How long did your last battery last?

[FastBikeGear]

FastBikeGear are the distributor of the Dutch Ultrabatt range of motor sport and road Lithium batteries in New Zealand.

We are one of the largest suppliers of automotive Lithium Battery technology in New Zealand.

The cost of this battery technology is plummeting, but Lithium batteries still cost more than lead acid batteries.

One of the key justifications for paying more for a Lithium motorcycle battery is that a Lithium battery with an inbuilt BMS in it has a target life of 10 years and customers should expect them to last between five years and 10 years.

But if most people's lead acid batteries are lasting more than 5 years the cost justification is not done and dusted in favour of a lithium battery until the price drops even further.

Also has anyone noticed the original batteries supplied with their bikes seem to last longer than the replacement lead acid batteries?

Because we can't be sure of the answer until you answer the question, we want your feed back. All respondents will see the results.

Many thanks for participating.

[F5 Dave]

Well the Jap Yuasa that came in my '93 YZF750SP, despite long periods of inactivity finally was wrenched out start of 2003 so I put 10 years, but that was so I could fit a smaller AGM to save a kilo which was a decent saving back in the day.

It sat there on the floor for 6 months until the battery in my RF9 failed & I noticed that with a bit of rubber pruning it would fit in that. Now I sold the dirty ol' RF in '09 & I don't think I'd had to replace it. . .

[nallac]

The factory battery is still doing duty in my 07 Uly, so 6+ years

[george formby]

Just replaced the battery on the TDM. It's a funny size & took 3 attempts to get the one that fits. Shared with some high end Ducati's I believe. It's between 6 & 15 years old. Identical replacement was less than $150. That old battery never failed to start the bike, an 850 twin, after months of being sat in cold damp shed. But it was struggling. Once the engine was warm no problems. Prevention is better than cure. New battery.
If it ends up that I get 12 years trouble free, but a bit tense at the end, service for $150, the replacement lasting at least 6 years, I will be a happy camper.
As avidly as I follow this hot topic I hope that I buy a bike with a Lithium battery rather than a Lithium battery for my bike in the next 6 or so years.

Any hoo. Onwards with the march of progress. Smaller, lighter, gruntier, tougher. Cheaper.

[F5 Dave]

I hope to find the next battery for my race bike - , have a heap of caps lying around at work

[AllanB]

The factory Jap Yuasa battery in my Hornet lasted to exactly one week after the Honda new motorcycle warranty ran out!

I was not impressed.

Replaced with a Motobatt and it has survived 4 years so far with no sign of getting 'old'.

Duration would be something that temps me to buy a fancy pants one as I cannot see me being in the position where I have the coin to replace the bike with a new one ...... apart from Lotto, but that is not going well for me.

However given the frequency a lot of KBers change bikes the ultimate life of a battery may be of little importance if the purchase price is significantly higher.

[Erelyes]

Question: Is there usually a manufacturing date recorded on batteries? Would perhaps help some people in ageing batteries on their 2nd hand bike.

[banditrider]

Connie's one is 6+ years old and I'm guessing that the V-Strom's is as well. Both bikes ridden regularly - don't own a battery tender.

[Hitcher]

Mrs H and I have never killed a battery. The bog standard battery in her Bandit is the original, fitted six years and 126,000km ago.

[mossy1200]

Bought a new sp1 and the battery was dead after 7months.

[pete376403]

Standard KLR battery went from 2008 - 2011. Motobatt replacement lasted 1 year. Probably killed by neglect (long periods of non-use) although KLRs are reputed to have a pretty crude charging system. I got another Motobatt from TSS at a pretty good price, so far seems to be working ok

[Howie]

Last Battery in my KLR was the orginal, it lasted for nearly 5 years . I never maintained it properly during it's time in the bike, and several times a couple of the cells were nearly dry when I did check it which I put down to the bike having been laid on it's side a few times in it's life. The replacement of the battery was a precautionary measure before a long weekend ride as I had noticed a drop in performance of the battery. I replaced it with a Mottobatt battery which has so far been great even when left unused for a month or two.

[F5 Dave]

Bought a new sp1 and the battery was dead after 7months.
So what we're seeing here from yours and others experience is Yuasa batteries in Hondas fail quickly but live forever with Yamaha goodness,- even Suzuki use is quite tolerable for them.:lol:

[merv]

First Yuasa battery in my VFR lasted 5 years but got fried when the regulator went. Fixed that and put a Champion battery in it from Repco and that lasted 11 years. Now back to Yuasa for the last 3 years no worries.

