Carrying Motorcycle Booster Cables A Must

[Calgary]

Deadeye's report of a failed battery brought to mind an experience a riding buddy and I had last year on the Labor Day Weekend.

We were at the north end of Yellowstone, planning to enjoy new routes to Phoenix when the alternator on his Gl1800 quit and his battery died. Being a holiday weekend and the complexities of using towing services within/outside the park we decided to put the battery from my 2012 Gl1800 into his bike and his dead battery into mine. (Having the same model of bike made this a no-brainer). We then disconnected all of the power using sources on his bike and used my recently purchased booster cables to jump start my bike.

I don't recall the mileage from Yellowstone to Maricopa (30 minutes south of Phoenix) but we certainly swapped batteries many times to get us there. On average, a charge would last about 45 minutes and then it was time to switch, jump start and off we went again. The weather had settled into a steady weekend rain so we got to hone our battery switching skills under less than ideal conditions, as a matter of fact the rain prompted us to refine our technique considerably!

I'm rather amazed that I didn't do some serious damage to my battery, but I've put on 10,000 miles since then and everything continues to run well.

Being equipped to help out a stranded fellow biker is a good thing and when a set of booster cables can be had for less than 20.00 it's also an inexpensive thing!

 

[starrider60]

Got a pair of jumper cables for xmas & carry them in my ride. I've helped several folks over the years. I CONSIDER THEM A MUST HAVE ITEM

 

[John Luciano]

Actually what you did might improve your battery performance. Cycling a battery is good for it! How dead did you let it get? The Alternator on the 1800 , did it have about 85,000 on it?

 

[Calgary]

Actually what you did might improve your battery performance. Cycling a battery is good for it! How dead did you let it get? The Alternator on the 1800 , did it have about 85,000 on it?

We literally left it until the motorcycle stopped running - coasted to the side and switched batteries. I was following and when the battery was just about to quit, I could smell the change in the exhaust!

You're pretty much right on the mileage John; just shy of 100,000 miles!

 

[John Luciano]

I had a friend ( he died this Tuesday ) long distance Goldwing rider logged well over 500,000 miles on ( 3 Gold wings 1983 145,000- 1995 230,00- 2002 last I heard over 200,000 ) anyway he had his quit in Tenn. The dealer told him this was the 5 th alternator he did in the past few months. All with 85,000 to 90,000 miles on them.

 

[Bikerbozo]

For my HD TG, I made some jumper cables. Some heavy speaker wire and oversized alligator clips. Will work in a pinch. Just had voltage reg replaced. It was getting ready to go (on/off charging). Battery being replaced right now. In for service and I told them to load test it. My hint was airhorns not working with engine off. Sure enough, load test says its going.

 

[eagle1]

if you start a bike with a car battery, don't start the car. because the alternature will fry the bike 's electronics

 

[skuuter]

10 gauge insulated wire, and large clips will build a great set of motorcycle jumper cables.....even at 10 feet long, they will coil up into a really small unit requiring very little space.....ThumbUp

 

[brianl]

Actually what you did might improve your battery performance. Cycling a battery is good for it! How dead did you let it get? The Alternator on the 1800 , did it have about 85,000 on it?

Hi John. I had to have the alternator replaced shortly after I bought it. The bike was 14 yrs. old with about 15,000 miles on it at the time.

 

[John Luciano]

Brian we were talking about 1800. Yes the 1500 has brush sticking problems. Not always necessary to replace the Alternator, just the brushes. Did mine at 40,000 will do it again at 75,000.