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Motorcycle Tip - How to Deal With a Dead Battery

Here's a Motorcycle Tip compiled from responses from several forum members.

There is nothing more frustrating than to be out on your motorcycle and encounter a dead battery. This happened to my wife when we were stuck in a three-hour traffic jam. There was just too much starting and stopping and finally the engine died and the battery would not restart the bike.

You'll need to have four essential things with you to survive a situation like this in the hot summer sun: A hat, a water bottle, a pair of jumper cables, and a cellphone. If you can't get the bike started, you'll need to use the cellphone to summon help. The hat and water will be essential if you encounter a long wait.

Here are some possibilities for dealing with a dead battery. You may want to print out these steps and include in a ziplock bag also containing your motorcycle jumper cables.

  • Jump the Battery From Another Bike

    • Arrange the other bike so its good battery is close to the dead battery.

    • Attach one red clip of the jumper cables to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery.

    • Attach the other red clip to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery.

    • Attach the black clip to the negative (-) terminal of the good battery.

    • Attach the other black clip to the frame of the bike with the dead battery or to the negative (-) terminal of the dead battery if a suitable frame location cannot be found.

    • Start the bike with the good battery and wait a minute.

    • Start the bike with the dead battery. As soon as it starts, remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that they were attached.

  • Jump the Battery from a Car

  • Use the same procedure as above except DO NOT START THE CAR. The excess current from the charging circuit of the car may destroy the bike's circuitry.

  • Push Start the Bike

    • Find a hill or a few friends.

    • Turn the ignition and gas on and make sure the KILL switch is in the run position.

    • Pull in the clutch and put the bike in second gear.

    • Ride the bike down the hill or have your friends push you.

    • When you reach a reasonable speed, release the clutch quickly. The bike should start. Apply some throttle and maintain control of the bike.

    • Repeat above procedure if necessary.

  • Call for Help

    • If you have a roadside assistance plan for your bike, use your cellphone to call for help. You may have to wait an hour or so before help arrives. Many plans will tow you to the nearest bike dealer for your make.

    • If you know a family member or friend with a bike trailer, call them to come get you.

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