Bike stops working 'randomly' - DRZ400

KarGo

KarGo

Well-known member
My bike randomly stopped running, I had to park it and come home. Planning to go tomorrow to get my battery to charge it. Me and a fellow biker at the gas station tried to bump start it, we couldn't do it. The fuses are fine, I'm thinking it might be the battery.

So I was on the lakeshore ave, heavy traffic cause my bike to over heat. Shorty after I went to the P parking to hangout at the lake, when I tried to start the bike it basically died. So I had to push it half way home.

What could be a cause of this problem? Is it possible for the battery to die in 5mins? :|
 
heavy traffic = fan will be on.

Fans draw a lot of power. So if the bike does not run for a bit after - the battery will be too low to start the bike up again (depending on age).

What does this mean? "Shorty after I went to the P parking to hangout at the lake, when I tried to start the bike it basically died. So I had to push it half way home." --> Did you leave the bike in "P" with the tail light on? Did the starter click? ??
 
markopas said:
Have you checked the stator connections or even the regulator/rectifier connectors.
Click to expand...
I went to get my battery today, I totally forgot to check for loose connections.
How would I check if the stator and the regulator/ rectifier are functioning?

.
frekeyguy said:
heavy traffic = fan will be on.

Fans draw a lot of power. So if the bike does not run for a bit after - the battery will be too low to start the bike up again (depending on age).

What does this mean? "Shorty after I went to the P parking to hangout at the lake, when I tried to start the bike it basically died. So I had to push it half way home." --> Did you leave the bike in "P" with the tail light on? Did the starter click? ??
Click to expand...

I just got home with the battery to check the charge, it was 13.28V. So I think we can cross out the low battery theory.
When I start the bike at the lake, it turned over once and then died. None of the electrics worked.

P parking- I meant Green P Parking lot.
 
Check for loose battery connection.

If that is OK check the Stator and rectifier. There is info on how to do this in the service manual. If you don't have a manual PM me.

If the rectifier output is low, do the free power mod(search on Thumpertalk.com for this mod) to see if it improves it.

The rectifier on my DRZ was a little funky. I ended up in Kingston once with no dash, or lights, or anything. Had to bumpstart it and ride without anything but engine working.

BTW bump starting a DRZ is a serious pain in the ***. I developed a system: Run beside bike up to 17km/h+, jump, slam down on seat(side saddle), drop clutch(2nd gear).
 
N3WMAN said:
Check for loose battery connection.

If that is OK check the Stator and rectifier. There is info on how to do this in the service manual. If you don't have a manual PM me.

If the rectifier output is low, do the free power mod(search on Thumpertalk.com for this mod) to see if it improves it.

The rectifier on my DRZ was a little funky. I ended up in Kingston once with no dash, or lights, or anything. Had to bumpstart it and ride without anything but engine working.

BTW bump starting a DRZ is a serious pain in the ***. I developed a system: Run beside bike up to 17km/h+, jump, slam down on seat(side saddle), drop clutch(2nd gear).
Click to expand...

Thanks, it just struck me now. The problem might be in the key switch itself. I need to somehow bypass the switch.
Is it even possible for the key switch to die like that?
 
I don't know about the DRZ, but the switch in my old honda got tired (electrical contacts didn't slide smoothly anymore and would sometimes not complete all the circuits). I bent up a fork that when pressed against the bottom of the switch would connect the required points.
 
Finally got the bike home today, the problem was with the ignition switch. One of the connector was pulled loose over time. I taped up all the connectors, now everything works fine.
 
glad to hear everythings good and, seems to be a relatively inexpensive fix!
 
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