Hey Guys,

I just got my 2007 Ninja 500R last year, but haven't ridden it due to the very cold and very wet weather we've been having. It's been sitting outside for a couple weeks unridden- tried to start it up today and it wouldn't go. Starter works and I can feel it trying to start, it just doesn't- sort of like if I try starting it on a cold morning with no choke. Only it's warm out and I have choke on all the way and even opening the throttle, no good. Does this mean the battery's dead and I have to jumpstart it? The lights on the dash light up when I put in the key.

I popped the seat off and I think I see the battery- but the terminals are really small and inaccessible with my clamps, am I supposed to remove it or something? Also, a red plastic cap is cocvering the possitive terminal, and under that is some sticky, paper/tissue covering, is that normal? Do I have to remove that first?

Thanks for any help!

 

If you live in a place with bad weather, you need a Battery Tender Junior. About $35 and it will save you a lot of heartache and woe.
Winterizing your bike before parking it for the winter is much better for it than doing it this way.

Leave it plugged in to your battery overnight and the bike will start fine the next morning. Unless you end up flooding it, Here's how to clear a flooded engine.

Ahh Spring is in the air and now it begins... the rush of new guys who didn't winterize their bikes. (No offense.)
Peace!
-CCinC

 

ahhh I love your tactfull searing attacks CC. maybewe should bump the spring thread from last year

 

Searing? Whatchu talkin' 'bout Willis?


Is this the thread you talkin' 'bout?

 

It's California, so typically the weather's not too bad- just lately the combination of storms and travelling for work means I haven't started her up as often as I should have, but I'll look into getting a battery tender. Thanks, I didn't know about those things before.

Will this work to jumpstart the dead battery as it stands now? This is good advice for preventing it next time, but in the meantime I'm still stuck with a dead battery (?).

And for the record, as I am a noob, I can't take offense at being called one

 

Nobody called you a n00b, just a new guy.
The battery tender is actually a trickle-charger that charges your battery up slowly (which is better for the battery.) Leave it hooked to your battery overnight and it should start up slick-as-you-please in the morning.
Where are you at in California? If you're in North San Diego County, you're welcome to use mine.
-Chris in C'bad (La Costa to be precise.)

 

you can jump start it from your cage battery if you so desire. do not have the cage running when you do. its battery has more than enough power to get your bike going.

 

ah, noob=new guy in my lexicon.

thanks for the offer, wish i could take you up on it but i'm closer to the sf bay area. south bay to be more precise.

how can i jump start it from a car with the battery terminals inaccessible?

 

they are accessble. you just have to get your hands dirty. also you can get normal jumper cables to grab onto the small positive terminal. just go slow and be gentle. treat it like a lady.

here is how i have done it in the past

0. do not have the car running
1. take off the seat
2. undo the junction box thats over top of the battery. its held on by one bolt
3. let it dangle down over the side of the bike
4. pull the battery up out of the little hole that it lives in. you should be able to sit it up on top of the airbox.
5. hook up your jumper cables. red to positive terminal, black to the bikes frame.
6. push button and start bike
7. ????
8. PROFIT!

do not have the car running.

and get a battery tender too. they are worth their weight in gold IMO. but this should get the engine running in a pinch.

 

You missed a few steps:
9. Try to look surprised when components like the regulator/rectifier, fuses or other electronic components associated with the charging system fail after they were damaged by the excessive voltage & amperage of the larger car battery.
10. Whine on the internet that Kawasaki makes lemons and you had nothing but trouble with that Ninja 500R, despite taking such immaculate care of it.

-CCinC