What's the average life of a battery?

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majicmaker

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Let me start by saying that I have it on the Battery Tender often and its always topped off. Went to start my bike this morning and Nothing! No clicking, No Nothing! Cycled through all the usual suspects. Side stand switch, kill switch, etc, etc. Still Nothing.

Attached my battery tender to the pigtail and it fired right up. Did a multi stop ride around town doing errands and it started right up every time. Got home and attached the tender again and it shows only the red light meaning it has no charge in it. It's been a while and it just started bling green meaning its charging up.

Question: Is it possible that a 36 month old battery is Toast already? TIA! :unsure:

 
Did you check your battery connections?

Hey, you are the fool that bought a Gen II AE model. That is the definition of a masochist. :)

 
Did you check your battery connections?

Hey, you are the fool that bought a Gen II AE model. That is the definition of a masochist. :)
I'll go ahead and check the connections to see if any came loose. As far as my choice of an AE, it's the neatest thing since sliced bread Mister. :p

Welcome to the wonderful world of the GenII's. you will start pissing on those GenI's in your garage as you walk by them to saddle up on the Black Beauty. :D

 
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Did you check your battery connections?

Hey, you are the fool that bought a Gen II AE model. That is the definition of a masochist. :)
I'll go ahead and check the connections to see if any came loose. As far as my choice of an AE, it's the neatest thing since sliced bread Mister. :p

Welcome to the wonderful world of the GenII's. you will start pissing on those GenI's in your garage as you walk by them to saddle up on the Black Beauty. :D
Not when the POS Gen II doesn't start!!!! :p

 
1-7 years...there are so many variables...a big one is "how often have you left the key in till discharge enough it won't start" ... and then did you jump start or push start ...

there are established manufacture tolerences that are pretty wide ranged to produce either good or great batterys right out the box

many other variables

battery tender is no indication of battery state...you do run a voltmeter, don't you

you should have the battery load tested

tenders do fail like any electronic device; even in an intermittent way

 
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1-7 years...there are so many variables...a big one is "how often have you left the key in till discharge enough it won't start" ... and then did you jump start or push start ...

there are established manufacture tolerences that are pretty wide ranged to produce either good or great batterys right out the box

many other variables

battery tender is no indication of battery state...you do run a voltmeter, don't you

you should have the battery load tested

tenders do fail like any electronic device; even in an intermittent way
I did leave the switch on during brunch yesterday. But, it started right up and didn't think anything of it. Maybe that did it. Just looked at my battery connections and all is tight and no signs of terminal corrosion. Tender is still blinking so, I'll let it charge overnight and see what happens. :)

 
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Did you check your battery connections?

Hey, you are the fool that bought a Gen II AE model. That is the definition of a masochist. :)
I'll go ahead and check the connections to see if any came loose. As far as my choice of an AE, it's the neatest thing since sliced bread Mister. :p

Welcome to the wonderful world of the GenII's. you will start pissing on those GenI's in your garage as you walk by them to saddle up on the Black Beauty. :D
Not when the POS Gen II doesn't start!!!! :p
It will start! (Except when you leave the key on for a while!) :lol: I can just hear Howie now saying: That ******* ScooterG guy is Dead to Me!! :lol:

 
1-7 years...there are so many variables...a big one is "how often have you left the key in till discharge enough it won't start" ... and then did you jump start or push start ...

there are established manufacture tolerences that are pretty wide ranged to produce either good or great batterys right out the box

many other variables

battery tender is no indication of battery state...you do run a voltmeter, don't you

you should have the battery load tested

tenders do fail like any electronic device; even in an intermittent way
I did leave the switch on during brunch yesterday. But, it started right up and didn't think anything of it. Maybe that did it. Just looked at my battery connections and all if tight and no signs of terminal corrosion. Tender is still blinking so, I'll let it charge overnight and see what happens. :)
On Topic: I used to get 7 years worth of battery life in my hometown of Morro Bay on the cool coast of California, but moving to the heat of Arizona I've yet to have a battery last more than 3 years here in the Valley of the Blast Furnace! Damn hot in Florida.

Off Topic: Vic, that thermos sized black vibrating dildo of yours should be able to run at least 2 hours nightly for a month on quality lithium batteries: Listen to RadioHowie, don't buy the cheap-o batteries from Wal-Mart or K-Mart; spend the extra bucks!

 
On Topic: I used to get 7 years worth of battery life in my hometown of Morro Bay on the cool coast of California, but moving to the heat of Arizona I've yet to have a battery last more than 3 years here in the Valley of the Blast Furnace! Damn hot in Florida.

Off Topic: Vic, that thermos sized black vibrating dildo of yours should be able to run at least 2 hours nightly for a month on quality lithium batteries: Listen to RadioHowie, don't buy the cheap-o batteries from Wal-Mart or K-Mart; spend the extra bucks!
On Topic: You're right! All of the batteries on all my Vehicles are top of the line. I'm funny that way. Good thing about that is when they die from the heat, it cost me about $15 in about 18 months to get a new one replaced through warranty. :)

Off Topic: Read On Topic Above!! :p

 
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On Topic: I used to get 7 years worth of battery life in my hometown of Morro Bay on the cool coast of California, but moving to the heat of Arizona I've yet to have a battery last more than 3 years here in the Valley of the Blast Furnace! Damn hot in Florida.
You? On Topic? WTF? Hath Hell Frozen Over?

