Parasitic Drain, 2014 Rocket III Touring - Mystery: Multimeter shows zero draw with the key out

[Chullera]

Hello Chullera and welcome from Virginia.

Being a smart-aleck, I would say ride your bike each day and problem solved. But I know that is not helpful. I have a 2014 R3T with 72K miles on it now and have gone through 5 batteries. I tossed the lithium battery as it is useless below 40F and I ride as cold as 0F; as long as the bike starts. This is my current battery over the last two winters. I did not even put the trickle on once this last winter and the bike sits outside; I have no garage. YTX20HL-BS AGM Maintenance Free Battery

This is not to tell you that your current battery is bad at all. You still have the battery drain as I do. My experience is the similar to yours though not as short lived of a charge. I could let it sit for 2 weeks and be okay before. With the current battery, it has sat up to 3 weeks and still started when I return from a work trip.
Because your batteries area completely dead, the other electrical issues I have had are not the same. I upgraded my starter to one form Toyota which helps tremendously in the cold periods. I doubled my negative cable which also helps significantly.

I suggest you do get a trickle charger for the periods you do not ride the bike. You will need one specific to the lithium though as regular chargers may cause a fire with lithium batteries.

Now, please go to our 'introduce yourself' thread as tell us more about yourself and your past bikes. It's good to have another member.

Thanks for the advise... my situation is much the same. I ride the bike all winter long (Boston) and it is parker outside as well. Issue is I travel a lot for work and when I land Friday morning and need head into work 50% of the time the bike won't start. (Especially when a snow storm stopped me from riding the previous weekend) The Lithium batteries have been OK, it just takes them a bit to warm up. The EarthX ones have circuity that protects them when they get to low. The lead acids I was buying would get so discharged that they would no longer take a charge again. Went through a series of them before switching to lithium. Yes, definitely, special charger. Yes, riding every day helps...... Weekly travel and snow get in the way at times..... leaving me stranded. (Or a once weekly recharge)

 

[Chullera]

Long shot but i had this happen to my touring and it was the ems relay, with key off and left side cover off exposing the three relays put your finger on the ems relay ( middle relay) and turn key on and you should feel it click (effectively engaging or turning on) now turn key back off (no need to start) once key is off in about 30 to 45 seconds you should feel the ems relay click, (effectively turning off or disengage) mine would not turn off or disengage and battry would die over several days. Worth a try simple test

That is a great tip! I will try that

 

[Chullera]

That is a great tip! I will try that

Incidentally, is this a simple plug-in relay or is there a procedure?

 

[Kevin frazier]

Incidentally, is this a simple plug-in relay or is there a procedure?

Yes plug in relay, there are 3 on the left on my touring and the ems relay is in the middle of three, i will get you a picture, your rectifier wont be where mine is in the picture, relays are labeled for ya

 

[Kevin frazier]

Check relay with multimeter also you will see voltage coming to relay then turn key on and you should see current coming through relay this is the click or gate closing allowing voltage to go through, finger on relay will tell you if its opening gate down and closing about 30 seconds gate comes up and disconnect power going through relay, this is what was draining my battery, it would not disengage or lift up internal gate i call it,

 

[Kevin frazier]

Dont pull that relay out ( with key on) it can throw a code on you its a big code bike will not start.

 

[Boog]

Thanks for the advise... my situation is much the same. I ride the bike all winter long (Boston) and it is parker outside as well. Issue is I travel a lot for work and when I land Friday morning and need head into work 50% of the time the bike won't start. (Especially when a snow storm stopped me from riding the previous weekend) The Lithium batteries have been OK, it just takes them a bit to warm up. The EarthX ones have circuity that protects them when they get to low. The lead acids I was buying would get so discharged that they would no longer take a charge again. Went through a series of them before switching to lithium. Yes, definitely, special charger. Yes, riding every day helps...... Weekly travel and snow get in the way at times..... leaving me stranded. (Or a once weekly recharge)

If the bike has to stay at the airport, I suggest getting one of the portable lithium jump start kits. I have one that fits in a pocket with the cables in another. These can jump start a car too if needed. Here are several on Amazon: Pocket Jump Starter: Amazon.com

 

[Kevin frazier]

If the bike has to stay at the airport, I suggest getting one of the portable lithium jump start kits. I have one that fits in a pocket with the cables in another. These can jump start a car too if needed. Here are several on Amazon: Pocket Jump Starter: Amazon.com

Also anti gravity has a wide range of jump starts emergency sos light units

 

[Ygransom]

Are you turning key to far away when leaving bike at airport? On the Touring after the lick position there is another one that powers the position light.

 

[Chullera]

Are you turning key to far away when leaving bike at airport? On the Touring after the lick position there is another one that powers the position light.

Indeed, the position after lock will keep a light on. I have learned to avoid that one..... the hard way as always. (Paranoid in checking twice after parking the bike)