@James Everette
That draw is probably before the fusebox:
Regulator/rectifier leaking through a diode (classic Honda thing)
Direct-to-battery add-ons (USB/voltmeter/tender pigtail with LED, alarm, tracker)
Less common shit : contamination in the starter relay/main fuse area
5-minute isolation test
Meter stays in series at the negative terminal like you did.
Pull the 30A main fuse at the starter relay.
If current drops to ~0 → the load is downstream (pretty rare for this symptom).
If no change → it’s on an always-hot branch (reg/rec, accessories).
Unplug the regulator/rectifier completely. It has a 3 yellow wire stator plug, and Recheck current after unplugging. If it falls to ~0–2 mA → bad reg/rec. Replace it. If not the reg/rec, remove any direct-to-battery leads (tender pigtail, USB, voltmeter) one by one and recheck. Still drawing? Disconnect the cable at the starter relay output (battery negative off first, be safe), then remeasure. Rare, but it can leak.
Battery checks
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Fully charge → let it rest 12–24 h → ≥12.7 V is healthy; ≤12.4 V is weak.
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Cranking test: stays at ≥9.6 V while cranking.
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Charging at ~3k rpm: ~13.8–14.6 V.
bottom line here - 16.4 mA is NOT normal on a 2005 VT600. Most likely leaky reg/rec or a direct-wired accessory. That draw alone shouldn’t brick a good battery in 3 days, so your battery is probably tuckered out too. these bikes odnt like anything less that 12.7 v at the battery
