Still running original battery

[DarkSideR]

I inherited my Valkyrie from my father who was the 2nd owner. He got the bike a year old with 4,000 miles on it. At that time he checked the battery to find it was the OEM battery and was working fine. Fast forward to 2013 when I inherited the bike. He told me to keep an eye on the battery whereas it was still the original. Fast forward to today. My YXT14-BS YUASA battery is just now starting to fade. My bike is 15 years old with 57k on her, and can confirm that I am still running the original battery!

I think I will replace it with a... YUASA of course.

[The emperor has no clothes]

  My 01 Blue & White is on its 3rd.

[Jack B]

My battery from my 98 lasted a long time after 6 years I replaced it and it sat for a year or so and then when in my lawn tractor for another couple of years.

[SirLancelot]

Mine lasted 11years from new about 40,000 miles, never used an optimiser or trickle charger. Replaced with another Yousa but it only lasted a couple of years. Thought I'd bought the same model but now know OE batteries are not the same as he ones we buy!

[Bighead]

My 97 is only on her 2 nd battery to date and no don't keep it on charge or anything of the sort.

[vanagon40]

I replaced the OEM battery on my 2001 Standard in 2011, only because it was 10 years old. I put the battery in my riding mower and it was still working fine when I sold the mower a year or two later. I am still on my second battery, a Yuasa YTX14H-BS, 5 years later. My bike has always started in the spring after a two or three month hibernation, never with a charger (but I do keep the bike and battery at or above freezing in my garage).

[h13man]

I inherited my Valkyrie from my father who was the 2nd owner. He go the bike a year old with 4,000 miles on it. At that time he checked the battery to find it was the OEM battery and was working fine. Fast forward to 2013 when I inherited the bike. He told me to keep an eye on the battery whereas it was still the original. Fast forward to today. My YXT14-BS YUSA battery is just now starting to fade. My bike is 15 years old with 57k on her, and can confirm that I am still running the original battery!

I think I will replace it with a... YUSA of course.

Check the date code on the battery? Mine is on its 2nd. and its 10 yr. old and holding 12.54 volts. I'm definitly keepind an eye on it. Viva Yuasa's!

[John Schmidt]

I don't keep a bike battery more than 4 years regardless of demonstrated condition and service. With my years of riding, in the past I've come to realize they will go south at the most inopportune time. Usually the middle of the night and in the middle of nowhere....and with no cell service. I hate long walks at 2:00am and for good reason. Imagine a full moonlit night and your elec. system has taken a dump, a bad battery has overstressed everything. It's a strange area to you, you're walking along and suddenly hear a gruff sound off to your right along with something crashing through the underbrush. So, do I change my shorts now or let them find me this way?  Turned out to be a big buck on the run with a couple poachers not far behind. The deer ran across the road in front of me and a moment later two guys came flying out of the woods in hot pursuit, one waved at me and both kept running. I decided to do likewise with thoughts of the movie "Deliverance" running through my mind.

[DarkSideR]

I don't keep a bike battery more than 4 years regardless of demonstrated condition and service. With my years of riding, in the past I've come to realize they will go south at the most inopportune time. Usually the middle of the night and in the middle of nowhere....and with no cell service. I hate long walks at 2:00am and for good reason. Imagine a full moonlit night and your elec. system has taken a dump, a bad battery has overstressed everything. It's a strange area to you, you're walking along and suddenly hear a gruff sound off to your right along with something crashing through the underbrush. So, do I change my shorts now or let them find me this way?  Turned out to be a big buck on the run with a couple poachers not far behind. The deer ran across the road in front of me and a moment later two guys came flying out of the woods in hot pursuit, one waved at me and both kept running. I decided to do likewise with thoughts of the movie "Deliverance" running through my mind.

Did you see the Seinfeld episode where Kramer wanted to see how far he could drive on empty? I'm tempted to see just how far the batter will take me.

[Led]

I LOVE Yuasa batteries!  I am willing to pay the dealership premium to get one......

I always get 7 to 8 years out of them!!

