Question...

[short lived x]

My bike has always cranked over onces, paused and then continued to start the bike with no problem. (i thought this was just how they started being a big v-twin) recently the lights have been going from dim to bright on the high way at random intervals. and yesterday the bike didnt have ANY power at all. battery was not dead. terminals were all hooked up and tight. I got frustrated, walked away and came back a few hours later to have it start right up. on the way home it shut off suddenly so i pulled over and it started right back up so i continued home... any ideas as to why this could happen?

[TooFst]

I've had my bike since new in 04.. A brand new batt., bike starts great. I'd say after about a month or 2 I can tell it's already starting to crank slow. 5-6 months and EXACTLY what you said. 1 turn, pause. Then crank and fire... I've always just chalked it up to the fact that the fan runs(draining the batt.) after shut down. Now the bike sits with a batt. at lower charge... I just think these bikes are very hard on batteries... Now the part where it died on the highway??? You threw me off there.

[TooFst]

Just remembered.. I always assume everyones a mechanic. First step would be check the grounds, next I would look for a loose fuse or wire going into fuse box... Then you'll have to go onto stator and reg.

[myronman3]

yes, clean the battery terminals, and connections so there is fresh metal showing. even if it LOOKS clean, shine them anyway. any and all things connecting should be shined up. use some di-electric grease on them when you put it all back together. also clean the ground where it connects to the frame.
it doesnt take much at all to impede conductivity, and i would say that the vast majority of times, cleaning the connections helps.
you can also have your battery tested. if it is an acid battery, make sure it is not low on water.

[ct1200]

Battery Tender helps.
I can tell the difference when I do plug it in every once in a while over night.
Bike stators don't really charge, they just maintain.

[rkadlcek]

hello guys i m from czech republic and a hen buell xb 12Ss lightning long and i buy this cycle with cut out exhaust and ma cycle dont ride good because engine dont work right function engine performance come down withing way and very shoting to exhaust please i dont know repair this problem??and a founding link on EMCspy for buell xb12 2009 ang mapr for ecm original or race emc thank yuo very much you are my last rescu because H-D from czech republic don t know :-( thank guys

[airBuell]

I think it's your battery. I bought my 04 Xb12S a couple months ago, and it starts exactly the same. It powers, pauses, then starts.

I bought a battery tender and now after it sits on the tender it starts right up. If I have been riding it for a while it will do the start, pause, start. I put it back on the tender EVERY time I finish riding. Eventually I'll get a new battery but the tender seems to be getting me by for now.

EDIT** Looks like we have an alternator, per the manual:
AC voltage output 16-20 VAC per 1000 engine RPM
Regulator Voltage output @ 3600 RPM 14.4-14.6 VDC@ 75° F

Once a bike battery goes bad or is on the downhill slide toward going bad they usually can't be saved (in my experience). I have had a couple batteries go bad on previous bikes.

GL!

[SchoolHouseCycles]

Bike stators don't really charge, they just maintain.

Not true at all. If a stator just maintained charge then each time you start a bike you would lose some charge until the battery died. I would check both ends of the battery cables for tightness and test the battery.