[Gremlin]

I've replaced the odd battery, but never known how long it had lasted (ie, previous purchaser had bought). Replaced the one in my BMW when it was still functional as I trialled a Shorai - the bike is notorious for suddenly not starting after 2-3 years.

I think the battery in the 05 CB919 has never been replaced, so it's probably about 8 years and 115,000km old.

[Drew]

Question: Is there usually a manufacturing date recorded on batteries? Would perhaps help some people in ageing batteries on their 2nd hand bike.This raises an interesting wee sideline. Car batteries, sit on the shelf for quite a while at times. Ya know what the reps do? They come round once a month and replace the date sticker on anything sitting for more than a couple. Your warranty is usually valid from that sticker date.

So, do bike batteries have the same treatment?

Motobatt in my RF has been there for three years. The bike gets fuck all use, but when I charged it after draining it flat starting my CBR400 powered lawnmower, it was slow turning over the RF which had sat for several months. It did start it, and it took a while for the bike to fire up though.

[FastBikeGear]

This raises an interesting wee sideline. Car batteries, sit on the shelf for quite a while at times. Ya know what the reps do? They come round once a month and replace the date sticker on anything sitting for more than a couple. Your warranty is usually valid from that sticker date.

So, do bike batteries have the same treatment?

Motobatt in my RF has been there for three years. The bike gets fuck all use, but when I charged it after draining it flat starting my CBR400 powered lawnmower, it was slow turning over the RF which had sat for several months. It did start it, and it took a while for the bike to fire up though.

I don't know about other vendors but our full value replacement warranty commences from the date the customer purchases the battery. (I don't think consumers would be impressed if we said nah your wrranty actuall started when we ordered it into stock). Batteries sell dates are tracked via serial numbers but I like the idea of them being dated on the case as well. We will commence doing this today.

We rotate our stock fairly quickly (and our dealers are only encouraged to order as needed) so I don't think shelf life is an issue.

[FastBikeGear]

Many thanks for ticking the poll at the top of this page guys and picture is beginning to emerge but it would be a brave man who would draw any conclusions from the small sample size.

I wonder if we are gong to get the classic MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) bath tub curve?

More failures in the first year and then a lower number of failures and then an increase in failures around the 5 year mark?

[Drew]

I don't know about other vendors but our full value replacement warranty commences from the date the customer purchases the battery. (I don't think consumers would be impressed if we said nah your wrranty actuall started when we ordered it into stock). Batteries sell dates are tracked via serial numbers but I like the idea of them being dated on the case as well. We will commence doing this today.

We rotate our stock fairly quickly (and our dealers are only encouraged to order as needed) so I don't think shelf life is an issue.My thinking was more along the lines, that Lithium batteries are hoped to achieve ten years+.

Part of the attraction with these batteries though is that they can sit on a bench for ages and still be fully charged whenever you wanna use it.

I have a battery here, that I can't find anything that corresponds to a date stamp on. When was it new, and when does my ten years run out or start?

Also, is that ten years an optimistic guess, or playing it safe with what a customer should hope for?

[FastBikeGear]

My thinking was more along the lines, that Lithium batteries are hoped to achieve ten years+.

Part of the attraction with these batteries though is that they can sit on a bench for ages and still be fully charged whenever you wanna use it.

I have a battery here, that I can't find anything that corresponds to a date stamp on. When was it new, and when does my ten years run out or start?

Also, is that ten years an optimistic guess, or playing it safe with what a customer should hope for?

I think that 10 years+ is overly optimistic. None of the suppliers are saying 10 years+ for a Lithium starter battery yet.

Ultrabatt regularly talk about 5 years+ for a battery with an inbuilt BMS and occasionally make reference to a 10 year target life. I think the 10 year target life will only be achieved if the battery is treated well.

If it is one of our batteries it will have a serial number on it and we can tell you when it was manufactured and when it was sold.

[Drew]

If it is one of our batteries it will have a serial number on it and we can tell you when it was manufactured and when it was sold.Oh yep, closer inspection and I've found a serial number. Googling now...

[Flip]

One in my 05 Harley is still going strong.

