Skip to content
motorbeast logo
  • Audio
  • Batteries
  • Bikes
  • Autos
  • Parts
  • Questions
  • Roof Boxes
  • Scanners

Motorcycle Battery Dead After 2 Weeks – Causes and Fixes

Written BySteve Riley Posted on05/05/202013/07/2022 Updated on13/07/2022

5 Things That May Cause Your Battery To Die Quickly  It hasn’t been long since you…

Motorcycle battery issues

5 Things That May Cause Your Battery To Die Quickly

 It hasn’t been long since you last rode your motorcycle. Today you pushed the start button and heard the dreaded ‘click’ sound. Yes, batteries do lose charge after a few months but why is your motorcycle battery dead after 2 weeks? Read on to find out why this could happen.

Table of Contents
  • 5 Things That May Cause Your Battery To Die Quickly
  •  What Is Normal and What Is Not?
  • 5 Things To Check On Your Battery
  • Motorcycle Battery Dead After 2 Weeks
  • 1. Parasitic Draw
    • Some Types of Motorcycle Alarms Are Notorious for This.
  • 2. Inability to Hold Charge
  • 3. Bad Battery
  • 4. Loose Battery Connections
  • 5. Left Ignition on
  •  Conclusion
Motorcycle battery issues

Although it is usually an unpleasant experience, it is not out of the ordinary for a motorcycle battery to die if the bike has not been used for a while. Even a good quality, healthy battery will eventually dies after about 4 months.

There are however, instances when a motorcycle battery dies after a week or two. It should be able to last much longer than that so why does this happen?

It is most often caused by a parasitic drain on the battery by one of the appliances or a battery which was faulty from the point of purchase. It could also happen when the battery is old and nearing the end of its life or when there is a lose connection somewhere. We cannot rule out elements of human error such as forgetting to turn off the ignition.

[amazon bestseller="motorcycle battery" items="3"]

 What Is Normal and What Is Not?

Let’s start by establishing what is generally considered normal battery behavior. When a motorcycle battery is left unused for an extended period of time, it loses all its charge and eventually dies. This is thanks to a natural process called self- discharge.

Typical self-discharge rates are about 1% per day depending on the type of battery. Owners say their motorcycle batteries generally die after 2 to 4 months if they are not charged. Newer batteries can last longer (up to 5 months) and older batteries don’t last as long as they stay ‘alive’ for 1 to 2 months.

From this we can see that a battery which dies after being left unused for only 2 weeks is definitely cause for concern. It should be able to last longer than that.

5 Things To Check On Your Battery


Here are 5 ideas for you to look at to give you a thought of how they would look in your home.

Motorcycle Battery Dead After 2 Weeks

A motorcycle battery which dies after only 2 weeks is a sign of a problem in the electrical system or a problem with the individual battery. These are some possibilities to consider.

1. Parasitic Draw

This is perhaps the most likely reason for a dead battery if it has been only 2 weeks since it was last charged. Parasitic draw or drain in a battery happens when there is an abnormal and continuous drain of power from the battery even after the engine has been turned off. It may be caused by a short circuit or an electrical component such as lights, clock, alarm or any other appliance which draws power from the battery.

Some Types of Motorcycle Alarms Are Notorious for This.

Testing for parasitic draw: For this you will need a multimeter. This is a fairly inexpensive device used to measure voltage in a battery. Make sure the engine is off. Remove the negative battery cable then place the multimeter leads between the negative battery terminal and the negative cable.

This should give you the current draw when the engine is off. Ideally it should be at zero. You may get a reading of a few milliamps but that is considered normal. If the reading is more than one amp, there is an abnormal drain somewhere.

SaleBestseller No. 1
Foval Automatic Trickle Battery Charger 12V 1000mA Smart Battery...
Foval Automatic Trickle Battery Charger 12V 1000mA Smart Battery...
  • (Safety with ETL Listed): Spark proof during lead...
  • Perfect for all lead-acid, flooded or sealed maintenance...
  • Small size 3.9 x 2.4 x 1.25 in and suitable for Most...
  • Intuitive LED indicators provide visual state-of-charge...
  • It will charge and maintain your battery so that it is ready...
$16.78
Buy on Amazon Price incl. tax, excl. shipping
Bestseller No. 2
Adakiit 6/12V 4A Smart Battery Charger/Maintainer Fully Automatic...
Adakiit 6/12V 4A Smart Battery Charger/Maintainer Fully Automatic...
  • 【MULTI-PURPOSES BATTERY CHARGER】6V and 12V...
  • 8-STAGE SMART CHARGING - FULLY AUTOMATIC BATTERY...
  • 【INTUITIVE LCD SCREEN &INTELLIGENT DETECTION】The battery...
  • 【MULTI SAFETY PROTECTIONS - BATTERY RESCUE &...
  • 【QUALIRY ENSURANCE Battery Maintainer】- Updated with...
$36.99
Buy on Amazon Price incl. tax, excl. shipping
SaleBestseller No. 3
BMK 12V 5A Smart Battery Charger Portable Battery Maintainer with...
BMK 12V 5A Smart Battery Charger Portable Battery Maintainer with...
  • 【UPGRADED DEFECTIVE BATTERY DETECT/FAST CHARGING CAR...
  • 【UPGRADED 72-HOUR SAFETY FEATURES/MULTI SAFETY PROTECTIONS...
  • 【4-STAGE SMART CHARGING - FULLY AUTOMATIC BOAT BATTERY...
  • 【UPGRADED WITH 10A FUSE ONTO RING CONNECTORS &...
  • 【QUALIRY ENSURANCE & IN TIME SERVICE】BMK is devoted to...
$35.99
Buy on Amazon Price incl. tax, excl. shipping

Last update on 2023-01-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

2. Inability to Hold Charge

As a battery gets older, it gradually loses its ability to hold charge. It may have been fully charged when you parked two weeks ago but it cannot retain it like it used to. The self-discharge rate mentioned in the case of a normal battery is now much faster. At the end of the day you have a dead battery even if the bike has not moved an inch.

