I’m so bummed out. Had the XS and Water Buffalo ready to attend the rally this weekend. Some buddies contacted me and asked if I wanted to do a coffee run this evening. Why not I thought. Took the Buffalo and it ran like a top. Stopped by the bank on the way back about 3 miles from home, got some cash and went to start the bike - dead. There was some power but very, very low. Certainly not enough to use the electric starter. After multiple attempts with the kick start I got it going. It would randomly die especially when the headlight was on. I eventually got it to run well enough to get a block from home and dead again. Messed around with the ignition and kill switches and managed to get it home.
Checked battery voltage at rest and it was about 12.8V, bike running about 14.3V. Engine off, turn key on and voltage dropped to 9-10V. Cycle key on and off and sometimes could get 12.7V with the key on but with any load (attempt to start with electric starter or turn headlight on) and voltage dropped sub 10V.
Hooked my small lithium booster pack to it and the bike fired right up.
I have the battery on charge for the night to see what that does. I’m suspecting a new battery is in order. Can a battery just dies like this, suddenly losing its reserve capacity? I quickly checked all wires and connections and couldn’t find anything else wrong. Maybe the ignition switch is going bad?
Any thoughts?