Hi everyone, I own a 2008 1098s with 1900 miles on it, I recently 3 months ago had it serviced and fixed up with a new battery and more at my nearest Ducati specialist. Everythings been great until i tried to turn it on yesterday. It barely turns over. The battery holds 12 volts so thats ok, regardless i tried connecting a jump starter and i attached a short video of what happens, it thinks about it but just doesnt start. I tried 10 times yesterday and 4 more today, nothing happens. Any guidance on what i should check next would be greatly appreciated Video: (I press not hold starter)
Try charging the battery with an appropriate charger overnight and have another go tomorrow, if the bike has sat for three months without any use the battery will be discharged which if left in a cold garage will damage the battery and render it useless very fast. They need to be kept in a full or high state of charge which means putting the bike on a battery tender like an Optimate or removing the battery and storing it fully charged in the house when the bike is not in use. Also if you can try to start it with the lights off
Sounds like you have compression but no spark or petrol. I would take out the plugs and see of the plugs are sparking. On full choke, after doing that, it should stink of petrol. I would guess that there's no petrol. You might need somebody to hold a plug against the engine when you turn it over - hold the plug cap.
Welcome fellow 1098s-er. As above, it sounds like it’s a battery “lack of use” problem. I keep mine on an optimate charger all the time but still run the bike for a few minutes every couple of weeks when it’s not used. Might be that the battery’s gone, can you try a replacement without buying one yet? BTW a 1098s with 1900 miles on it? I wish. Try using it more!
that's crazy with that mileage on it - what was included in the service and how old is the fuel out of interest? Unless you bypass or fit an older type light switch, you are stuck with the lights on scenario but they are turned off when starter engaged.
have you checked the battery cables are tight and clean and the earth has a good grounding? but yes I would charge it as others suggest
It sat in my garage for about 5 days since i last used it, i went to start it as i do every week because of what you said, i think maybe the immobilizer drained the battery. I unfortunately cant get power to my garage to use an optimate, that being said ive been trying to start it to take it to my mums for the winter to plug into the optimate she has there (it was her bike since new hence low mileage.) I will try what you said, thanks alot!
Hey, the battery is brand new only 2 months ago, ive been starting/using it every 5 days or so but this time i guess i waited a week and that was enough to drain battery to where it wont start. And i know super low mileage! My mum bought it new in 2008 and hardly rode it, i bought it earlier this year and its not my main bike so i dont put too much miles on it, i will change that next spring!
Hi, fuel is very fresh only 2 weeks old, i cant remember what was done in the service but it wasnt sent it because of battery issue, was something else which is fixed now
and it's started fine several times since service with no noticeable changes in starting i'm guessing.
Correct, on the old and new battery (both 12v) it would always take 3 or 4 tries to start, is this normal? Or is this because 12v isnt really good enough? Im in the uk, is there any trusted sellers i could possibly get a better more powerful battery from? Someone mentioned lirc 12.7, i will research into that As you can tell im no mechanic, i only know the basics, most i can do is change exhaust and back wheel
V twins are chunky starters so almost always need a really healthy battery to fire them up, particularly from cold and after a few days. Without some form of trickle charge in the garage, firing it up for a few minutes won't be enough. I'm guessing your garage is not on the side of your home and is away from your home? Do you know anyone with a van and a ramp to get it to your mums then onto the optimate?
the "more powerful battery" debate can be found elsewhere on here in several threads and it's a controversial one. I think your new battery sounds fine if it's to original spec. You could benefit from better starter and battery leads if you haven't fitted any yet as this is standard practice on yours and most of the other models but this shouldn't be stopping your bike starting with that mileage and it's a bit of a mystery. From your last sentence I guess it would be easiest to get a set from @Exige on here, and if you subscribe you will get a discount I believe plus the Halfords Trade card that comes with this will easily pay for the initial subscription in no time.
