Advice on battery drain problem

[Wes-Mantooth]

I've noticed my Monster 696 struggles to start after sitting for a while and the batt keeps losing charge. I'm considering a trickle charger but has anyone here found a better long term fix?

 

[RedlineBeast]

Looks like your battery might be wearing out. It's a good idea to get it tested, especialy if it hasn't been used for a while. A trickle charger can help, but if the battery is weak, it won't solve the main problem.I switched to a lithium battery for my 796, and it's workd way better when it sits

 

[Wes-Mantooth]

Looks like your battery might be wearing out. It's a good idea to get it tested, especialy if it hasn't been used for a while. A trickle charger can help, but if the battery is weak, it won't solve the main problem.I switched to a lithium battery for my 796, and it's workd way better when it sits

Will get the battery tested and might consider switching to a lithium 1 if it's nearing the end of the road. Appreciate the advice!

 

[mechanicboy]

define sitting for a while? if it's a few days, then it's a problem with the battery or you have some parasitic drain. If it's a few months, then you'll need a trickle charger because batteries don't like to be keept unused for a long time.

 

[Wes-Mantooth]

define sitting for a while? if it's a few days, then it's a problem with the battery or you have some parasitic drain. If it's a few months, then you'll need a trickle charger because batteries don't like to be keept unused for a long time.

"Sitting for a while" is about a week or 2 at the most. I did have the battery tested and it came back healthy, so your mention of a parasitic drain is interesting.

What's the general procedure for checking a parasitic drain with a multimeter? Also, are there any common electrical trouble spots on the 696 model I should investigate first? I'm hoping to set aside some time next weekend to look into it.

 

[thiago_tavares]

In two week isn't normal to drain the battery.

a lithium battery is a goof choice, but not lithium-ion, chose one of LiFePO4 to avoid fire

the Gemini answer:
"To check for parasitic drain on a motorcycle battery, use a digital multimeter set to DC amps, and disconnect the negative battery terminal. Connect the multimeter in series between the disconnected negative terminal and cable, according to Battery Mart. Monitor the reading, which should be in milliamps. A normal draw is usually under 50mA. If the reading is higher, start pulling fuses one at a time to identify the circuit causing the drain"

 

[Wes-Mantooth]

The bike had a parasitic drain, as some of you suggested. I followed the posted test procedure and traced the power draw to a cheap USB charger wired directly to the battery by a previous owner. We removed the charger, and the battery has held its charge for over a week. The advice from this community was crucial in solving the issue.

 

[icec0ld]

I agree with them! You might consider upgrading to a higher quality AGM battery and heavier gauge starter cables. And also, regular rides keeps your battery healthy.

 

[xian0147]

How long have you had your 696? Motorcycle batteries generally only last 3–5 years and their performance drops significantly in the final year. But you can also check any parasitic draw or slow leak of power.

 

[Alan]

@xian0147 is right. The age of the battery also comes into play, but parasitic drain is most likely. Did you get it fixed?