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Hi all, its been hot here where I live, recently my bike will not start after riding in the heat for some times (about 20 minutes ride). The symptom are akin to weak battery where crank are weak and meter reset after crank. 2 to 3 tries later the battery will be too weak to crank anymore. But leaving the bike to cool down like 30 minutes later the bike can crank easily just like normal, without the need to charge the battery. Before I replace the battery, I read there's this "heat soak starter" problem in car and wonder if there could be same problem for bikes.
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(10-08-2021, 10:13 PM)zirconxi_imp Wrote: Hi all, its been hot here where I live, recently my bike will not start after riding in the heat for some times (about 20 minutes ride). The symptom are akin to weak battery where crank are weak and meter reset after crank. 2 to 3 tries later the battery will be too weak to crank anymore. But leaving the bike to cool down like 30 minutes later the bike can crank easily just like normal, without the need to charge the battery. Before I replace the battery, I read there's this "heat soak starter" problem in car and wonder if there could be same problem for bikes.
Had a similar experience when my battery was near end-of-service-life. A push start of the CB1100 solved that issue and got on my way to my destination. The next day I ordered a new battery and never had the problem again. It was very hot and humid.
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I agree with GO. You need a new battery.
But first, make sure the terminal connections are clean and tight. And you could meter the voltage when the bike is running and make sure the charging system is working.
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Batteries don't like the cold, do they get worn by heat too ? Possible.
You wonna make sure it's the effect of heat on the battery, not on sth else.
Here is your cheapo test. Ride in the heat as before, next park the bike in plain sun. Take the battery out, and put it in a cool place for 5 minutes, add some ice cubes too - anything that can take the heat away rapidly, and put her back in the bike. The bike's engine is still hot, the battery much cooler. Does it start right away ?
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Heat kills batteries far more than cold does.
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(10-08-2021, 11:32 PM)Houtman_imp Wrote: Heat kills batteries far more than cold does.
I'll likely jinx myself, but I put in an Odyssey battery on my KLRZ650 in 2010 and it's still going strong. I installed a "marine quality" battery on my boat in 2011; again, still running strong. Car battery is at 6, maybe 7 years? I'm no expert, but the common denominator is that I live in the northwest with little humidity, mild winters and summers...and all three are used consistently or on battery tenders when not used (boat during winter, motorcycles all the time when parked).
The '17EX still has the original battery at nearly 4 years--I realize that they give little warning when they go, but based on my experience with the others, I'm reluctant to replace it as a matter of course.
Seems to me that batteries like stable weather without the extremes of cold/heat.
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(10-08-2021, 11:32 PM)Houtman_imp Wrote: Heat kills batteries far more than cold does.
I agree with Houtman.
As the battery ages, the redox reaction eventually weakens to a point where there is more water than desired in the cells. Water, with oxygen, will corrode the cell plates and heat will accelerate the reaction, while cold will slow the reaction. As the cell plates corrode and deteriorate, maximum cranking current will decrease (as well as overall capacity). If a compromised cell freezes, the water will expand causing potential physical damage to the cell.
AGM and newer technology batteries are more stable in this regards. However, AGM are still lead-acid based redox reactions.
The best one can do is to ensure the battery remains healthy by avoiding under and over charge situations during the designed lifespan of the battery.
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Agree with all of the above zirconxi, what brand battery and how old is it?
Here is a chart explaining the relation between operating temperature and battery life;
and the relationship between temperature and capacity ( a different subject ).
As Lord Popgun mentions; check these 3 connection points; 1; battery ground at the engine block for corrosion, 2; battery negative and positive at the battery, 3; positive terminal of starter relay.
It does seem counter intuitive looking at the temp/capacity chart that the bike starts when cooled down which makes the starter cables a bit more suspect but normally when the meters sweep the capacity is too low if the cables are reliably connected, the bike's electrics are supplied from the battery terminal on the starter relay ( the two heavy fuses ) so that rules out the starter relay itself and after that.
Batteries are best at 20 degrees C. for overall performance as the chart suggests.
Seem to remember you replaced the battery not too long ago.......could be time to look at a lithium battery in your hot situation but i am puzzled as to why you have your problem but if the battery can only handle 3 start cycles it is time for replacement.
The system voltage on my bike is very close to 14 volts, if the voltage is constantly higher than 14,5 volts during riding the battery life can be shortened.
Also seem to recall that sometimes the fuel gets to a boiling point at a stationary situation when the fuel rail gets warmed up by the engine heat;
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(10-08-2021, 11:32 PM)Houtman_imp Wrote: Heat kills batteries far more than cold does.
many standard lead batteries seem to specify an upper temperature limite of 60 C for charge and discharge. I assume when the OP said riding in high temps he didn’t mean that high ...
So, looking at the 2nd chart, to which technology does it apply? Also remember it seems to show lab test results.
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Thanks guys for all the advice and information, it seems its the battery after all.. I had clean all the connector as advised and also took out the grounding cable and brush it before reinstall it. Test all connector with ohm meter and all seems low resistance. Then i took her out for a ride till hot and swap the battery from my friends bike and it crank easily. Only the original battery seems weak when hot. And Max is right, I had only change the battery less than a year, but already pass the 6 months warranty. Its a Bikemaster brand AGM. Guess its time for another battery again. The heat here can range from 27C (80F) on cool day to 40C (104F) on a hot day, and my car thermometer sometimes show 42C (107F) park under the hot sun during noon... Maybe its the heat that shorten the battery life or due to the lack of riding recently due to pandemic...
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