somewhat long post here, so stay with me.

So I left the key on (damn key in the neck set up - I hate that damn thing) ... ran the battery down to nothing - like 2 days or more w/ the key on. Being somewhat new to the workings of a mortorcycle - I attempt to jump start it w/ the car ... 12 volt to 12 volt, so my tiny brain figures no problem. I get it started, but every time I pull the jumper cables off it dies ... ok I guess I'll charge it. Charge battery using 2 amp charger. While it's charging I talk to someone who actually knows something about bikes, and he tells me .... "oh boy you can fry the stador (sp?) by using a car to jump - too many amps" ... I say "oh crap I didn't think of that". Ok so next day battery is showing charged, so I put it in the bike, hook it up, start the bike, and put a voltage meter on the terminals - showing 14.3+ volts ... I say "whew dodged a bullet" and go on a ride. Middle of the ride the battery and engine lights come on and by the time I'm done w/ the ride and turn the bike off the battery is dead again. I figure since I was putting out 14.3+ before the ride that I must have killed the battery - go buy a new battery, put the acid in, wait the required hour, charge the battery using 2 amp setting until it shows charged. Put the battery and go for a ride ... after about a mile the battery and engine lights come back on. I continue to ride for a while and then go home and park it. The battery is not dead and I haven't had a chance to ride it further to see if it will die.

So what do you all think I should check/do? Is it possible that the battery just didn't get a full charge and is still charging up a little bit via the bike while I'm riding? I don't have access to my volt meter right now, so I didn't have a chance to check the voltage after I charged it ... just assumed the charger knew what it was talking about. I have a rally this weekend that isn't too far ... what are the ramifications of riding to it and charging the battery as I need to until I can get it to my shop to work on it (assuming it is not charging while riding)? Will it shorten the battery life?

 

Hmm, You're gonna need to check that stator, probably find directions on this forum, or google it. if the stator is good, and battery holds a charge I believe it's assumed it's the voltage regulator. Which is cheaper and easier to replace. If it ends up being the battery, get an AGM (factory charged and sealed). It's ok to jump a bike from a car IF the car is not running.

 

Well the battery brand new (2 days old) ... if it were the voltage regulator or the stator why would it have been putting out over 14 volts when started with the old battery? I'm not very familiar w/ how the electrical system works, but that seems like it should have been putting out something lower or erratic if there was an issue w/ either of those units.

 

as long as the car was not ON you should be fine... did you have the car started? you going to need to test from the stator with an OMn meeter... also check your fuses as well... sometimes it puffs one when you jump it...

 

LOL ... not only was it on it was being reved because the bike wouldn't turn over w/ it just running. I'm in a pickle because I'm out of town and I don't have any of my tools or a shop or my damn manual ... hopefully I can keep it together until I get home.

 

Take it to the dealer if you have a warranty....

 

If the battery was drained for 2 days straight...you probably killed the battery. +1 on checking the fuses...but if it's putting out voltage, then you should be charging the battery. Now, on a car you can chect the alternator by disconecting the battery ground and seeing if the car still runs. I don't know if that's true on a bike. Hmm...I think I'm going to have to try that when I put my battery back in my bike this weekend.

 

Sounds like there's a good chance you have a fried stator.

 

The one thing that is hard to test is the amp output of the stator. These stators have been known to put out voltage but not the required amperage. Do not unplug the regulator while the bike is idling, certain death for the reg. A battery with 11.6 v (0% charge) requires a 3A charge of over 6 hours to be at 100% charge.

 

Check to make sure your battery connections are good, but beyond that if a fuse is blown the thing won't run bad...it won't run.
Running the juice from a revving car through your bike's electrical system isn't good(as others have suggested), so if your problem persists after you verify it's not something minor, you'd better (as was also suggested) get it over to the local dealer. Your charging system would need to be tested.