I have a 95 1100 ACE. Everything worked fine for months, but this last weekend I left the lights on and the battery died. It wont charge with a trickle charger (20 hrs barely got lights on). When hooked to car will run, but once I unhook cables it dies? Seems like alternator but it never acted up before. Any ideas?

Here is my idea ...

If the battery is older than 24 months, I would replace it. When you left the lights on ... you drained it to the bottom. IF it takes a charge, it will be many hours at a trickle if you can bring it back at all.

That is my idea ...

Of couse you can do a voltabe check and a hydrometer check ... I think they will all point to a new battery.

Your battery can not be effectively charged by your alternator ... because for your alternator to work, you have to first put power into it (not self exciting). Since your battery is dead, that method will not work.

Thanks for your interest in FixYa.com