Dead Battery on Ninja 250? Battery Charger Suggestions?

[NinjaN00b]

Hey -


So I just bought an 06 Ninja ex250 (yellow, hehe) last week - I've fired it up twice and rode around my neighborhood... stalling a miserable amount

The bike was nice and started after all of those stalls, until..

today I wanted to give it a go again! The bike started (with choke ) until I stalled, lurched forward, then tipped over - after this the bike wouldn't start unless I revved it in Neutral. Hooray! It started . . . until I stalled again.

I'm assuming I just killed the battery, but I'm not sure if I'm correct - I waited about 30 minutes and tried again with success ... Choke was active and it was heating up, so I zipped up my jacket and put my gloves on - in that amount of time the bike lost RPM and died.

Should I be investing in a battery charger? What is one you guys use and like? Not only that but, is this the problem? Did I kill the battery completely or do I just need a charger and to let it chill for a bit?

HOW DO I NOT STALL If I could just get like 2 chances to stall that'd be fine, but the bike was angry and wouldn't even let me get that All I've driven before are automatic cars and scooters AAGH

Getting into bikes is really hard without a buddy/teacher

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by NinjaN00b

Getting into bikes is really hard without a buddy/teacher

Hey, if your car wasn't running right, would you try to fix it yourself?
If not, then why do you think you should be trying to fix your BIKE yourself?

Your description of the problem is confusing. If you can't even describe the problem clearly, it is not likely that you can fix it either.

Yes, you probably should have a charger. Most any brand 4 amp or less will do for a bike............but I don't think the battery has anything to do with your current problem. If the battery was bad, the bike wouldn't start.......or even turn over probably.

[robertc729]

On the mechanical side I agree with ER, however it seems that the most beneficial route for you take is to sign yourself up for an MSF course. They will teach you the basics of operating a motorcycle, i.e. how not to stall. Even a 250 is deadly in the hands of an untrained person.

BTW,

[2005GZ250]

I hate to ask this, is there gas in the tank?

[NinjaN00b]

I think it's the battery because the more I bug the bike in one sitting the worse the problem becomes, and yes I'd try to fix my car myself first too :p

I'm already signed up for MSF! It's in late February. I'm not going on the freeway until I'm done with the course. Yes I have my license, from driving scooters. I realize MSF is great and I really don't want to hijack this thread, but why is it that a lot of riders seem to think that riding cannot be taught any other way? How is it that many people who go to MSF can already ride but are taking it as a refresher? Not all of them had someone hold their hand. I have a few bike friends for good enough advice on AIM, but none to chill out with me on my culdesac and tell me that I'm releasing the clutch too fast, or not gassing enough (the problem is a combination of the 2 actually, I'm too easy on the throttle)

If I wasn't interested in fixing my own bike and at least knowledgeable enough I wouldn't be posting here, because I wouldn't give a "hoot", though forgive me for becoming frustrated, you guys must deal with idiots on a reg. basis - The bike's last owner didn't even check tire pressure once in 6k miles (YES, I've already had a check up and front tire change ((the back tire was new))done since I bought the thing). If I just let someone else do it every time there's a problem how am I ever going to learn? A 250 is probably the perfect bike to get into fixing myself. All I do on the internet is read about motorcycles, for multiple hours a week.


And yes, there's gas in the tank

ANYWAYS: It's simple: I tipped it, I stalled it, it doesn't start unless I let it sit for ~30 minutes before messing with it or stalling. That's why I think it's the battery. My last car had nothing BUT battery/alternator issues so I can spot one pretty quick. I need to actually get the thing GOING so the battery can re charge itself and this won't happen. That's my self diagnosis, I was just wondering if anyone agreed!

I once tipped a scooter trying to push it over one of those emergency service curbs - it wouldn't start for a few minutes after I did. What exactly don't bikes like about being on their sides? Even for a second without a hard impact at all (slow mo, rather) and like 20 seconds on its side, it was so upset

So I can go to the bike shop near here and get any brand 4 amp or less? I mean, I'll ask the guy there, I can just tell they jerk people around sometimes to get them to spend more money, I hate that, so I try to walk in there as informed as possible.

How much of a beating can one ninja clutch take? Results soon...

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by NinjaN00b

I think it's the battery because the more I bug the bike in one sitting the worse the problem becomes,

Here's part of the problem: What does "bug the bike" mean?

Originally Posted by NinjaN00b

"I realize MSF is great and I really don't want to hijack this thread, but why is it that a lot of riders seem to think that riding cannot be taught any other way?"

You mis-understand. A formal course (MSF) is by far the BEST way to (start) learning. It certainly is not the only way but is the only GOOD way......especially since almost nobody learns to drive a stick shift car anymore.

Originally Posted by NinjaN00b

So I can go to the bike shop near here and get any brand 4 amp or less? I mean, I'll ask the guy there, I can just tell they jerk people around sometimes to get them to spend more money, I hate that, so I try to walk in there as informed as possible.

Vehicle batteries are (for the most part) all the same, just different sizes. Same thing applies for battery chargers. You do NOT need to go to a bike shop. Any auto supply store or big box retailer (Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes) or any hardware store probably has small chargers. They should be priced around $20. It will be good for you to have one on hand.

It will also be good for you to charge your battery for 5 hours or more and see if it has any impact on your problem or not. I still suspect it will not. If your battery has removable caps, check the acid level; add water as needed. (BE careful).

[robertc729]

Battery tenders are great and very inexpensive.

As for the MSF course, it is much better to be taught by a trained and licensed instructor, than to be trained by a buddy who may teach you bad habits. It's not the only way to learn how to ride, but it's better than the alternative.

[jkersh]

Originally Posted by NinjaN00b

I'm assuming I just killed the battery, but I'm not sure if I'm correct - I waited about 30 minutes and tried again with success ... Choke was active and it was heating up, so I zipped up my jacket and put my gloves on - in that amount of time the bike lost RPM and died.
(

Is it turning over at all? When it is running is the light dim? To me it sounds more like you dislodged some crud in your tank after the tip over. That would make it hard to start and not run correctly.

[smikail]

From your comments, that you leave the bike for 30 minutes and it would start later, i would say that you are flooding the carb. if the it is a battery issue, the battery would not self charge in 30 min.

my bike has a carb. and it took me some time and practice not to flood it.

take your time.

regards,

smikail