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I'm looking at buying a '98 EX500 -- haven't seen it in person as yet, but will very soon... the owner says it needs a battery. He says he can charge the battery and prove that it runs well...but if the bike sits for 4 or 5 hours the battery needs to be recharged. How long do batteries last? Is this a sound explanation of a battery and the end of its useful life? Or does it sound more like an alternator problem? Do bikes even have alternators? I know that in cars the alternator keeps the battery charged while the bike is running but if the alternator is bad then the engine will cut out and won't even start WITH a charged battery.

Also read that a bikes battery drains a little when the engine is running? Is something accelerating this 'drain' process? Could it be an electrical problem?

Sorry for the long-winded post

Thanks

the Rook

It could be an old batt; a bad regulator/rectifier; dirty connections; or a faulty alternator. Most likely a bad batt. Most bike batts should last at least two seasons. A high price batt should last longer. Hope it is just the batt.

get it running and turn it so the headlight will be shining on the side of house or something flat and increase rpm's while watching light shining on wall if it gets brighter the alternator is charging if it dont get brighter it aint.

Thanks for the replies...

Note to self: Please read your own posts before submission
Duh...some thing's I wrote in the original post didn't make sense...allow me to correct myself as my fingers were moving faster than the ol' gray matter -- The batt drains a little when the engine ISN'T running...

I hope it's just the batt too

sounds like a bad cell in a battery to me, it makes it so the battery won't hold a charge.

since he can charge it, start it, and then a few hours later it won't start. I would think since the motorcycle hasn't been running THIS problem isn't with the alternator. That doesn't mean other problems don't exist it just sounds like these symptoms are related to the battery.

Good luck.

even if it is the stator...it's a fairly cheap fix anyhow...