It has even been known to start the bike after a flogging driving the Ham radio (which draws 22 amps on transmit).

The only thing I do is plug it into a regulated supply if the bike is going to sit for any longer than 2 weeks. To this end I have fitted a 35 amp "Anderson" connection so I can simply plug the bike in to the charger.

[neels]

Battery in my ducati is 3 years old, DRZ a couple.

Both of them are pigs of bikes to start and flatten their batteries just sitting in the garage, which had me vaguely interested in the lithium creatures, sadly I'm not convinced yet.

My now ex XJ600 was still running a battery around 4 years old when I sold it, which makes me wonder how much difference not having electronic dashboards, clocks etc always sucking away at the battery makes.

[FastBikeGear]

Battery in my ducati is 3 years old, DRZ a couple.

Both of them are pigs of bikes to start and flatten their batteries just sitting in the garage, which had me vaguely interested in the lithium creatures, sadly I'm not convinced yet.

My now ex XJ600 was still running a battery around 4 years old when I sold it, which makes me wonder how much difference not having electronic dashboards, clocks etc always sucking away at the battery makes.


Neels did you tick the poll above as well?

Understand your hesitancy. No rush to change technologies. We are only a couple of years into Lithium batteries yet. Given current pricing there is room too be cautious.

We sell a truck load of the CTEK lead acid battery tenders (http://www.fastbikegear.co.nz/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=184&zenid=5bb130b5a46bac95b8ef96d988d38e22) so we are no hurry to push anyone into a technology they are cautious about.

One thing that might change things is a significant reduction in price or cost of ownership.

[FastBikeGear]

Hey funny thing currently with the poll is that you actually have a better chance of getting a longer life span if you buy a one year old working battery than a brand new one.

[neels]

Neels did you tick the poll above as well?
Yep, averaged it at 3, although to be fair I haven't yet had a lead acid from new to dead in a bike so it's not an accurate answer.

The interesting bit is the small number of batteries at 2 years old, fits with my experience of them lasting *just* past their warranty life and dying or carrying on forever.


We sell a truck load of the CTEK lead acid battery tenders (http://www.fastbikegear.co.nz/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=184&zenid=5bb130b5a46bac95b8ef96d988d38e22) so we are no hurry to push anyone into a technology they are cautious about.

To be honest I'm more concerned about putting clever batteries into bikes which still have incredibly crude charging systems, about the technology of gear I work with that was built in the 60's and rely on flooded batteries for smoothing of the charger output, or a ducati with a single phase alternator. :facepalm:

[Drew]

ducati with a single phase alternator. :facepalm:
There's that dirty fucken D word again.

I'm all about alternators though. For the fucken WIN! Brushes wear out, replace, carry on after you charge your battery back up. Fucken sweet system.

I don't think I have ever had to replace an alternator because of fucked windings.

[FastBikeGear]

There's that dirty fucken D word again.

Drew I don't want to have to warn you about insulting Ducatis again . Every time you do it something fails on mine.

[neels]

I'm all about alternators though. For the fucken WIN! Brushes wear out, replace, carry on after you charge your battery back up. Fucken sweet system.

Well....they're all alternators, in that they generate alternating current.

Best bet is to buy a Yamaha, a proper bloody alternator with a regulated field rotor, none of this permanent magnet and shunt the rest to ground crap that most bikes seem to run.

[Drew]

Well....they're all alternators, in that they generate alternating current.

Best bet is to buy a Yamaha, a proper bloody alternator with a regulated field rotor, none of this permanent magnet and shunt the rest to ground crap that most bikes seem to run.

That's what I meant.

[Maha]

At least two years.

[Drew]

Drew I don't want to have to warn you about insulting Ducatis again . Every time you do it something fails on mine.

I'm sorry man. I've only had to deal with four of the bloody things after all, but every one of them was nothing but bloody trouble.

[ducatilover]

My Motobatt is around 2 years old. I have a lot of failures with normal lead acids because I'm too retarded to run a battery tender (power in my shed is turned off a lot any way) but the Motobatt is happy enough to sit in the ZX6 with the RFID unit powered for a few months and still crank the bike over and start it fine. :cool: It will probably fail early due to such a lack of use, only been for a ride on it once this year I think.

