dduelin
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My 2015 DCT had 30,000 miles on the original battery. The last few times I started it (over the most recent two week span) I had noticed it was a little slower turning over and the thought had entered my mind that the battery might be nearing the end of life but it continued to hold 12.6 to 12.7 volts when I checked it. Last weekend I was about 10 miles out of town on a dirt road when I stopped to change gloves. Just prior had been riding about an hour 3000 rpm or more (highway). Normally I select neutral prior to stopping the engine but this time I killed the engine with the side stand. When I went to start the motor the transmission self-selected neutral but when I pressed the start button the starter relay made one click noise then silence. Several attempts, same result. No repeated clicking like a deeply discharged or defective battery refusing to close the start relay - just one click then silence. The dash warning lights were on and normal for key ON and engine off. I took off the battery cover and put a screwdriver to the battery terminals - they were tight but I was going to loosen and retighten them when I remembered the heated grips were still on. I turned them off and the engine started on the next try, a little slow but "normal" as of recent. I finished my planned ride of 120 miles without turning off the engine. My on-board voltage minder indicated 12.9 to 15.1 at all times. When I got home I turned it off and restarted it and it cranked healthy and strong and a voltage check of the battery was 12.7 volts. I put on a float charge overnight. Two days later I checked it at work with a commercial motorcycle battery tester. Steady voltage was 12.63 volts but the battery did not pass a load test and the tester stated Replace Battery.
This is just a cautionary tale. Batteries can seem healthy right up until they are not and DCT bikes have no way to start the engine without a satisfactory source of power to the starting system. What to do differently? Check the battery with a load tester when it indicates any change in health and rely less on system voltage reported by voltage monitors. I guess I will invest in a portable jump battery device at some point.
This is just a cautionary tale. Batteries can seem healthy right up until they are not and DCT bikes have no way to start the engine without a satisfactory source of power to the starting system. What to do differently? Check the battery with a load tester when it indicates any change in health and rely less on system voltage reported by voltage monitors. I guess I will invest in a portable jump battery device at some point.