I just hope turning on/off the bike yesterday morning did not damage any other parts like the start, relay, etc. Thanks all for the quick replies!