Dead Battery

[Tony C.]

Sherry and I took a ride last Friday for lunch. After lunch the bike barely turned over to start. The volt meter showed 12.2, but the battery barely had the cranking power to turn over. Thankfully it did and we got home, OK. It's the original battery in a 2018 bike, so I'm not surprised that's it's done.

When I got home, I called a couple of dealerships for a new battery. One didn't have it in stock and another did, at a price of $208. I thought that price was high so I declined and did internet shopping. It appears the MSRP of the battery is about $175. I found one on Amazon discounted 33% to $116. It is the OEM and it's listed as new. Amazon also showed a Tuesday delivery. I was psyched and ordered it, thinking that I'd have it for this week of beautiful WX.

I checked on the order status on Saturday. Amazon did show a Tuesday delivery, but it's Tuesday September 26th, not yesterday September 19th. Sh*t! I tried to cancel the order, but it was too late.

On Sunday I tried to start the bike in the garage. It started, but it was not a strong start. On Monday I put the bike on a 2 amp trickle charger. It went to full charge in less than 4 hours. So I started to wonder if the battery was bad or if there was a problem with the bike's combo starter/generator. It's a very expensive part if it needs to be replaced. Thankfully I bought an extended warranty. Also on Monday I bought a lithium jump pack for motorcycles for piece of mind. Its price, plus the price of the battery I bought on Amazon, is still less than the $208 dealer battery price.

So today I thought I'd try to take a ride. I had not put the bike on trickle charger again since Monday. The volt meter showed 12.2 when I turned on the bike. But there was not enough juice to spin the starter/generator at the appropriate speed and it would not start. I use the lithium pack and was able to start the bike. So yeah, it's definitely the battery.

So the bike is parked until next week. We'll have to enjoy the beautiful WX on 4 wheels instead of 2. It's just not the same, though. 

[f-Stop]

Thanks for posting!   

It seems that some folks get really confused when their batteries fail, but your post shows that there is a methodical way to determine that yes, it is the battery. 

.......

FYI, I've had good luck with Batteries Plus on battery replacement.  I had a 2.5 year old YUASA battery fail on a Saturday evening and got a replacement on Sunday morning from Batteries Plus.  It was a Duracell AMG that lasted just over five years.  (I have a lithium in the Valk now...so far, so good.)

[GaryC]

I can pick you up and you can ride Bitch.    

Now you got me wondering, do I order the battery.  Can you provide info on battery jumper. I think I will get one just in case.

[Tony C.]

Thanks for posting!   

It seems that some folks get really confused when their batteries fail, but your post shows that there is a methodical way to determine that yes, it is the battery. 

.......

FYI, I've had good luck with Batteries Plus on battery replacement.  I had a 2.5 year old YUASA battery fail on a Saturday evening and got a replacement on Sunday morning from Batteries Plus.  It was a Duracell AMG that lasted just over five years.  (I have a lithium in the Valk now...so far, so good.)

The OEM is a YUASA model GYZ20L. I ordered the same from Amazon.

Some guys on the GL1800 Riders board have not had good luck with the OEM YUASA. Some no more than 2 years also, which is surprising for a top rated brand. I always assumed they were not shutting down the GW properly. The 2018+ GW has some quirks. Although you can kill the ignition if the wheels are moving, you can't shutdown if there's even a bit of movement of the wheels when you're doing it.

[Tony C.]

I can pick you up and you can ride Bitch.    

Now you got me wondering, do I order the battery.  Can you provide info on battery jumper. I think I will get one just in case.

Yes, you should order a battery now. You've got the same year bike as me. You're on borrowed time.   I would try MTR. None in stock in Motor Sports in Auburn and $208 at Central Mass Power Sports in Lunenburg.

The jump starter is at the link.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-600-Peak-Amp-12-Volt-Automotive-Lithium-Ion-Jump-Starter-and-Portable-Power-Pack-EL224/924569033?athbdg=L1103&from=/search&adid=22222222224226138098

Had to go to three Walmarts to get it. Out of stock in Framingham. Was told there were three in Hudson and four in Northboro. Went to Hudson. All three had been stolen the night before. Framingham locks them up. Hudson doesn't. Off to Northboro next. They had them. But they were not locked up.

Note that you won't be able to attach it to the GW battery with the clips. There's not enough room. I have another wire with clips on one end and plug that plugs in to the battery tender cable on the other. I mate the clips and plug it into the battery tender cable. I'll probably never need it the jump starter, but it's peace of mind.

[Barnstormer]

I recently sold my blue valkyrie that has a Walmart battery I dated  05/16 when installed.  Still working fine.  The original battery in my green Valkyrie lasted 9 years and died on my way home from Wachusett mountain in the Winter.  I purchased a cheap battery on Amazon which lasted about a year.  Took it to Walmart far a new one.  At the store I weighed it.  It weighed 3 lbs less than the Walmart battery. 

[Tony C.]

I purchased a cheap battery on Amazon which lasted about a year.  Took it to Walmart far a new one.  At the store I weighed it.  It weighed 3 lbs less than the Walmart battery. 

Thanks Tom. I'm purchasing the OEM battery at a discounted price through Amazon.

[Hook#3287]

Tony C, based on your recommendation, I purchased the Everstart at the Ware Walmart.

They have several on hand.

I like that it fits in the center cubby and can be directly hooked up to the USB outlet.

On testing it, I noticed it draws recharge current both while bike is on and off.

While I don't feel that's an issue, I'm going to unplug it while not riding.

I bought my bike used so I can't actually claim the battery is OEM, but I believe it to be.

I thought it was toast this past spring, but it turned out to be a loose +cable nut.

Now it's not a major concern, got the Everstart as backup.

Attaching the positive clamp is easy if you remove the side panel, which is also easy if you open the bag door.

Thanks for the recommendation.

[Tony C.]

Hey Hook! I charged up the jump stater when I got home and placed it in the Tour Pack. I probably won't use the bike to keep it charged. The instructions said to check it once per month and charge as necessary.

Based on information posted in another forum, I didn't think the jumper clips would be able to be attached to the 2018+ GW battery w/o extending the battery posts. We're you also able to attach to the negative post?

The new battery was scheduled to arrive on Tuesday SEP 26th. It actually got delivered this afternoon. I'll install it this weekend. Based on the WX report and our schedule next week, I probably won't be able to take a ride until next Friday. Fingers crossed for good WX that day.