Hi all.
My V85TT E5+ is a whole year old now and I’m full of praise for it apart from its tendency to eat batteries (!). My dash does some interesting things when the battery voltage is low (i.e. bike won’t start) with the ignition OFF and the key REMOVED. Just for clarity, my bike was serviced last week, during which it received a dash ‘update’.
I recorded a video but I can’t seem to upload media to this forum so I will describe it (this is all with the bike switched OFF and key REMOVED, and only after a couple of failed start attempts due to flat battery); Orange light (top left) flickers erratically for a few seconds, screen goes black for a few seconds, then Moto Guzzi ‘welcome’ video plays. Afterwards, screen goes black then rinse and repeat. All with the ignition OFF and key REMOVED!
I haven’t noticed this happening when the battery has had enough charge to start the bike but has anyone else has experienced this?
I have raised the issue with my dealer and have independently established that I need a new battery but I’m wondering if there is a dash fault draining the battery when the bike is tucked away which might explain it’s early demise.
Ta.
Jon.
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Hi Jon,
my V85 is over 3 years old with nearly 6000 miles on the clock, I have never had to charge the battery even though I don’t use it in the winter, I run it about every month in the cold weather in the garage for a few minutes, my thoughts would be a warranty issue.
Best regards Bob.
Mine is almost 3years old 15,000 miles. Never had this problem but then i have it on a battery tender (because for 15 years my bikes have all had features that drain batteries like immobilisers). If you go on a long holiday then try to start it in winter :(.
Having said that the most common cause of poor charging is loose or corroded battery terminals - especially the earth.
Does sound like it’s all because of too low battery Voltage - this is not unheard of in the car world where you might get a ‘Christmas tree’ of dash warning lights if battery is very low - some of these may be genuine warnings from other modules also detecting low battery Voltage.
I would try putting the battery on charge then see what happens.
with the key out nothing should be happening except the immobiliser light for 48 hours after which it is supposed to deactivate. i think you have a faulty dash or software.
I’ve got the optional alarm fitted which has an extra LED, 30k miles now and has been left for a week at a time usually in winter (i do ride in winter, just less often), sometimes a week in summer. battery has never gone flat/failed to start except when left in dealer for a month and a half waiting on parts.
I’ve had occasional warnings on the dash with the red battery light and in the app saying “battery KO”, in cold weather, but it still starts and the warning goes away after ride to work. never had to charge battery and still on the original battery, bike is 4 years old and just passed first MoT.
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Yes, and a Quick Look at online forums suggests this happens on other bikes too, when the battery voltage drops.
I have ordered a new battery because the existing one has pretty much died (checked by RAC yesterday after a no-start at the petrol station) and I can’t really do anything until I replace it. If there still is a fault afterwards, I’ll know about it and will take it back to the supplying dealer for repair under warranty.
One of my MGC friends used to do recovery and was called out several times to assist 1 year old bikes with failed batteries. Whether these failures are down to a vehicle fault, battery manufacturing, incorrect storage or poor charging is anyone’s guess.
Jon
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Have you or anyone done anything at all under the seat with regards to the electrical system. Unplugged then reconnected anything at all? I just say that as it’s possible to mis-connect things and make the bike live. DAMHIK. I think if you send 12v from the battery down the accessory power plug attached to the rhs of the toolbox the bike goes live without the key. (2019 E4). And obvs can’t be switched off.
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i had to look that up ‘damhik’ yes, totally need that acronym myself too for various things 
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Not added anything like that, just the Optimate lead that was dealer-fitted.
I did read that some of the V100 Mandello’s had faulty dashboards that drew more current than they should have when the ignition was Off, causing the battery to discharge much quicker than expected, the new 2024/5 V85TT uses the same dashboard. Normal discharge is 2 to 3 weeks, whereas the faulty dashboards discharge the battery in around a week which isn’t much use unless you use the bike daily.
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