Don't know what you are doing wrong. I get 5-7 years out of my batteries here with proper maintenance.

 
Vic,

Your battery life is pretty much dependant on two things:

ONE - How close (in time) you are to leaving for a trip...

TWO - How far away (in distance) you are to coming home from a trip

 
You? On Topic? WTF? Hath Hell Frozen Over?
whistling.gif


hell_frozen_over.jpg


 
Did you check your battery connections?

Hey, you are the fool that bought a Gen II AE model. That is the definition of a masochist. :)
I'll go ahead and check the connections to see if any came loose. As far as my choice of an AE, it's the neatest thing since sliced bread Mister. :p

Welcome to the wonderful world of the GenII's. you will start pissing on those GenI's in your garage as you walk by them to saddle up on the Black Beauty. :D
Not when the POS Gen II doesn't start!!!! :p
It will start! (Except when you leave the key on for a while!) :lol: I can just hear Howie now saying: That ******* ScooterG guy is Dead to Me!! :lol:
Believe it or not, not really -- I can expect unbridled enthusiasm from Greg in any of his reports, either on the superiority of the Gen II (hahahahahahahahahahahahaha) or it's deficiencies.

I wouldn't expect anything less that 100% truth.

 
On 3 different generations of Gold Wings it was pretty consistent at 2 to 2.5 years each. That meant a solid 2 years on the replacement schedule avoided getting stranded.

My tack record with the FJR has been somewhat better, so I only replace it every 3 years.

 
Vic,

Your battery life is pretty much dependant on two things:

ONE - How close (in time) you are to leaving for a trip...

TWO - How far away (in distance) you are to coming home from a trip
Long trip? Not an issue. Not going anywhere far any time soon. My problem is that I go everywhere on the FJR all the time. All short runs. Stop for a bit and go to the next. Me thinks its time to get a new battery. My last one died at 3 years old so, I'll go ahead and replace it. I do carry a set of jumper cables but, that'll still involve calling a buddy and its nothing to put a new one in. ;)

 
I wouldn't expect anything less that 100% truth.
True but, I still think he can use a dose of some Doggy Downers every so often though! :rolleyes:

On 3 different generations of Gold Wings it was pretty consistent at 2 to 2.5 years each. That meant a solid 2 years on the replacement schedule avoided getting stranded.

My tack record with the FJR has been somewhat better, so I only replace it every 3 years.
Agree! It's just smart to be ahead of the game to play it safe. :)

 
My 4 year old battery still seems to be working fine, despite my bike being shut off usually November through March. I don't put a tender on it, but connect it to a slow charger about once a month for several hours, then start it up and let the bike idle for a while.

I really thought I'd just replace it this winter, but I think I'll see if it will still work in the spring. I just did an overnighter this weekend (thank you, heated gear), and bike fired right up in 28 degree temps in the morning.

Hopefully this winter won't do it in because my first rides usually involve sub-freezing overnight temps and getting stranded would not be fun....

 
My 4 year old battery still seems to be working fine, despite my bike being shut off usually November through March. I don't put a tender on it, but connect it to a slow charger about once a month for several hours, then start it up and let the bike idle for a while.

I really thought I'd just replace it this winter, but I think I'll see if it will still work in the spring. I just did an overnighter this weekend (thank you, heated gear), and bike fired right up in 28 degree temps in the morning.

Hopefully this winter won't do it in because my first rides usually involve sub-freezing overnight temps and getting stranded would not be fun....
I think maybe the different environment has something to do with it. I use it everyday. No winter hibernation in Florida and its crazy hot in the summer. My top of the line Sears Diehards die in 18 months in my Explorer. Thank God for the warranties! :)

 
My 4 year old battery still seems to be working fine, despite my bike being shut off usually November through March. I don't put a tender on it, but connect it to a slow charger about once a month for several hours, then start it up and let the bike idle for a while.

I really thought I'd just replace it this winter, but I think I'll see if it will still work in the spring. I just did an overnighter this weekend (thank you, heated gear), and bike fired right up in 28 degree temps in the morning.

Hopefully this winter won't do it in because my first rides usually involve sub-freezing overnight temps and getting stranded would not be fun....
I think maybe the different environment has something to do with it. I use it everyday. No winter hibernation in Florida and its crazy hot in the summer. My top of the line Sears Diehards die in 18 months in my Explorer. Thank God for the warranties! :)
Nope, that's a bunch of malarky. My original OEM battery on my first FJR which was ridden daily and in the heat of Arizona lasted a couple months shy of 7 years. And even then, I didn't need to replace it and mistakenly diagnosed my issues due to the old battery when they were actually the beginning signs of my starter going bad.

I think daily use HELPs extend a battery's life.

 
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