Flat battery, bump start and exploding bulbs
 

Had not ridden my Tenere for a few weeks and no surprise, the battery was flat.

It bump started ok and I set off from SE London towards Oxford.

I had not noticed the headlamp was not working until it started to get dark and I pulled into a backstreet bike shop in Oxford.

The 20A fuse had blown, put in the spare, it blew. Put in a 30A fuse and the low beam bulb exploded. Swapped the bulb, works fine, so I rode home.

So, question.... Would bump starting the bike cause a surge that somehow damaged (shorted) the bulb then blow a fuse? or is there likely to be another fault somewhere waiting to err it's ugly head?

Or it could just be coincidence! ;)

That is what I think.

I bump started my a few times without problem. Look at all the connections and broken wires (especially under the tank)

I have never believed in coincidences..........

I can't see how bump starting a big single would cause a surge in anything except your perspiration rate.

My guess would be a dead short in the headlight bulb, which you have now cured with a new one.

hi, I believe it's merely a coincidence, the H7 bulbs are fickle and fragile. I have seen plenty having an internal short blowing the fuse, happened once on the ten on a backroad in wales, of course at night!

as for the flat battery do you have accessory's such as an alarm? was the battery completely flat?. more of a concern if it continues

While talking about batteries going flat....... how long can everyone leave their bike without being on charge in winter? I left mine between Xmas and new year and it refused to start. No alarm other than std Yamaha.

Not really sure, but I must say I am impressed with my new Ten. We have had between minus ten and twenty for a long time now, and I can of course feel that the battery is strugling when its at the most cold, but it has started and never misted a beat so far.

By the way, what is the most recomended battery charger? I would like to have one ready to plug in every night coming home from work, and where in the bike do I plug it in. Elictricity and stuff is not my strong side...

Thankx ahead

Embarassed to say I had not ridden my Tenere for more than 6 weeks, and even then it was less than 10 miles. So I am not surprised the battery was flat.

A decent 150 mile trip and now it seems to be back to normal.

I've been using Optimate for as long as I can remember and have a flying lead on my classic car and bike so I just swap from one to the other as and when.

http://www.optimate.co.uk/