XT600 Starting problem
 

Hi,
My 2000 XT has sit in the garage for a year without being started (my bad). On trying to start it today I charged it up first (went to about 13.2V or so) so all looked ok. When I turned the key and pressed the start switch, there was a click, and no movement of the starter motor. Subsequent presses didn't even give a click, unless the bike was left for a few minutes.
I measured the starting voltage, and it was around 1.5V, which seems very low to me. So, is it probably just a new battery needed?

Hi. Bad news! Yes...battery is stuffed... Leaving lead/ acid batteries flat or in a low state of charge causes a build up of sulphate on the internal plates. Google battery sulphation. They are never as good again or in your case the plates are totally covered so battery is a write off. Need to regularly trickle charge battery if letting sit for any length of time

Damn. My own fault. What is a typical starting voltage then? The non-load voltage seems fine - that's what had me wondering if it was the starter or the solenoid for a bit, until I measured the load voltage.

A good battery drops only 1-2V during start, should stay above 10V.

Also a fully charged battery is ~12.8V. I guess you measured right after charging, which will give incorrect readings.