Batteries

M

Merkid

Well-known member
Is anyone but me noticing that the batteries in the FI bikes aren't lasting long and when they bail, there is no warning . One day good, the next day completely shot ?

I'm on my 3rd cell battery for my Vstrom in 7 years and this is after carefully trickle charging them all winter. The original factory version lasted the longest at 3 seasons, the others 2 and 2.
 
Merkid said:
Is anyone but me noticing that the batteries in the FI bikes aren't lasting long and when they bail, there is no warning . One day good, the next day completely shot ?

I'm on my 3rd cell battery for my Vstrom in 7 years and this is after carefully trickle charging them all winter. The original factory version lasted the longest at 3 seasons, the others 2 and 2.
Click to expand...

Please share with us which trickle charger you are using so everyone knows which one should be avoided.


I have the OEM battery in my 2003 FI bike. It's not nearly as strong as it once was, but it can easily start the bike whenever needed. Always winter tended with an Optimate III tender.
 
The battery in my 990cc v-twin, traditionally one of the hardest engine designs on a battery, has been going strong since 2007 and has never seen a trickle charger in the winter. I give it a little charge in the spring and go. I'm positive it will last me this whole summer, too.

BTW, this battery has also flashed an ALARM LED light on the dash about every 30 seconds that the key is out of the ignition. Every winter, too.
 
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For years bikes had good big robust batteries and charging systems.
There was a brief mini-crisis in the late 1970's, after Canada changed to kilometers, when headlamp on/off switches first disappeared from handlebars.
Seems some designs weren't up to running lights 24/7...
Since then, everything fine until recent years when SuperSports are extremely competitive in weight, and physical size and packaging.
Batteries have been ruthlessly down-sized and lightened, along with just about everything else on the bike.
Charging systems designed to survive motors that spin to 16k RPM cannot have as much output at 3/4/5k RPM.
600-class SS have only 9 or 10 ah batteries, and 1000 SS only 12 ah (if that).
Compare that to the original Honda 750 with 14 ah battery, an on/off switch for lighting, and no electronic anything on the machine itself.
However, most street bikes today are still properly equipped - unlike machines designed for competition.
Just one more reason SuperSports are generally a crappy choice for the mean streets in the real world...
 
OEM battery: 6yrs old, 47,000km's, see's a Battery Tender Jr religeously, still perfectly strong and never had an issue.
 
Merkid said:
Is anyone but me noticing that the batteries in the FI bikes aren't lasting long and when they bail, there is no warning . One day good, the next day completely shot ?

I'm on my 3rd cell battery for my Vstrom in 7 years and this is after carefully trickle charging them all winter. The original factory version lasted the longest at 3 seasons, the others 2 and 2.
Click to expand...

What brand and type of batteries are you using? eg. AGM, conventional?
 
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