What is a reasonable time to leave headlights on before battery drains?

The wisdom of 2nd gear is so you don't chirp the tire and loose your momentum. The ST is enough of a pig that you aren't goin that fast and it's glued to the road. Prolly more wisdom turning the key off when it ain't runnin:D
 
RoadRiderG: "don't use the kill switch..." I'm sorry, but the MSF Format BC teaches ALL riders to use the bikes kill switch. Why? To leave both hands on the bars. Hey, as soon as you use the kill switch, just IMMEDIATELY turn that key off. Habit!!!!

I should clarify that if I use the kill switch I have to remember to turn off the key. :eek::

My key is not easy to get at because of the zumo and xm antenna in the way. Sometimes I get off my bike get distracted and forget the key. :doh1:

Gary
:04biker:
 
Habit's important. I come to a stop and do FIGS-Farkles: Fuel petcock (well, none on the ST, but it's good to remember it), Ignition switch, in Gear, Sidestand down, Farkles shut off.

Hasn't failed me yet.

--Mark
 
Habit's important. I come to a stop and do FIGS-Farkles: Fuel petcock (well, none on the ST, but it's good to remember it), Ignition switch, in Gear, Sidestand down, Farkles shut off.

Hasn't failed me yet.

--Mark

Yeah, but Mark, you're more disciplined than some of us. Obviously....you're a mod. :D
 
The wisdom of 2nd gear is so you don't chirp the tire and loose your momentum. The ST is enough of a pig that you aren't goin that fast and it's glued to the road. Prolly more wisdom turning the key off when it ain't runnin:D

Heavy bike (and rider) = no 'chirp' in 1st. 2nd sometimes, not enough turn over to catch fire before speed to slow to crank. Whatever works, to each his own! :)

All avoided by turning off the key - you are EXACTLY right! Turning the key is MUCH, MUCH easier than a push start! :nuts1:

Shuey
 
It is much better to have strong, young sons to push you!


There are several other threads with push-starting advice and almost all of them recommend doing it in 2nd gear.

I've tried it numerous times in 2nd and 1st and have found 1st to be a better choice. I've lost count of how many times I've had to do this, but it doesn't take much to get the ST engine to turn over.

1st gear, BE SURE KILLS SWITCH IS OFF, BE SURE IGNITION IS ON, clutch in, straddle bike and push it forward (downhill preferred, level is 2nd best, up hill . . . turn the bike around :). When you're going as fast as you think you can go, sit, pop clutch while given'er some gas.

(Note, I have tried push starting with the kill switch ON and the bike never starts. Same thing with the ignition off! :doh1: Very, VERY tiring)

Shuey
 
It can be push started as long as you have enough battery juice to charge the fuel rail etc. if the battery is dead no can push start.

Yep.

With a freshly discharged battery you can get it cranked with a small push.

After you have left the lights on for 30 mins or so, NO AMOUNT OF PUSHING can get it fired back up [in my experience]

I have done both, and I DO carry a set of cables.


If the battery is totally dead the real problem is the alternator needs voltage to start working. Alternators use electro-magnets to generate electricity, with no voltage there no magnetism, thus no output.
 
my battery died on my vfr, I think the dips may have been on at the time,anyway new battery fitted and she is running fine again,except I have no dipped headlights,is it possible a power surge blew the dips in the bulbs when the battery died?
don't think it's a switch problem,though that's possible too,or a fuse issue,I presume the headlights,dips/heads are on the same fuse, any ideas? thanks
 
When I took the 2010 in to the dealership (and it is still there), I had left one headlight in and left the other out. And the headlight I left in, the low beam was burnt out, so they only headlight they would have was one high beam. I figured that way, they wouldn't destroy the battery too fast when trying to figure out the ABS issue. :D
 
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