Basically, my battery isn't charging. At first I thought I needed a new battery so went straight out and got one. So, the condition of that should be fine. I charged the battery then following my Haynes manual went on to check the voltage across the terminals that plug into the reg/rec with the ignition switched off. I had about 13V with the ignition off which was the same as the battery (after I had started the bike, so I did have a bit more juice init but drained some) and then about 2.7V with it switched on, which would then drop to below 1V when I switched the lights on or pressed the horn (I'm gonna check this again first thing tomorrow). The Haynes manual didn't explain what to do if the wiring at the terminals doesn't check out (or maybe I'm too ignorant to see it).
A few more little details. I'm using a Tyga kit for which I had to relocate the wires behind the meter to below the meter, there are obviously new headlights from Tyga and these lights do not use all the terminal/plugs/sockets (the place where you would plug on piece of electrical wiring to another. (Could someone please tell me the technical term so I don't sound like such a dooche next time)) that the standard headlights used. I also replaced the clutch plates (which led me to think I may have done something stupid and buggered the alternator) but the bike ran fine for at least 200 miles before things started messing up.
I don't just wan't to dive in at the deep end so any advice would be much appreciated cos I have f@$k all.

Thanks.

if the batter was draining that low when starting the bike it wouldn't be able to start the bike.it should never drop below 9 or 10 volts at the very least when cranking the engine.a battery showing less than 11.7 volts(usually)will not have enough juice to start a bike.

charge the battery full once again and fit to the bike.next time start the bike and check the charge rate @5000rpm.it should read between 13.5-15volts.now after everything you have said i would expect it to be below this.if the battery is not getting a charge at all and by this i mean the voltage drops to below what the battery was reading before starting the bike then check all wiring and connections,check the earth strap and positive connection.if this is sound then check the output of the alternator.you do this by setting the mutlimeter to ac volts minimum range 100-200 and test the output with the bike at 5000rpm.you test the connector coming from the alternator,it should have three yellow wires coming from it and you put one probe onto a yellow wire and the other probe to another yellow wire.you take three seperate readings and they should all be 50volts and roughly the same.

if you are getting no charge at all when you check the charge rate at the batter then my guess is that the reg/rec is goosed but do the alternator test first as it may be on its way out.

Thanks, I'll try it after the MotoGP.

One other thing. The bike wouldn't start after I had used most of the power from the battery (obviously) but while I was out riding the bike would wan't to cut out when the revs dropped below a certain number which I could save with a few blips. Lost it in the end and it cut out but wouldn't start.

Dunno if you sussed this is what was happening but is probably of some relevance.

Ok, so I tested the resistance across the terminals from the alternator which after the reading had settled gave a reading of 0.8ohms. Which is out by 0.3 of the recommended 0.1 to 0.5 ohms (taken from the Haynes manual). I did recheck the terminals that plug into the reg/rec but this time left the reg/rec on the bike and held that bit of wire with the circular connection (goes between the bolt and reg/rec) in place and got a good reading. Before I checked with nothing attached. What does this mean? And what does the reading I'm getting from the alternator mean?

dont bother with the resistance check mate,i did this and it showed up good results but when i checked the voltage output of the alternator it was goosed.

from your post i believe that the alternator is putting out a charge but not a great one so when the revs drop it produces very little power and the bike starts to cut out as the battery power is very little.

as my post says previously test the voltage output of the alternator at 5000rpm.it should read 50 volts on all the 3 seperate readings.

also test the charge rat eat the battery before doing this.it should read 13.5-15volts at 5000rpm.


wull