When do you replace your battery?

[Fritz The Cat]

I have no idea how much life is left in the battery that was in the Fat Lady's bussom when I bought her. It's been two years now and I haven't had the slightest hint that the battery may be getting weak / approaching the end of it's life. She always spins fast and fires right up. In the past I've always replaced the battery when it gives me a sign (slow crank mainly). I was wondering how ya'll go about deciding it's time.   

[Daniel Meyer]

Here in Texas, I usually change bike batteries every 4 years, car/truck batteries, every 5. They tend to quit on weather changes with no real warning...and we have a lot of weather changes. The heat here eats them as bad as the Canadian cold will.

That said, I've had a couple that didn't last long enough to hit the schedule... 

[salty1]

The answers probably will be all over the place. Daniel's advise is reasonable in my estimation.  

[old2soon]

Don't know fer sure who was the LEAD culprit-the battery or the altenator. WHAT i do know fer sure is i replaced both of them. The day it all crapped out on me i had ZERO warning. Phatt Ghurl fired right up and all my electrical equipment was working fine. The lights and what not WEREN'T getting dim at idle-it all just took a crap about 40 miles from home. I got a brand new DRY Yuasa battery that i added the acid to and put on a trickle charger overnight. A-M A R S rebuilt altenator and that battery and i'm still happy. Again-ZERO warning-they just QUIT.  RIDE SAFE.

[scoot]

I have to agree with Daniel, I typically replace mine every 4 to 5 years. I do keep it on a tender in the bike during the winter months (while parked). I don't use a tender during the riding months, though. When I notice it not cranking good is the sign.

[Ricky-D]

No harm in keeping a dry spare on the shelf for that time when it's needed.

A dry battery is a lifetime deal, it'll never start getting old till you fill it with acid.

***

[Hoser]

Before a big trip, such as riding to Sturgis in 2005.  My battery was 7 years old at that point (bike built in May, 1998) and didn't want a failure out in the middle of nowhere.

If you use a battery tender or equivalent these Yuasa batteries have a very long life potential.  The current battery is the same 2005 replacement and a new one is in the box in the garage waiting to be activated when needed.  I'll bet there are a few here that have batteries 10 years old or better.

I'm a believer in my battery tenders...have them on all 3 bikes whenever they are in the garage.

I'm on my third battery in 12 years, but I've never used a tender.  Hoser

[Former BMW Guy]

4-5 years here as well.
More than that I think you are pushing your luck and on borrowed time
There should be a date code on your battery.

JP

[Oss]

its 10 yrs old now, found the receipt the other day

like rick the new one is in a box here in the house

thinking about putting it in before inzane as 2 yrs ago it was load tested at 80%

bike always spins right on 1st touch but my volt meter which is attached to my fog lites
shows its getting low as well, when running it is charging in the 1 green 2 green area

[bassman]

On a regular schedule....had one go bad, without any perceived warning, at an awkward time and would rather not deal with that again.....overly cautious I guess but a little piece of mind is good for ME - YOUR experiences and lifestyle may vary.

[Thrud]

Get a Battery Bug (if you can still find one).

[Brian]

For what its worth, I installed the Argus battery bug on my bike this past November on a battery put in service in 2006. The battery life in Nov. was shown to be 28%, the voltage has always been good and I have been using a battery tender the last 2 years. Just this month the battery life dropped to 16% still with voltage above 12 volts. Not wanting to push this battery anymore I activated a new Yuasa I had on the shelf, charged it and installed it. The battery bug is showing 100%.

The old battery never gave any signs of failing to spin this mill and it always started right up. The old battery is going in the lawn tractor here soon. I would rather have a failure here at the house than 100 miles from home.

It's your choice. I feel the battery bug was a good investment. It was purchased on sale thru the GWRR. I believe Wingstuff also has it.

[JaysGone]

Ive had my Valk for almost 3 years now and the YUSA battery age is unknown.
Its always read 12.4 on a max charge which is while not high. Has more then enough to always crank it over and start.
Ive had to change the battery much more with my Yamaha V-Twin.
I believe it has alot to do with the starter of the Valk being alot more efficient and having to do less work while starting up the Valk.

[Bone]

Bought my 98 Tourer in 2005 it had a Bikemaster battery. Like JaysGone's battery mine always showed 12.4. Replaced it in 2010 it sounded a little slow cranking on cold mornings. Living in a cold state (Mich) I kept the battery in the basement each winter.
Hope the Yuasa replacement works as well.

[JerryH]

Got 8 years on my Carquest AGM battery.  Going to replace it this spring (if that ever comes).

[Michigamme Man]

Battery tender is my secret - battery goes inside during the winter and stays on a battery tender until Spring.  1999 Interstate - original battery!!  Still checks out strong.

[fudgie]

Every 5, no matter what. When my 1st one went dead it gave no warning. So now every 5 yrs. Never on a tender and she never gets started nov-march.

[cookiedough]

Every 5, no matter what. When my 1st one went dead it gave no warning. So now every 5 yrs. Never on a tender and she never gets started nov-march.

Exact same concept but I am pushing my luck this will be my 5th or was it 6th year on the YUASA battery now so will be pushing my luck I think one time this year.  It still shows around 12.5 fully charged cooled down after charging so until I see on the voltmeter around 12.2 or 12.3,  I'll think I will keep it.  I think a fully charged new battery should be at least 12.8 or more if not mistaken.
This summer I will be looking for a dry celled Yuasa on sale to keep on hand just in case since pretty sure either this summer or next summer it will crap on me 50+ miles from home, NOT good!  My experience is they will die most likely all at once unexpectedly and not fire the bike, be totally dead.

[john]

after eleven years ...      ???
just because its been eleven years             

[MOODY]

Got 12 years out of Interstate brand, finally gave out and I replaced it w/ another Interstate, Hope to get as long

[BobB]

I bought my '98 Tourer on Labor Day 2007.  I had no idea as to the age of the YUASA battery.  Ran with it for two seasons.  I decided to be on the safe side and replace it with another YUASA for the 2010 season.  No issues to date, and actually both batteries hold a good charge.  I took advice from my Gold Wing riding buddies that go through batteries in two years.  It looks like that does not apply here. 

[salty1]

Amazon has YUASA batteries for the Valk on a 15% off special, total price about $60.