Category: Motorcycling

Today I went for a ride with Kiki. After taking some photos, I pressed the ignition button, but Kiki wouldn’t start. The battery, which I bought just two months ago, didn’t have enough cranking power. Luckily, I carry a portable battery jumper, so I was able to start her up and get back home.

I took the battery back to the store where I bought it, and they checked it. They found there was no distilled water in it. We guessed that my charger might have malfunctioned, overcharged the battery, and caused the water to escape through the vent. But now that I think about it, I don’t believe I ever added distilled water in the first place. I had assumed the store added it before giving it to me. This dawned on me when I asked if they could add water, and they told me they don’t have any. They only add the acid that activates the battery cells.

So the battery has been dry for two months. I added distilled water at home and charged it up. It seems to have full cranking power again. Hopefully I didn’t damage the battery too much. Doh!

Kiki and I set off on a fun ride east, exploring the backroads past Taylor. We successfully dodged most of the rain, only getting caught in a light shower towards the end of our trip. But the dramatic clouds made for a beautiful backdrop! What a great ride.