Topic: average life on a battery?

[Kev Nemo]

So I'm thinking mine is shot (problems starting after sitting for a few weeks, hard/no starts on high 60/low 70 degree mornings). I have no idea how old it is, but from the general maintainence of the bike when I bought it, I'm guessing around 8-10 years old.

How often do you usually replace them?

[eldar]

Yeah that battery is probab ly a goner. They will last 5-7 years on average. Some last longer/some shorter. A walmart special, while cheap is only usually good up to 3-4 years. A yuasa is a better battery and is good for up to 7 usually. If you have a 750 or if you do not mind adding an inch or 2 to your cables for a 500/550, you can get a good agm for a little more which is worth the cost. Do a search on the agm batteries here. Everyone who has gotten them, loves em.

[Kev Nemo]

Anybody get their's at Batteries Plus? I ask because it's the closest to my house.

[eldar]

That is where I got my agm from from my 78K.

[Bill K]

When I went for a battery the guy talked me into a sealed, jell type. Supposed to last longer, less maintenance, no vent tube, no caps Bla Bla Bla. Plus you can buy one fully charged right off the shelf. The old kind always worked fine for me. I'm a sucker for "hey this is the better one".

[ProTeal55]

I have gotten 5+ years out of batteries.
As a rule whenever my ass isnt riding the bike, I have it plugged into a Battery Tender.
They keep the battery at a ready 12 volts and extend the batteries life.

[KB02]

I have gotten 5+ years out of batteries.
As a rule whenever my ass isnt riding the bike, I have it plugged into a Battery Tender.
They keep the battery at a ready 12 volts and extend the batteries life.

You know, I'm torn on those battery tenders. I know people who will swear up and down that those are the best thing to happen to motorcycles since a motor was applied to two wheels. Yet, they are not getting any better battery life thatn I am, and I have never used one. Might one have saved me from having to kick start a bike a couple of times? Yes. I pull the batteries ion the winter, charge them in the spring, and I am good to go.

Anyway: The battery that came with my Ducati was 7 years old when it finally decided it was time to die. That was right after I noticed the fluid was low and decided to top it off with tap water ("Distilled water? What's that?" said I). The Walmart battery from my wife's bike made it about 4 years before the end. SO, the conclution to draw from this is you get what you pay for. A good quality, modern battery will last 5+ years no problem in most bikes. Discount will get you by, but you'll be replacing it more often.

[Kev Nemo]

So, even if you use your bike everyday, you would suggest the Tender, Pro?

[ProTeal55]

So, even if you use your bike everyday, you would suggest the Tender, Pro?

I would..
Like I said every time I park a bike after a ride I plug it into the tender (same with my Bel-Air).
Going from my experience it def. pro-longs a battery's life, as well as insures that you will have a fresh/charged battery when you go to ride/drive it. Nothing worse then getting ready to go for a ride on a perfect day to findout your battery is dead..

[Really?]

How on earth are you guys getting such life out of lead acid batteries (battery tender or not).  Me, I am lucky to go past 6 months.

I went with a sealed battery on my XVZ12DN just so I could stop replacing batteries and stop searching endlessly for one to fit it.  It has been two years with my Odyssey PC680MJ (yea, 680 cranking amps with a metal jacket) without as much as a burp (no tender).  I sure wish they made one of those for the k5, they are some really nice batteries.

Oh, good luck at getting a warranty replacement with Battery Plus, they will do their darnedest to not warranty it.

[speedy gonzalais]

never let the batt run low it should last for years, every time a battery is discharged then recharged it knocks its life down abit, also the cold dont help, if your not using the bike for long periods take the battery out and store it in the warm and dont charge it unless it needs it, as for spending good money on a good battery all lead/acid batts are the same parts inside it dont matter what make it is, Good maintainence is the key.

[Deltarider]

if your not using the bike for long periods take the battery out and store it in the warm

Actually a good and well charged battery is better stored cool than warm.

[TwoTired]

if your not using the bike for long periods take the battery out and store it in the warm

Actually a good and well charged battery is better stored cool than warm.

Quite true.

You have to realize that the battery produces electric power from chemical activity.  Higher chemical activity erodes the internal plate structure faster, shortening its life.  Another consideration is that a cooler battery makes less voltage than a warm or hot one.  Battery chargers used in cold weather need to have a temperature compensation circuit, so as not to overcharge a cold battery, which can damage it.  (this is often why a battery tender boils out the electrolyte faster, as it is  actually overcharging it.)
Lastly, you need a tender that resets periodically.  Some tenders peak charge only once, and then permanently switches to float, and then STAYS there regardless of what the battery voltage does, even if it falls to zero Volts!  They need to be able to switch back to charge mode if the voltage drops too low.

So, it's not just whether you use a tender or not.  It is also which tender you select for the job.  There is no doubt that a properly maintained battery WILL last longer than one that is allowed to self discharge.

Cheers,