[Bluesman]

1985 Honda Nighthawk 650SC

So I attempted to take the bike out of storage today after about 18
months...I changed the plugs and installed the battery,
which I charged every 6-8 weeks with a 2 amp charger. The battery
is about 6 years old.

Well, the electricals were all nuts. The headlight came on, but if I
hit the horn, it only clicked and the RPM gauge started moving all over the place. (note the engine was not running - it would not even crank)

When I did hit the starter, all I got was clicking out of the big cylindrical
fuse that is just to the left of the battery. (the thing that the
positive terminal on the battery leads to.) And again the rpm gauge
starting moving all over the place.

Blinkers didn't work, either side.

This is a garage kept bike. It was not out in the elements
so the wiring could get all messed up. And I never had any electircal
issues in the 6 years I have owned it.

With the clicking at start up, is it a dead battery, just like a car? Any suggestion on what to test if it is not the battery?

Ugh. I wanted to get her going today.

[Stupidhawk007]

Dude, it sounds like a dead battery to me. Or at the very least a good place to start. 6 years old? Replace it, it's quite overdue anyways.

[Punjistick]

If it's 6 yrs old chances are the battery is dead. Don't quote me on this but I think you can take a volt meter and measure the voltage of the battery after you have charged it. It should be above 12v. If you start seeing the numbers drop while you are measuring it then it's time for a new battery.

[Bluesman]

Oh yea, battery it was. Went out and bought an Energizer at Pep Boys for $36 that fits the bike, installed it and it fired up after about a dozen cranks.

I love my Nighthawk, Sitting for 18 months - new plugs, oil and battery and she is good to go.