Electrical: where to start?

Bike (82 xj650j) is running, everything works. accept:

Low beam lights up only at high RPMs.
Blinkers light up, but don't blink.
Battery discharges in 3 hours, if the key is left in the ignition.
Battery discharges in 3 days, if the bike is not being ridden.

I'm suspecting a short, but don't know how to find where.
I don't even know where/how to start looking.

Someone!! Talk me through it...

 

It sounds like you have testing times ahead!

1. Does the low beam glow and get brighter or maybe it suddenly comes on? Suspect a poor connection.

2. Blinkers do not flash. If both blinkers light normally but do not flash then the flasher relay is faulty. Or maybe they glow dimly?

3. Battery discharges with the ignition on. It will

4. Battery discharges in 3 days. The battery has had it. best to replace. You could remove it from the bike to see if it still goes flat but my guess is that it will.

To trace electrical faults you ned a voltmeter and a manual.

You could try fully charging the battery to see if any of the faults go away.

You could do a search on "Charging" as there are many faults that affect these mature ladies - some of whom are 30 years old!

 

Alternator could be toast too - headlight doesn't come on until alternator is producing juice (and very little at that).

1) Charge battery and get tested.

2) Check that charging system is producing 14V at 2,000 RPM.

Until you've done those two you'll be wasting your time on anything else.

 

US spec bikes must be different. My 600's headlamp works with the engine off (But not for too long Ha Ha!)