I left it in my garage since December. Tried to start it today and it wont start. The dial comes on and buzzes like usual when you first turn it on. But when I hit the ignition switch something in the chassis buzzes (starter?) but it wont start. The dial then turns off then back on and does the pre-start test (dial buzzes, rev lights up, etc. It has gas I can hear it swooshing around in the tank.

 

sounds like a dead battery, try chargin it for a couple of hrs and then see if it will start

 

The clock doesnt reset though. Could it be possible it has enough juice to keep all the accessories and clock on but not enough to start the bike? I took off the seat and looked at the connections and they all look good. To retract my last statement the dial doesnt turn off but it does do the rev limit test and the oil and FI light come on for a sec. I will try charging it.

 

your clock can run off a tripple a battery for days and its only 1.5 volts your bike is twelve volts definitely charge the battery and if it wont charge you have a dead cell in the battery meaning it probly needs replaced.one way to check how many volts your battery has is by taking a volt meter red to p and black to n the meter will tell you how many volts you have . anything below 12 volts probably will not start your bike but would operate everything else

 

charged it with a battery tender. Sure enough it came on. Thanks guys. How often should I start it to prevent the battery from dying again?

 

Get an Optimate or a Battery Tender. They work great. A good battery will still light off a bike in 3 months normally without a trickle charge. You may want to check your connections and battery condition. (But my 06 battery is still running strong.)

 

just unhook the battery over the winter

 

i have an 04 zx6r never replaced the battery and didnt put a trickle charge on it this winter just took it out and stored it in the basement for 4 months and it started right up. keeping it inside and out of the bike helps out alot.

 

i dont know if those batteries are sealed or not, but you should probably check the acid level on it if they're not maintenance free. DO NOT put distilled water in it...motorcycle batteries have to have battery acid. Your local parts store will have it.
-Cody

 

Please elaborate on this.