I think my volt meter just paid for itself

[Chrisj CMA]

I had a PGR Mission in Pensacola today.  On the way home the volt meter was only registering 13.5 volts while running even though at start up it immediately hits 14 just as always.  I needed gas after the return trip so I stopped at the corner before turning in to home and when I turned off the bike the volt meter quickly dropped to 11 volts.  stayed there until I got home then it was near 12 but considerably lower than it usually sits while off. 

The new battery is getting its initial charge right now...

Without a volt meter I would not know anything was amiss since the bike starts and runs just fine.  But, this is exactly why I added a volt meter on......early detection hopefully avoids being stranded on the side of the road. 

Hopefully its just the battery, the alternator seems to have good output, but I have one of those ready if needed as well.

[FLAVALK]

Good save! I've been stranded with a dead battery before ...and it sux. The time mine died, everything was fine with no indication of a weak battery, turned it off and went into a restaurant for lunch, came out 30 minutes later and...click...click..nothing. The big girl is a bit had to bump-start by youself on flat ground. 

As we all know, motorcycle batteries rarely give notice before the fail completely.

[Cruzen]

Several years ago I rode a Magna I had at that time up to the Honda dealers service door and went in to schedule some work I needed to have done on that bike.  After going over all I had wanted to get done and agreeing upon the work date I got back on the bike and it wouldn’t start.  I walked back into the service manager’s office and told him I needed to add a new battery to that list.  He started to write it down and I told him I would need it a bit before the other work was done.  When he realized what I was talking about he said he believed it was the first time a battery had died on their door step. 

Since at least one of my two bikes gets ridden every day the batteries last a long time.  I recently replaced a bike battery that was 5 years old.  The bike continued to start but was sluggish.  When I went to take the old battery out I found that one of the cables was loose.  Maybe it would have lasted longer but why push my luck.

The trip is short,
enjoy the ride,
Denny

[Chrisj CMA]

I recently replaced a bike battery that was 5 years old.  The bike continued to start but was sluggish.  When I went to take the old battery out I found that one of the cables was loose.  Maybe it would have lasted longer but why push my luck.

I agree.....this battery is 3 years old and I am sure I could get some more time out of it, but at what cost.  Wear on the alternator is expensive.  Risk sudden failure?  Nope, not me.....I think 3 or 4 years is all a bike battery is expected to deliver.  If you get much more than that without ill consequences you are lucky and I dont rely on luck too much these days

[fudgie]

I recently replaced a bike battery that was 5 years old.  The bike continued to start but was sluggish.  When I went to take the old battery out I found that one of the cables was loose.  Maybe it would have lasted longer but why push my luck.

I agree.....this battery is 3 years old and I am sure I could get some more time out of it, but at what cost.  Wear on the alternator is expensive.  Risk sudden failure?  Nope, not me.....I think 3 or 4 years is all a bike battery is expected to deliver.  If you get much more than that without ill consequences you are lucky and I dont rely on luck too much these days

You right Chris. I think I'll go out this weekend and get a new battery. its been since 04 or 05 since I had a new battery in it. The old one went fast!

[F6Mark]

nice looking voltmeter, where did it come from?  I need one- my battery is 9 years old!  I gotta put that at the top of my list.
Supposed to rain both days this weekend here in MD.

[MOODY]

Last replaced my batt. on my 97 Std. in Feb 2000, w/ interstate gell, still running strong, have even inadvertantly left lights on for over an hour and still started right up

[Chrisj CMA]

Mark....Im not sure which meter you like.......the electronic one Steamer has or my analog one.  I got that on from Overtons, a boating catalog.  I figure if its for a boat, certainly nothing a bike could do to it should hurt it


I make the wooden dash, just cause

[¿spoom]

Same here, been stranded once and limped home with all fuses except ENG. pulled due to the usual Hitachi alt. field winding failures. Went with a rewound alternator after the second failure and added the Kuryakyn LED voltmeter (arrow in pic). I'm not a real fan of Kury stuff, but it's a good piece and gives you the info without reading glasses in case that's an issue