[FastBikeGear]

My Motobatt is around 2 years old. I have a lot of failures with normal lead acids because I'm too retarded to run a battery tender (power in my shed is turned off a lot any way) but the Motobatt is happy enough to sit in the ZX6 with the RFID unit powered for a few months and still crank the bike over and start it fine. :cool: It will probably fail early due to such a lack of use, only been for a ride on it once this year I think.

Can you please tick one of the optiosn in the poll for us at the top of the page?

Many thanks for assisting me with this interesting survey.

Liam Venter.

[ducatilover]

Can you please tick one of the optiosn in the poll for us at the top of the page?

Many thanks for assisting me with this interesting survey.

Liam Venter.

Well, my battery hasn't ended its life yet

[FastBikeGear]

Well, my battery hasn't ended its life yet

Yeah but we are not asking about the life of your current battery (because no one knows that yet.)

We are asking how long did your last lead acid battery last?

[T.W.R]

We are asking how long did your last lead acid battery last?

For some of us that's an unmeasurable time span ;)
ie: battery in bike when purchased & still going strong when bike sold, some last longer than the bike etc

Personally have had one battery died in one bike out of the last 15; the battery that was in the bike when purchased lasted 3yrs & the replacement was still going when the bike was sold 7yrs later...so no idea how old the 1st battery was before it died.
Another was one in a bike that was crashed was in bike when brought then before bike was written off the battery and a couple of items were taken & sold to a mate who had the same type of bike.
A properly maintained battery will and on the majority of occasions out last the ownership of the bike, it's only when misfortune strikes when acquiring a new bike or an electrical failure that causes the purchase of a new battery and generally that isn't often.
Long life batteries as a sales pitch is more gimmick than fact as motorcycles are a high turnover item and it's only a small number that become long term ownership items

[FastBikeGear]

For some of us that's an unmeasurable time span ;)
ie: battery in bike when purchased & still going strong when bike sold, some last longer than the bike etc

Personally have had one battery died in one bike out of the last 15; the battery that was in the bike when purchased lasted 3yrs & the replacement was still going when the bike was sold 7yrs later...so no idea how old the 1st battery was before it died.
Another was one in a bike that was crashed was in bike when brought then before bike was written off the battery and a couple of items were taken & sold to a mate who had the same type of bike.
A properly maintained battery will and on the majority of occasions out last the ownership of the bike, it's only when misfortune strikes when acquiring a new bike or an electrical failure that causes the purchase of a new battery and generally that isn't often.
Long life batteries as a sales pitch is more gimmick than fact as motorcycles are a high turnover item and it's only a small number that become long term ownership items

All good points. During my motoring career I have only ever purchased about 4 motorcycle batteries and about the same number of car batteries. My last lead acid motorcycle battery only lasted a year, despite being maintained on a high quality smart battery tender, but I think it must have been a dud from new ( nothing wrong with charging circuit and replacement Utrabatt Lithium still going strong 2 years later). The one prior to that came with the bike so I don't know how old it was when it failed.

Rather than assume stuff we decided to conduct the poll at the top of the page. The results are a bit of a surprise so far.

[T.W.R]

With the two dealerships I've worked at the majority of batteries sold were usually to people who'd recently brought their bikes or had electrical failures & as both shops had a high number of clients who were farmers a lot of batteries were sold due to lack of maintenance & neglect on the owners behalf and in bikes that spent a lot of time doing short running and sitting idling etc.

My Landcruiser has given me more grief with batteries...13yrs of ownership and 3 sets of batteries :facepalm: bloody 24v system means over $500 each time :pinch:

[nzspokes]

I throw my bikes down the road before they need a battery.

[FastBikeGear]

I throw my bikes down the road before they need a battery.

The helicopters used on the big Americn fishing boats don't last very long, poor maintenance, harsh environments, there are stories of captains setting them adrift on their floats after a couple of years use and then using them for target practice rather than paying for major overhauls.


Ring ring...hello......hi is that AA insurance....um yes good.....umm we just had another helicopter incident....pilots OK but......ah the helicopter sunk.

[FastBikeGear]

Nice artical published by Yuasa. Skip Down to the bit on what causes lead acid batteries to fail.

We have seen lead acid motorcycle battles don't seem to last as long as they used to any more.

