Dead battery

[From MARS]

I'm a dumb ass. I left the key on after shutting the bike (03 K12RS) down with the kill switch. Suffice it to say, a woman was involved. Three hours later, my battery is dead. My karma must have been at work after my smartass answer to the campfire thread "when you cheat". Anyway, I've hooked a charger to the battery. The question is, "Have I screwed up anything?"

[arebin]

That depends. Did you get her phone number?

[From MARS]

Didn't do any better here than I did at the Florabama, but then, I was on the Bama side of the line.
Actually, I was wondering if I had damaged anything in trying to start the bike, but common sense has regained control. Nobody would build a bike that couldn't handle an attempted start with a dead battery. Its just that, well, y'all know how I feel about my new bike. And, when she wouldn't start becaused of something I did, man, I felt bad. I know! I'll buy her a new seat. Yeah. That's what I'll do. Just as soon as the battery is recharged!

[PGlaves]

When a battery is fully or almost fully discharged - sometimes it will come back on a charger and sometimes it won't. I've had it both ways.

As for other damage - some K bikes like to fuse their starter relays when a start is attempted with low voltage. In this case, if there is enough in the battery to try to keep cranking it tries - and key off, switch off, doesn't stop it. Disconnecting the battery is all that will stop it.

So if the bike is out in the shop out back with the charger on it you ought to check to see if it is trying to start itself unattended.

[From MARS]

Paul,
Great advise. Believe me when I tell you that I was definitely checking on her. I am glad to report all is well. After an overnight charge, the battery started her right up this morning.

A question, "If you saw 03/07 branded into the side of your battery, would you assume it was March/2007 or July/2003?" The battery doesn't look new enough to be an 07, but since I just bought the bike, I don't know.

[rcdemon]

Do keep a eye on the battery. If it is cranking slowly you do risk fusing the starter relay. I did this myself a few years ago on a K75S on a cold November morning. Kind of freaked me out, the engine turning over very slowly, with every thing off. Disconnected the ground very quickly , and contacted the K Bike forum. Got lots of good advice , all of it right on the nut. Thanks again guys !:p

[Kayseventyfive]

To avoid stressing the relay contacts, I turn on my ignition early and give the starter button a quick stab to get the pump up to full pressure while I put on the gloves. Then the bike starts with slightly shorter cranking time.