[Chrisj CMA]

I don't keep a bike battery more than 4 years regardless of demonstrated condition and service. With my years of riding, in the past I've come to realize they will go south at the most inopportune time. Usually the middle of the night and in the middle of nowhere....and with no cell service. I hate long walks at 2:00am and for good reason. Imagine a full moonlit night and your elec. system has taken a dump, a bad battery has overstressed everything. It's a strange area to you, you're walking along and suddenly hear a gruff sound off to your right along with something crashing through the underbrush. So, do I change my shorts now or let them find me this way?  Turned out to be a big buck on the run with a couple poachers not far behind. The deer ran across the road in front of me and a moment later two guys came flying out of the woods in hot pursuit, one waved at me and both kept running. I decided to do likewise with thoughts of the movie "Deliverance" running through my mind.

Did you see the Seinfeld episode where Kramer wanted to see how far he could drive on empty? I'm tempted to see just how far the batter will take me.

No matter how much extra strain it puts on your alternator?

[Gideon]

I bet those who replace their batteries every few years don't travel with a spare alternator in their saddle bags.

[John Schmidt]

I bet those who replace their batteries every few years don't travel with a spare alternator in their saddle bags.

Nope, but I have a spare that can be overnighted to me if needed. So far, so good....with the Valk anyway.

[Gavin_Sons]

I have replaced 3 batteries in 4 years. All auto craft from advanced auto. I'm  buying a yuasa tomorrow

[h13man]

Oops. Steel 211 made me do it.  

[h13man]

I don't keep a bike battery more than 4 years regardless of demonstrated condition and service. With my years of riding, in the past I've come to realize they will go south at the most inopportune time. Usually the middle of the night and in the middle of nowhere....and with no cell service. I hate long walks at 2:00am and for good reason. Imagine a full moonlit night and your elec. system has taken a dump, a bad battery has overstressed everything. It's a strange area to you, you're walking along and suddenly hear a gruff sound off to your right along with something crashing through the underbrush. So, do I change my shorts now or let them find me this way?   Turned out to be a big buck on the run with a couple poachers not far behind. The deer ran across the road in front of me and a moment later two guys came flying out of the woods in hot pursuit, one waved at me and both kept running. I decided to do likewise with thoughts of the movie "Deliverance" running through my mind.

You need live on the wide open prairie thus being able to see them deer and "rump rangers" sooner but to everything there is an excepton.

[cookiedough]

Here is my take on batteries:  Most only last 4-6 years on average, some cheaper ones like at batteries plus only have lasted me 2-3 years is all with very limited use just don't hold a charge.  I take mine out in November before too cold and store in basement putting on 1 amp trickle charger for a few hours during winter and once before putting it in the bike in March/April again.

I'll continue to buy Yuasa until they do not last at least 4-5 years.  I have bought one at walmart once and only lasted me 3 years.

However,   I have heard from others running newer Yuasa batteries they are NOT made like they use to be some 5+ years or longer ago NOT lasting like they should.  My guess made in china or mexico like everything else is made nowadays, NOT made in usa.

I have found that amazon.com has the cheapest price on the Yuasa batteries we need, so check there vs. spending 20-30 bucks more at a stealership.   Mine came with the lead acid battery packs that needing filling into the battery and charge up for a VERY long time for sure and do NOT buy one on the store shelf with the acid already in the battery UNLESS you know how long it has been on the store shelf.  Much over 6 months sitting on a shelf probably never fully charged just asking for trouble. 

[Gavin_Sons]

just ordered me a Yuasa YTX14H-BS  for 80 bucks. hope this one will last longer than the crappy advanced auto ones.

[RainMaker]

I still have the original battery from my Interstate but it's not in the bike anymore - I had taken it out about 5 years ago "just in case" and put it on my workbench to use for some other projects.  Fast forward to this spring - my Yuasa replacement battery took a nosedive  and lost a cell.  I checked and had 12+ volts on the old battery on the bench, so put it in the bike, started it up and rode around for a week or so with no issues.  But after posting about it, became convinced I was overstressing the alternator so put a new AGM battery in.  The original battery is back up on the bench - still over 12 volts showing and I trickle charge it every month or so just to keep it alive.

Replace the battery.

I bought a Duricell AGM at Batteries Plus.  This is the one I got https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/motorcycle/honda/gl1500-valkyrie/1500cc/2000/cyl10012

[Steve K (IA)]

I LOVE Yuasa batteries!  I am willing to pay the dealership premium to get one......

I always get 7 to 8 years out of them!!

Yes, Yes, Yes.     

Only get your Yuasa battery from a bike dealer.  I talked to the Mgr at a Batteries Plus after seeing a Yuasa on their shelf.  He told me a Yuasa battery at a battery store is not the same you get from a bike shop.
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