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You can test the battery by putting the DVOM probes on both terminals or by going from the positive terminal of the battery to a known good ground point on the bike (in this case, a screw that touches the frame).


If the readout is above 12 volts, chances are your battery is good,


and you can move on to the load test. If the readout is below 12, it’s time to hook your battery up to a trickle charger for a few hours (or better yet, overnight). Once you determine the battery is carrying 12+ volts, then you


can test the battery under load. You can eliminate the possibility of a bound-up starter giving you a false dead battery result by using the headlight. Put the headlight on the high beam setting, then turn the key to “On.” If the battery still reads above 12 volts, then move on to testing things out with the starter button. Load testing by using the starter button is easier with a helper.


Have one person hold the DVOM leads on the battery terminals, and with the bike’s ignition in the ON position, have the other per- son press the starter button (**BE SURE your bike is in NEU- TRAL!**). No matter whether the bike starts or not, you should see a drop in the voltage readout. If the drop is minimal—a volt or two—your battery is okay. The amount of drop acceptable can vary and is dependent on your specific motorcycle; for instance, an older bike with points has a much lower threshold for acceptable voltage than a modern bike with an electronic ignition system. With a modern bike, if the drop takes it much below 10 volts,


you need a new battery. The problem there is that the battery is accepting a charge, but it’s just a surface charge. When a load is put to the battery—that is, when you try to start the motorcycle—the battery is not up to the task and has to be replaced. Let’s say you’ve installed a brand-new battery and prepped it per


the manufacturer’s instructions, but your bike still gives you the old “click click click.” The next step is to test the circuit’s continuity through the starter. BMW motorcycle starters carry the ground through the housing of the unit, so the number of wires going to your starter may vary. Find the main lug on the starter and verify the connection is clean and tight.


Modern R bike starters are similar to automotive starters in that the starter and solenoid are built into a common chassis. These are a little harder to test, but not ridiculously so.


F, G and K bikes will have a starter with just one lug on it; make sure the connection is tight and free of debris and corrosion.


August 2016 BMW OWNERS NEWS


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