Is that because ou lights on rules mean that on some bikes our batteries don't fully charge and hence fail prematurely.

http://www.yuasabatteries.com/motor_battery.php

[BuzzardNZ]

IMO Yuasa are the worst of the worst. Went through 3 of them in 3ish years. :buggerd::mad:

Best bang for your buck, Motobatt all the way :first::yes:

[FastBikeGear]

IMO Yuasa are the worst of the worst. Went through 3 of them in 3ish years. :buggerd::mad:

Best bang for your buck, Motobatt all the way :first::yes:

Well hopefully you got a full warranty refund or replacement on each one?

[BuzzardNZ]

Well hopefully you got a full warranty refund or replacement on each one?

Nah, it was my fault really, as I don't have a tender ( nor can I, no power in garage ) and I left it for 2 weeks at at time ( sometimes more ) in winter without riding it. Plus, I never keep receipts.

Had the motobatt in there a year now with the same treatment and it's holding up strong.

Wish I knew what kind of battery came with the bike ( new ) as that bastard lasted 3 years with the same deal as the others ( i.e. me being too much of a pussy to ride much in winter )

[FastBikeGear]

Nah, it was my fault really, as I don't have a tender ( nor can I, no power in garage ) and I left it for 2 weeks at at time ( sometimes more ) in winter without riding it. Plus, I never keep receipts.

Had the motobatt in there a year now with the same treatment and it's holding up strong.

Wish I knew what kind of battery came with the bike ( new ) as that bastard lasted 3 years with the same deal as the others ( i.e. me being too much of a pussy to ride much in winter )


Shit if that was me I would be having a very stern talk to whoever I bought those batteries off and wanting a full refund!

If that was the failure rate on a home appliance we would all be writing letters to the ministry of consumer affairs. a completely unacceptable failure rate...battery tender or not!

I would also be checking the output of the voltage regulator, which you probably did anyway...just to be sure.

[nallac]

Nah, it was my fault really, as I don't have a tender ( nor can I, no power in garage ) and I left it for 2 weeks at at time ( sometimes more ) in winter without riding it. Plus, I never keep receipts.

Two weeks....fuck that.. my 6 year old factory fitted Buell battery has sat for a month or more and still started the bike.....Just..

Sad.... i need to ride more

[FastBikeGear]

Two weeks....fuck that.. my 6 year old factory fitted Buell battery has sat for a month or more and still started the bike.....Just..

Sad.... i need to ride more

Dam right I spent nearly 8 weeks pissing around building new exhaust for my bike. During that time I probably started it 20 times for just few second to listen to it ( not enough to charge the battery to any extent) without any issue.

[BuzzardNZ]

Shit if that was me I would be having a very stern talk to whoever I bought those batteries off and wanting a full refund!

If that was the failure rate on a home appliance we would all be writing letters to the ministry of consumer affairs. a completely unacceptable failure rate...battery tender or not!


Couldn't be arsed and thought it was normal for that cheap crap.




I would also be checking the output of the voltage regulator, which you probably did anyway...just to be sure.


No idea how to do anything like that, basic maintenance is where it ends for me and anything to do with electrics, forget it.

[FastBikeGear]

No idea how to do anything like that, basic maintenance is where it ends for me and anything to do with electrics, forget it.

Every time your battery is replaced you or your shop should measure the voltage output of your regulator with a simple voltmeter. It takes less than two minutes to do this and there should be no charge for it....and it could save you $100 dollars or more if you prematuerly kill a battery.

Batteries lifespans (both modern lithium and lead acid ones) are drastically reduced by years if either being under or over charged. You can take Several years off the 10 year life of a lithium battery by consistently under or over charging it.

[nallac]

I fitted one of THESE (http://www.ebay.com/itm/200627678428?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649) to my Buell as they are well known to fry VR and stators.. cheap heads up insurance of any problems happening.

EDIT; linky now works....

[george formby]

Somebody mention car batteries? Derailment ahead..

Replaced the TDM battery as posted. Had 3 car battery's in that time. All replaced under warranty. On 2 cars no less so not a vehicle fault. I drive with me lights on, too.

Yuasa? Always used em, I think they are the only manufacturer who make the right size for my bike & I'm a happy camper. Only issue was leaving the bike at the side of a Loch in Scotland, out side, cold, wet & miserable, for 3 weeks. It no starty. Great place for testing batteries.

[FastBikeGear]

Have to say that I am suprised by the survey results.

