An international forum for people interested in modern high performance road going sidecars.

[jagwillie]

Does anyone else with this bike have this problem? I usually keep it on a tickle charger when not using it, if I forget; it goes dead. I have another Bandit for a doner if needed that does the same thing. I'd be interested in knowing if anyone had the problem besides me and what their cure was.
thanks,
Bill (one of many)
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2010 Concours/Hannigan hp
1976 Moto Guzzi 850 T3 / Escort
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[Ralph]

Bad battery or clock maybe.
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"So Soon Old & So Late Smart"

[jagwillie]

Ralph,
The battery is new this season, the prior one acted the same. It does have a clock but it's a digital in the speedo. I didn't think that would draw enough to take the battery down. I need to check that though. Thanks for the input.
Bill
_________________
2010 Concours/Hannigan hp
1976 Moto Guzzi 850 T3 / Escort
More Guzzis
Some BMWs
BSA Goldstars

[Dar]

I have a Bandito on a 2002 Bandit, can't say that I've had that problem with it. But I do keep a Battery Tender rotating among my several battery equipped toys throughout the winter. Each bike gets it at least a couple of days every month.

What is the time-scale of your battery deaths? Days? weeks? a couple of months? If it's days or even a couple of weeks, there's got to be a bigger drain than just the clock. If you'e got a multimeter, set it to measure current (amps or milliamps) and disconnect one of the battery terminals and put it in series with the disconnected lead and the rest of the electrical system to see what the constant drain is. If there is any sizable reading, try unplugging fuses one at a time to see what system might be causing the drain. Look for terminals or wires that might have an accumulation of corrosion or just plain old crud that might give a path for electricity to go to ground (the frame or some other wires that are connected to the ground.)

This would be the textbook approach to finding such a problem - as I said, I haven't had had occasion to have to try it out myself.

My first answer would have been "an old battery", but Ralph beat me to that one. I don't believe the clock itself should be a problem, (unless the answer to my first question was "a couple of months.")
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David D
Suzuki Bandit 1200/Hannigan Bandito
2000 Guzzi V11 Sport
2009 BMW R1200GS
1978 BMW R100RS

[jagwillie]

The battery will go dead in a week if I don't keep it hooked up. I'll go thru the testing procedure and see what I come up with. Thanks for the input.
Bill
_________________
2010 Concours/Hannigan hp
1976 Moto Guzzi 850 T3 / Escort
More Guzzis
Some BMWs
BSA Goldstars

[Dar]

You're right, a week isn't too good for a fairly new battery.

Have you installed any accessories, wiring, power outlets or whatever, either on the bike or in the sidecar? Particularly anything that keeps the power on even when the key is turned off. (you are turning the key off, aren't you?) My Bandito has a plug between the bike and the sidecar - try unplugging that if you have one, to see if the problem might be in the sidecar wiring.

Hope you have a heated garage to work in. I don't (it's separated from the house and not heated), and these past couple of months have been too cold to want to spend more than a few minutes out there playing with any of the toys I have stored out there

Good Luck
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David D
Suzuki Bandit 1200/Hannigan Bandito
2000 Guzzi V11 Sport
2009 BMW R1200GS
1978 BMW R100RS

[jagwillie]

i haven't done any checking as yet. As mentioned earlier, I have a spare Bandit that does the same thing; that was what prompted the original question. I do have a heated garage, I'd better get it sorted before riding season. I believe the snow should be gone by Memorial Day.
Bill
_________________
2010 Concours/Hannigan hp
1976 Moto Guzzi 850 T3 / Escort
More Guzzis
Some BMWs
BSA Goldstars

[Ralph]

Do you have sealed batteries. If not check the water in them and the cells.
My KLR had a small clock added on to it and the battery would run down in 2 weeks if I didn’t ride it.

Go battery tenders
_________________
"So Soon Old & So Late Smart"

[jagwillie]

My batteries are sealed. Both bikes act the same. I check it out and get to the bottom of it. I'll post what I find in case it might benefit someone else.
Bill
_________________
2010 Concours/Hannigan hp
1976 Moto Guzzi 850 T3 / Escort
More Guzzis
Some BMWs
BSA Goldstars