Battery replacement
#1
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My bike is coming up on 3 years old. I keep it on a battery tender when parked in the garage.
Would replacing the battery as a preventative measure be what is suggested?
It always starts just as it did when new.
Can using the battery tender give a false sense of the battery's health? What I mean is, will it seem as though the battery is strong when first unplugging the tender then when I ride off into the sunset, the battery quickly discharges because it had an internal short all along?
Thanks
Would replacing the battery as a preventative measure be what is suggested?
It always starts just as it did when new.
Can using the battery tender give a false sense of the battery's health? What I mean is, will it seem as though the battery is strong when first unplugging the tender then when I ride off into the sunset, the battery quickly discharges because it had an internal short all along?
Thanks
#3
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Sounds like it's in good shape, why replace it. Mine is 4 years old and starts right up. I also keep it on a battery tender over the winter when I'm not riding it. If down the road it seems to be getting weak, test it and see if it's losing cranking power.
#6
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You can have it tested. Batteries don't die suddenly, they deteriorate over time. Keeping it on a tender will likely extend the life of the battery. 4 years seems to be the average lifespan of most batteries. If you want the added security, there is no harm in replacing it before it goes to hell.
#7
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I've got one on my Valkyrie (which has 6 cyclinders and I suspect consumes a lot of battery power on a start-up) that's now almost 8 years old....keeping them on a battery tender, or frequent year-round riding (which is really the same thing) will keep a battery healthy for a very long time (especially the gel-acid variety). We have banks of batteries for emergency backup where I work, and lifespan is 15-20 years (of course they're not having the sh*t rattled out of them on a Harley, or baking on a 100 F day sitting next to a hot engine).
The Valkyrie has an alternator system, but I don't think that would make any difference. I've had other bikes that didn't get ridden much and weren't kept on a float charger, and had battery problems with 2 years. A frequently charged battery is a happy battery.
Another major consideration would be if you had a major trip planned....if I were heading out up the Alcan I'd definitely be replacing my Valk's ancient battery right now.
The Valkyrie has an alternator system, but I don't think that would make any difference. I've had other bikes that didn't get ridden much and weren't kept on a float charger, and had battery problems with 2 years. A frequently charged battery is a happy battery.
Another major consideration would be if you had a major trip planned....if I were heading out up the Alcan I'd definitely be replacing my Valk's ancient battery right now.
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#8
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Have it checked for cranking amps. That is what starts your bike. If 3-4 years old and kept on a "tender", chances are it is in good shape. My battery is 4 1/2 years old, but the bike has never gone more than 7 days without being ridden and it spsins right off.
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#10
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You can have it tested. Batteries don't die suddenly, they deteriorate over time. Keeping it on a tender will likely extend the life of the battery. 4 years seems to be the average lifespan of most batteries. If you want the added security, there is no harm in replacing it before it goes to hell.