[FastBikeGear]

Please remember this poll is only for motorcycle batteries. Car batteries typically last longer as car manufacturers are generally not limited by size/packaging or weight constraints so they can use a larger less stressed battery. Surprisingly some cars like a 6 cylinder BMW 330i
actually draw less starting current than a bike like a 900CC monster. This is because they can use a physically larger and more efficient starter motor than the small diameter ones used on bikes.

Bike batteries generally get a very hard time compared to car batteries!

[FastBikeGear]

Just wat to bump this thread to keep collecting more information in the how long did your last battery last.

It would probably now be a good time to add a survey "How long did your last Lithium batter last" if I knew how so we could compare real world life spans.

[BuzzardNZ]

It would probably now be a good time to add a survey "How long did your last Lithium batter last" if I knew how so we could compare real world life spans.

Good idea, we need another battery thread, it just hasn't been the same round here since the Shorai thread got binned.

[FastBikeGear]

Good idea, we need another battery thread, it just hasn't been the same round here since the Shorai thread got binned.

I have even discovered an alternative entertainment medium called Netflix.

[scumdog]

Got two car batteries 10+ years old and still good.

One is Optima, the other Interstate.

We need bike batteries like that!

[Moise]

They do exist, made by Yuasa!

[RGVforme]

Got two car batteries 10+ years old and still good.

One is Optima, the other Interstate.

We need bike batteries like that!

Used to watch the Exide battery truck pull up to the then Shell servo next to work roll up the side door pull out black stickerless batteries test them then select the shell logo stickers off a pipe roll where they sat beside Repco Mobil Marshall Supercheap AA Optima ect rolls and place them on the Batteries he needed and take them inside.

Im sure some must be different some small post jappers are a shocker (Yep that's a pun) but.:weird:

[Drew]

Got two car batteries 10+ years old and still good.

One is Optima, the other Interstate.

We need bike batteries like that!
Motobatt in the RF is going on 8 or 9.

[FastBikeGear]

Got two car batteries 10+ years old and still good.

One is Optima, the other Interstate.

We need bike batteries like that!

Thank but this is a survey for bike batteries. In cars it common to over spec batteries because weight and space are not so critical hence they last longer. In bikes the opposite tends to be true, Bike manufacturers tend to put smaller than ideal size batteries in the bikes and hence the life of bike batteries is generally less.

[Drew]

Thank but this is a survey for bike batteries. In cars it common to over spec batteries because weight and space are not so critical hence they last longer. In bikes the opposite tends to be true, Bike manufacturers tend to put smaller than ideal size batteries in the bikes and hence the life of bike batteries is generally less.
Mibbee on the Italian shitters you deal with, but I've never encountered that on a Japanese road bike I've ever had.

[MarkW]

Suzuki DRZ250 2007 Original battery replaced 2015
Honda NTV650 #1 2004 Original battery is still in the bike
Honda NTV650 #2 2004 Original battery died from lack of use in 2011 - replaced with a Motobatt unit that is still in use.

[caseye]

The Mr Ed Shoria in the coal burner is still going well, went in in 2013.
Standard issue in the 2009 bandit still doing great service, same for the OEM in the 800 2011 bolly of the wifes.

[Owl]

I have even discovered an alternative entertainment medium called Netflix.

Even Netflix has been neutered now we're stuck with the NZ version.:pinch:

[Drew]

Even Netflix has been neutered now we're stuck with the NZ version.:pinch:

Use a proxy.

[Owl]

Use a proxy.

I was, but they've clamped down on that.

[nzspokes]

Looks like the one in my VTR just died. It made it to 3 years.

Mind its called "Bike" and has a big made in china sticker on it. So not surprised its dead.

[pete376403]

The third Motobatt in the KLR may be on the way out. Its been on a tender whenever not on the road, except for about 4 weeks ago when I forgot to plug the tender in. When I connected the tender about a week ago, the voltage indicator showed about 6 and a bit volts. (yeah there is some sort of drain somewhere) and now, with everything disconnected from the battery except the tender, the charge seems to have stalled at 12.6v - I recall previously it would top out at 13.2 or thereabouts

Seriously considering replacing the diode VRR with a Shindengen mosfet one as these are advertised as providing a better charge at lower engine revs.

