Battery Life ... ?

[Guest Slab_Ryder]

Greetings

 

I had to replace my Battery today, on the road, and was wondering if 4 years on the OEM Battery is normal or below normal, for a well maintained Battery?

[KeithR]

Thats about the same as I got out of mine. I always used a battery tender as well. Check out the Argus battery bug .....helps keep an eye on the battery condition.

 

Keith

[Bones]

Hard to tell how old the battery is when you buy the bike even if new. I just replaced one this summer in an '06 with 43,000 miles on it... OEM battery. Ya just never know.

[sarges46]

Thats actually not too bad for such a small battery really. I have had them last less than that and when it goes it does some weird things to the bike! And it gives ya no warning either.

[Guest Slab_Ryder]

Sarges, you are not wrong with the Wonkeyness before it goes. Lost my highway lights, then Cruise, then Radio , then everything. One thing snowballed to another. Lucky for me I knew I was 20 mins walk from a dealer!!

[Guest Slab_Ryder]

Mine went with nearly 100,000 original miles on the clock

[Brake Pad]

1st add the acid, let sit for like 4 to 10 hours, then charge it up. If you just add and charge your just out the window:no-no-no:

[djh3]

On my last bike 07 Kawasaki 900 vulcan It gave no warning. I went out one day to start and it engaged starter more than just the click noise. But second time nothing. I cleaned terminals still nothing. checked it with volt meter 0. So I took it down to be checked it was DOA. I think it was about maybe 4yr old then.

[awsmsrv]

I've got the original battery in my 2006 with 56k miles & it's still going strong. Have I now jinxed it by saying that?

[Little Bob]

Got 5 yrs out of my oem. Still was working so I put it my riding lawn mower and still going strong.

[Squidley]

Ventures, both 1st and 2nd gen are very hard on batteries. The charging systems are marginal at best and when you start adding lights and all the other electronics we like to use, it taxes the charging system and thus the battery. As a rule of thumb, for me this is, I change them out after 3 years no matter how good they appear to be. I have had several be absolutely fine and then the next day are junk, no warning, no nothing. 4 years is a decent run, and for this bike I believe you got your monies worth out of it...

[Wrench]

When I had the '04 for sale last year it was sitting on the dealers floor and someone left the key on accy. and ran it down. They jumped it for me and I brought it home, put it on the charger, but the battery was toast. It was the original battery and I had never had any problems til then. Yes Squidley, the charging systems are pretty weak. I swapped out the spot light halogen bulbs on the Roadstar from 35watt to 55watt because I couldn't find 35's anywhere locally. I put a voltmeter on it and watched the charging system at work and it could just barely keep up with the 55's on. I ordered the 35's and all was well after that. I have asked this question on another site, with no clear answer, and I'm just curious. Why does the Venture use sealed beam spots and the Roadstar use halogens? The housings are even different so you can't change from one type to the other. The '99 has 30watt sealed beams in them. Just another "inquiring mind" thing.

[OB-1]

I've got the original battery in my 2006 with 56k miles & it's still going strong. Have I now jinxed it by saying that?

Yep, you sure did. You might have to buy two batteries just to make up for the extra life you got out of this one!

 

Six years on bike battery is very good.

[awsmsrv]

Six years on bike battery is very good.

 

I use a CTEK battery charger whenever it's parked in the garage. I assume that has contributed to the long life.

[aharbi]

Replaced my battery (again) today with a Batteries Plus X2-AGM-20HL-BS. It has a two year warranty. Paid $124.99 with a $10 off coupon. I know I can get $30 - $40 less expensive online. But I wanted a local place to deal with. The last two batteries I had were YUASA YTX20L-BS and only lasted a tad over three years. Thought I'd try something different this time around. I use a battery tender and the bike has an alarm system so I know it always uses some power.

[Condor]

i've got the original battery in my 2006 with 56k miles & it's still going strong. Have i now jinxed it by saying that?

 

yes.....

[Flyinfool]

I know that in 2 months when I go to start the bike I will pay for this, but my Yuasa that was in the bike when I bought it 6 years ago was still starting fine last fall.

 

Ok I'll start battery shopping now..........

[cecdoo]

I got 6 yrs out of the OEM battery, but when it died it died! Started great one day, dead the next. Maybe 2006 was a good year for batteries:think:

 

Craig

[colesgrandpaw]

If mine will make it to March 17th that will be seven years and I have 98,900 miles on the bike now.

[Condor]

If mine will make it to March 17th that will be seven years and I have 98,900 miles on the bike now.

 

Better start shopping. Your luck is about ready to run out.....

[REDRIDER52]

Well this spring going to replace the orignal battery in my 2003 venture had a couple times last fall tryed to start had to push start was not at home this battery has lasted 91/2 years for me:cool10:

[N3FOL]

I tried to my Venture today and all I heard was a click...the 2nd time I pressed on the start button, another 'click' then all went dark. I noticed 2 months ago that my battery conditioner has been constantly turning on while plugged in on the bike. I thought this did not look normal to me. I am now leaning towards a very weak and dying/dead battery. Need to ride tomorrow, so I will have to pickup a new one locally.

[Rafterd]

Just installed one of these.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/281958738645

[Sylvester]

I use the Deka AGM and have since the original Yuasa died in 2010 ( the bike is 2002). The Deka is my first replacement, but it is always on a tender in the shop.

 

[N3FOL]

I tried to my Venture today and all I heard was a click...the 2nd time I pressed on the start button, another 'click' then all went dark. I noticed 2 months ago that my battery conditioner has been constantly turning on while plugged in on the bike. I thought this did not look normal to me. I am now leaning towards a very weak and dying/dead battery. Need to ride tomorrow, so I will have to pickup a new one locally.

 

So this is a reply to my own post....

 

I cleaned both battery terminals the other day and rode since then with no ill effects at all. I noticed very minimal amount of dirt and corrosion on the terminals - cleaned with a small wire brush and wiped clean and then reinstalled connectors. It is just amazing no matter how small the dirt is around the terminals, it still has a significant effect on the starting ability of the battery. FWIW, this is my 2nd battery and has lasted about 4 years now. The bike has 51K miles to date.