POP! And... battery gone

[Draeger]

Picked up my Valk this weekend and rode her home, 1100 km. Good to have the old girl back after all these years!

I had stopped at a small gas station and filled up. Bike started perfectly as normal. Rode it off the pump, stopped to go into the store. Came out and when I pushed the starter, I heard a POP and all the lights went out.

All fuses checked out fine. When I pushed my heated grip button, I noticed that it flickered just slightly, so somehow the battery had totally discharged in a moment.

Found a fella with jumper cables and had another biker jump start the bike ... I didn't want to have a car or truck do it because of the amperage overload... and the bike started right up.

I had a full tank of gas so rode all the way to a parts supply shop and got there a few minutes before they closed. Amazingly, they had a battery that fit the Valk perfectly! A nice on too, with 200 CCA and 14a/H. Two hundred bucks later... and off I was.

Seems to work fine now.

My question is ... what may have caused that?

I noticed there was not hold down strap on the battery. Some of the roads were bumpy, with whoops in them... is it possible the battery lifted out, touched the frame and flipped polarity?

Any insight appreciated!

[Timbo1]

You can jump a bike with a car battery as long as the car isn't running your safe.  The bike will only pull the amperage needed from the battery for the starter as long as it's 12vdc.

I'd suspect the battery blew opened one of the terminals.  You could verify that with a DMM.  If it's 0 vdc a terminal is open.

Since you heard the pop at the time of starting I suspect the amp draw of the starter created to much current for the battery to withstand in it's current condition. Age of battery, electrolyte level etc.. could be a contributor to the failure.

I'd doubt the battery bounced or hit the frame as you would see spark marks under the seat.  But I'd suggest looking on ebay and picking up a battery cover and strap and secure it properly.

[Jess from VA]

I've had that happen (long ago).  That pop is likely the battery dying for good (if it's not a short somewhere).  It may take a jump and run the bike, but likely will never start it again.

$200 for a bike battery is robbery.   

[Draeger]

I've had that happen (long ago).  That pop is likely the battery dying for good (if it's not a short somewhere).  It may take a jump and run the bike, but likely will never start it again.

$200 for a bike battery is robbery.   

So glad to hear you say that. I honestly can't imagine a short anywhere - a fuse would have blown i think, or there would have been some other issue show up.

If $200 solves the problem, that's well worth it to me! But, robbery, I agree.

[Jess from VA]

If $200 solves the problem, that's well worth it to me!

At 72, this has become my philosophy too.  (Hundreds, not thousands.)  Especially if I'm sitting on the side of the road.

My internist doctor (and the best I ever had, not that I've had or needed many in my whole lifetime) moved to a new "concierge practice," where you have to pay $3000 cash (no insurance or medicare) per year to belong (after that, your insurance kicks in).  I suppose that's one way to weed out the riffraff and unwashed from your offices. 

So now I'm looking for a new doctor.  When I get around to it. 

[ridingron]

I had a doctor that was doing that too. He ask me if I was interested in joining the new "group". My answer was I'd have to find out from my insurance how that worked. He left the practice before I could get back to him.

[Pluggy]

Draeger, years ago I saw a battery that went "poof".  Owner had a Goldwing, probably a 1979.  Motorcycle batteries at the time had a clear plastic case and you saw the plates and acid inside.  After the poof, this one became coated inside with white material.  We figured the battery self-destructed due to an internal short.  No fuses on the bike had failed.  

I suppose a battery expert could cut one open and learn something.  It must be a rare failure as I never heard of another until now. 

Guys, a battery that costs $147 in US money will cost $200 in Canadian money.  In North Carolina, our little towns have NAPA auto parts stores.  They sell the best parts and not real cheap.  Here is a NAPA battery and it costs the same as Draeger ended up paying.  

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/PSBETX14

Keep riding safe.... Pluggy