[Drew]

The third Motobatt in the KLR may be on the way out. Its been on a tender whenever not on the road, except for about 4 weeks ago when I forgot to plug the tender in. When I connected the tender about a week ago, the voltage indicator showed about 6 and a bit volts. (yeah there is some sort of drain somewhere) and now, with everything disconnected from the battery except the tender, the charge seems to have stalled at 12.6v - I recall previously it would top out at 13.2 or thereabouts

Seriously considering replacing the diode VRR with a Shindengen mosfet one as these are advertised as providing a better charge at lower engine revs.
I'd try and find the fault creating the draw first.

[pete376403]

I'd try and find the fault creating the draw first.

Oh yeah, goes without saying. Early Gen II KLRs had a recall for wiring loom faults. Ideally the loom should have been replaced. In my case the defective parts were re-wrapped with tape by the dealer -not overly happy about that.

[banditrider]

Connie's one is 6+ years old and I'm guessing that the V-Strom's is as well. Both bikes ridden regularly - don't own a battery tender.

Original battery in the Connie just died. 8 years, 8 months and 8 days. 136,818km.

[Corse1]

My 2003 ST4s still has the original battery going strong. How can that be in a Ducati? I have owned the bike for over 10 years and always kept on a battery doc maintainer.
I have a brand new spare Motobatt on the shelf that was intended for another bike but this one won't die!

[roogazza]

Didn't know where to put this but in the interest of info here goes.

Installed a Motobatt in the K6 1000 and at about 10 mths it started to not hold top charge.I'd get one start and then by the time I get to the gas station to refuel, no go !

Took it back to my local bikeshop where it was tested as fucked !!! New replacement no problem, but with another make.
Since then I've just had an E mail from a mate who runs a BMW agency in Darwin, his opinion is that they were having trouble with Motobatt !!! They stopped stocking them two years ago.

So before you throw around a hundy for a new battery choose carefully. <_< :confused:

[Drew]

I still have the same motobatt I put in the RF when I started neglecting it 7 or 8 years ago.

[Honest Andy]

That's interesting about the Motobatt. Maybe something has changed because I got one for my old 'wing about 5 or 6 years ago and it's still great. Holds a really big charge even when I forget to plug it in to a maintainer and still has plenty in it even if I've been running my headlight all day. Previously the alternator couldn't keep a brand new Yuasa charged if the headlight was on. Luckily it's pre '80... and has a kickstart of sorts ;-)

[roogazza]

I still have the same motobatt I put in the RF when I started neglecting it 7 or 8 years ago.


That's interesting about the Motobatt. Maybe something has changed because I got one for my old 'wing about 5 or 6 years ago and it's still great. Holds a really big charge even when I forget to plug it in to a maintainer and still has plenty in it even if I've been running my headlight all day. Previously the alternator couldn't keep a brand new Yuasa charged if the headlight was on. Luckily it's pre '80... and has a kickstart of sorts ;-)

Guess thats batteries for ya, some last years others bugger all. I was probably just unlucky but I thought I'd post my result.
I know I'm getting too old to push start the thing. :confused::no:
In the olden days when races were push starts I was a bit of a whizz,one step and gone ! But thats ancient history now.

[FastBikeGear]

Just an update. I have one of the first Ultrabatt batteries we brought into the country in one of my bikes and it is still going strong. It has now done service in two bikes. It spent some time in Nick Coles ZX10R race bike and has since been fitted to my own Ducati. It gets a very hard time in the Ducati as it is highly modified and it's high compression and relatively inefficient starter motor plus race carburettors without choke mechanisms all conspire against easy starting. When the bike is cold it takes quite a few attempts and extensive profanity to start it.

And because it is a second bike it and I have other vehicles it often doesn't get ridden for a couple of months at a time.

It's a second generation lithium battery meaning it has an inbuilt Load Balancing BMS (Battery Management System) which means it converts the bikes lead acid battery charging system into a charging profile that is ideal for load balancing each cell in the battery. On our full current carbon pile load tester it still delievers the same CCA it did when it was new.

I see no reason at this stage it will not be still going strong when it passes the 10 year mark.

For more information here is an article I wrote son what you need to know about lithium batteries http://www.fastbikegear.co.nz/index.php?main_page=page&id=18&chapter=1&zenid=t2mf50jkjabbkd8q00f5pm1k87