This is a sign that it is time to buy a new battery. You could try to revive it by replacing the electrolyte with an Epsom salt solution and charging it up again. Even if this works, it is not a permanent solution. It only buys you some time.

3. Bad Battery

Your battery is brand new. You bought it two weeks ago and now the engine won’t start. This probably means you got a bad battery which should be returned to the dealer for replacement. Although it doesn’t happen often, there are instances when the battery has a factory defect causing it to fail.

It is cases like these which remind you just how helpful warranties can be. If there was a warranty on the battery, it should not be difficult to get a replacement. If you bought the battery from a reputable dealer, they will be happy to check it, confirm that it is indeed faulty and replace it.

Caution when buying batteries:  Sometimes you can tell a bad battery just by its appearance. Some physical signs of a bad battery include:

  • A bulge or bulges in the case
  • Damaged terminal
  • Raptured or cracked case
  • Discoloration
  • Leaking (excessive)

4. Loose Battery Connections

Lose connections don’t actually drain the battery but they could be responsible for a dead battery after staying parked away for only 2 weeks. Lose connections may not cause the battery to lose charge directly but they can prevent it from receiving charge from the alternator.

Let’s assume you took a ride on your bike with several stops 2 weeks ago. After that you parked it and it hasn’t moved since. If there was a lose battery connection, it means the battery was not getting properly re-charged by the alternator as you rode. By the time you parked, the battery was already low on charge. Self-discharge in the 2 weeks run it dry because it was low to begin with.

Make a point to check the battery connections every now and then. You may be able to catch a problem before it causes any serious issues. Sometimes the cable just won’t hold tight no matter how hard you try to tighten it. If this is the problem, consider buying new cables.

5. Left Ignition on

Yes, it sounds like a pretty stupid mistake to make but it does happen; even to the best, most experienced riders. You are especially prone to this if your bike is the kind which allows you to take the key out while the engine is still in ‘ACC’ mode.

If you happened to make this mistake when you parked your bike 2 weeks ago, your battery was probably dead a few hours later.

When this happens, the best option is to charge the battery with a charger slightly more powerful than a trickle charger. A trickle charger may not be able to charge a fully discharged battery. Your battery will very likely come back to life but you will have diminished its overall lifespan a notch.

 Conclusion

Motorcycle batteries are not much different from car batteries. Extended periods of time without use eventually cause them to die. Sometimes these same symptoms are observed even when it has been a couple of days or so.

A motorcycle battery which is dead after 2 weeks is no doubt a red light calling you to look into the overall health of the battery and check on the electrical components it powers.

Post Views: 2,779
Post Tags: #Batteries#Deep Cycle Batteries

Related Posts

  • Which is the BEST battery ACDelco VS Interstate Batteries
  • Duralast vs. Interstate Similar Batteries Different Needs
  • Alum vs. Epsom Salt Battery: Which is better for old battery reconditioning?
  • Northstar battery vs Odyssey – which is the best chance for powering your car?
  • Marine battery vs Deep cycle – similar, yet different approaches

Optima RED TOP Batteries

Very Highly Rated Batteries


Optima Batteries 8004-003 

Optima Batteries 8004-003 34/78 RedTop Starting Battery
Optima Batteries 8004-003 34/78 RedTop Starting Battery
Take a Peak

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.


Optima Batteries 8020-164

Optima Batteries 8020-164 35 RedTop Starting Battery
Optima Batteries 8020-164 35 RedTop Starting Battery
Take a Peak

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.


Optima Batteries OPT8022-091

Optima Batteries OPT8022-091 8022-091 75/25 RedTop Starting Battery
Optima Batteries OPT8022-091 8022-091 75/25 RedTop Starting Battery
Take a Peak

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.


Optima Yellow Top Batteries


Optima Battery 8171

Optima 8171-767 DS46B24R Yellow Top Prius Battery
Optima 8171-767 DS46B24R Yellow Top Prius Battery
Take a Peak

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.


Optima Batteries OPT8014-045 

Optima Batteries OPT8014-045 8014-045 D34/78 YellowTop Dual Purpose Battery
Optima Batteries OPT8014-045 8014-045 D34/78 YellowTop Dual Purpose Battery
Take a Peak

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.


Optima Batteries OPT8040-218

Optima Batteries OPT8040-218 D35 YellowTop Dual Purpose Battery
Optima Batteries OPT8040-218 D35 YellowTop Dual Purpose Battery
Take a Peak

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Affiliate Disclosure

We are an affiliate. We hope you like our recommendations! Just so you know, we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this website. Thank you for using our links, it helps to grow our website.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Statement

© 2023 MotorBeast Motorbeast.Org

MotorBeast
error: Content is protected !!
Manage your privacy

To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.

Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Statistics

Marketing

Features
Always active

Always active
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
Manage your privacy
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
Scroll to top
  • Audio
  • Batteries
  • Bikes
  • Autos
  • Parts
  • Questions
  • Roof Boxes
  • Scanners
Search