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Battery Discharge
Caution
The charge level in the battery must be
maintained to maximise battery life.
Failure to maintain the battery charge
level could cause serious internal dam-
age to the battery.
Under normal conditions, the motorcycle
charging system will keep the battery
fully charged. However, if the motorcy-
cle is unused, the battery will gradually
discharge due to a normal process
called self discharge; the clock, Engine
Control Module (ECM) memory, high am-
bient temperatures, or the addition of
electrical security systems or other
electrical accessories will all increase
this rate of battery discharge. Discon-
necting the battery from the motorcycle
during storage will reduce the rate of
discharge.
Battery Discharge During Storage
and Infrequent Use of the
Motorcycle
During storage or infrequent use of the
motorcycle, inspect the battery voltage
weekly using a digital multimeter. Follow
the manufacturer’s instructions sup-
plied with the meter.
Should the battery voltage fall below
12.7 Volts, the battery should be
charged.
Allowing a battery to discharge or leav-
ing it discharged for even a short period
of time causes sulphation of the lead
plates. Sulphation is a normal part of
the chemical reaction inside the battery,
however over time the sulphate can
crystallise on the plates making recov-
ery difficult or impossible. This
permanent damage is not covered by
the motorcycle warranty, as it is not
due to a manufacturing defect.
Keeping the battery fully charged re-
duces the likelihood of it freezing in cold
conditions. Allowing a battery to freeze
will cause serious internal damage to
the battery.
Battery Charging
Warning
The battery gives off explosive gases;
keep sparks, flames and cigarettes
away. Provide adequate ventilation
when charging or using the battery in
an enclosed space.
The battery contains sulphuric acid
(battery acid). Contact with skin or
eyes may cause severe burns. Wear
protective clothing and a face shield.
If battery acid gets on your skin, flush
with water immediately.
If battery acid gets in your eyes, flush
with water for at least 15 minutes and
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATE-
LY.
If battery acid is swallowed, drink large
quantities of water and SEEK MEDICAL
ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.
KEEP BATTERY ACID OUT OF THE
REACH OF CHILDREN.
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