Battery life

[NighthawkVTX]

When starting this morning I noticed my Valk was a little sluggish turning over. It had been about 10 days since I had last ran it.
Just curious in what the average battery life is
Thanks

[old2soon]

            Similar situation on my 99 I/S with over a 100 G on the clock. Checked my records and found out it IS 7 years old. It's a Yuasa battery made in America. I am ordering a new battery. RIDE SAFE.

[Bighead]

I have had them Last 7-8 yrs and had them crap
Out at 6 months.

[Visseroth]

Typically 5 to 10 years, seems 6 to 8 is average high.
Don't run on a bad battery, it'll eat your alternator. Test it every year just to be sure you won't eat your alternator brushes.
I just put in a new AGM this year, my battery was at least 5 years old as it was the same one that was in it when I purchased the bike.

[cookiedough]

5-6 years tops.  I think this is my 5th year so pushing it and my voltage when fully charge is only reading 12.53 volts FULLY charged so is iffy.  Once dips below 12.50 volts is time to think about replacing since around 12.30 volts usually will not start my cycle or scooter, etc. 

fully charged should be when new I think around 12.80 volts on up. 

All my 5 cycle batteries are in that 12.50 to 12.65 volt range so will have hefty bill coming up replacing all 4-5 of them in next 1-2 years am sure.

[indybobm]

i have a theory that when the battery gets weak, it puts more stress on the alternator which makes it run hotter. Might be a cause for the wrinkled chrome on alternator covers.

[cookiedough]

i have a theory that when the battery gets weak, it puts more stress on the alternator which makes it run hotter. Might be a cause for the wrinkled chrome on alternator covers.

never thought of that, my alternator cover is wrinkly?   

the few batteries I have had to replace luckily have left me stranded at home in my garage trying to fire bike up and totally dead.  Although, on my scooter being the weakest voltage, last summer left me stranded 15 miles both times away from home, luckily close by to get it fired up again.

[..]

i have a theory that when the battery gets weak, it puts more stress on the alternator which makes it run hotter. Might be a cause for the wrinkled chrome on alternator covers.

Covers are plastic.

[John Schmidt]

I usually won't even try for more than 4 years, even if it appears to be working fine. To me it's cheap insurance. I don't like testing Murphy's Law; "if a battery is going to die it will do it at 3:00am, in the middle of nowhere, and no cell service available."

[mello dude]

I don't like testing Murphy's Law; "if a battery is going to die it will do it at 3:00am, in the middle of nowhere, and no cell service available."

My corollary to Murphy's Law.........



...... Mr Murphy was an optimist...  

[The emperor has no clothes]

i have a theory that when the battery gets weak, it puts more stress on the alternator which makes it run hotter. Might be a cause for the wrinkled chrome on alternator covers.

Covers are plastic.

Chrome plated plastic. I don't know if the theory of the alternator running harder is valid or not. But I do know that I put some of that heat blocking tape on the inside of my last cover and it's looking good still after 25k.

[Moonshot_1]

Been a few years...

Had a 99 Tourer. Daughter and SIL have it now.
Anyway, picked it up in 06. Had it 7 years before I changed the battery. Yuasa battery. Killed it dead 3 times over the years. Charged it back up and good to go.

It was the original, 13 year old, battery when I replaced it. Only replaced it because of the posts on the board about old batteries and alternators going bad. The thing would start the bike with no problem.

Was a difference in the start up with the new battery. Much quicker starts for sure.

But the old battery was 13 years old and going strong. 

[Jess from VA]

My batteries sit on Battery Tenders, and last a long time.

But when it consistently begins taking extra cranks to start (all other things being equal), I put a new one in.  (And buy a new one for the shelf (indoors); with the acid on the side, they are not getting old)