NEW BIKE IS HERE (NIghtmare)

so, the new bike was delivered this afternoon! it is BEAUTIFUL!

They drop it off. I get geared up and hop on. Handles like a dream around the neighborhood. 0.4 miles and 4 blocks later I'm out of gas. They delivered it on FUMES.

Call Mrs Matcom to bring the gas can. She does and I fill up. Go to start it. Battery is DEAD. :grr:

My first REAL new bike and they didn't prep it for me AT ALL :argh:

So, 10 minutes after my first ride, I'm PUSHING the damned thing home 4 blocks. I am PISSED. Had to pull the battery (in the dark) and put it on my trickle charger. Won't be taking it to work tomorrow and will have to reinstall the battery when I get home. :grr:

Someone is getting a NASTY phone call in the morning.

But, the bike is SWEET!

Almost all motorcycle batteries are delivered in a separate box in the crate with the bike. All of them are "dry charged" and you merely add electrolyte (acid) and charge 'em for 1 hour to top it off. Even a newly serviced but uncharged battery is almost always more than sufficient to start a bike over and over.

Sounds like you got a bike that was prepped a while ago and the battery's been sitting idle to have starting problems so soon.

If it's not spinning it over very well once you reinstall it, have the dealer replace it while you're reaming them a new one.

my new bike is starting fine. But it's the first bike I've owned without a kick-starter. So I'm at the mercy of a battery.

"they just don't make them like they used to"

Good luck with the dealer. Hopefully a new battery will fix it, and there isn't something draining it.

Sorry to hear about your luck, better to have a little bad luck the first day than a lot of bad luck the second day I guess. Don't let it get to you.

Three stories for you.

When I bought my current bike (private seller) at the first inspection the very first time the seller hit the button the battery came up dead. It cranked over about 2 times slowly and then clicked itself to death. The seller's mouth just dropped, he was so embarassed. I saw it as a good thing. The seller and I hopped in my truck and headed for the closest Auto Parts store where he laid down the plastic for a new battery - they are dirt cheap - but I stopped him. I did a deal with him in that he paid as much as a standard wet cell battery cost and I paid the difference and bought the best gel cell they had. I think it cost me $30 difference. Back we went, stuck the battery in the bike and it has run just fine ever since.

The point is not to be too discouraged.

Next story, and this one may strike closer to home for you. In July of 1971 I bought a brand new 750 Honda. About the same size bike as your new Sporster. I picked it up (trade in for an old Suzuki I had before it) at lunch time from work. At the end of the day I had to ride it to Ft. Lauderdale to my grandparents home, it was their 50th wedding anniversery and we were all taking them out to dinner. On the way there, about 3 miles from their home, I had a flat tire (rear). In order to push the bike alongside the 2 lane road I had to be in the grass and sand and to push it in that I had to run the engine at idle in 1st gear and essentially jog along side of it while holding it up. July, south Florida, late afternoon, 3 miles jogging while holding up a 500 pound motorcycle. I am not overstating this, it dam near killed me. Know what caused the flat? They had used a staple into the rear tire to hold a cardboard sales sign to the bike back when it was in the showroom. It took about 20 miles of riding for that staple to make its way to the tube. Some dam fool at the dealer had caused it.

Last story. Just last week I got on my bike to spend the day riding around the state. I flipped on the ignition, listened to the fuel pump bring the pressure up, watched the engine check light disappear from the dash, hit the starter button, and everything went dead. A minute or two later it did the same thing again. The problem was obvious, a lose battery cable. On a Decuce if you have the luggage rack on the back its a pain in the butt to get the seat off; needless to say I had the luggage rack on the bike. At any rate all it took was a moment with a 7/16" wrench to solve the electrical problem.

Final point: Shit happens.

Think of all you learned today:

- You know now you can handle pushing the bike.
- You're familiar with where the battery is, and how to get to it.
- You know to check the tank on every ride. :D

Tip: a lot of trickle chargers (tenders) come with a little deal you can leave attached to your installed battery, with a little plug stickin' out you can attach to the tender without having to remove the battery. Good install, that one.

Tip #2: remember to make sure your reserve tank is filled too; owner's manual can show you how to make sure that happens when you run dry. Nothing in the reserve?

Wonder if someone left the ignition switch on or something.

Your story makes me very glad I have a gas indicator light that comes on when there is 1/8 of a tank!

Glad you like your bike, anyway, though! :hi:

but I'd be kickin' somebody's ass over that! :evilgrin:

enjoy your new ride, congrats :)

I won't go into the details but suffice to say they are going to make good on my 'plight'.

It sucked rocks but I look at it as my first 'adventure'.

There will be many more.

So, the bike is running and HOPEFULLY will start fine tomorrow. I'll be on the road and loving life.

What a trip!

Thanks all. I look forward to a LOT more advice and information from you all in the NEAR future!!

RIDE ON my friends! RIDE ON!

:hi: