Battery bug and new battery question.

[Brian]

Hello all,
I decided to start another thread here. New battery activated and charged per the Yuasa directions. Battery installed in the bike, battery bug connected. Battery bug reading 100% for the battery life and voltage matched the Fluke meter reading. I connected the battery tender to the new battery as the weather was horrible. Bike set for a few days on the battery tender before I could take her out.

I took the bike out the other day, started and ran fine but the battery bug is now showing  battery life at 46%. What the crap? Had I not had the battery bug I would assume everything was okay.

Anyone on this board with experience that could share would be appreciated.

Thanks,

[Michvalk]

Sounds like you need to check and see if the alternator is working. Could be that you are just running off the battery

[Ricky-D]

Rip that "battery bug" crap off the bike and throw it away!

***

[BF]

I have a battery bug and haven't had any problems with it.  It does what it's supposed to do......but it's hard to read and I just can't see it. 

Planning to replace it with a volt meter in the near future. 

[Jess from VA]

This is one interesting review of the Battery Bug.  I do not know if it is representative, but ......

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3NR4UOU2LL1M9/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt/179-1572607-6903418#R3NR4UOU2LL1M9

I have Batter Tender Juniors on my two bikes 24 X 7 when not riding since '05 and '07 (and other bikes longer than that, now sold) (using the supplied pigtails and SAE plugs), and have never lost a battery or Battery Tender.  I did replace an original '99 Interstate Yuasa last year because it was taking 5-6 seconds to fire the bike, instead of the usual 2.  

I also keep a B.T. Plus on my car, because I only drive it about once a week (and changing that bastard out of the wheel well sucks large).

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S

[BF]

This is one interesting review of the Battery Bug.  I do not know if it is representative, but ......

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3NR4UOU2LL1M9/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt/179-1572607-6903418#R3NR4UOU2LL1M9

I have the same battery tender.  Good stuff.   

As for the Battery Bug, I haven't had any problems with the display crapping out like in that review, it's just that the display is dark, small and hard to read without putting my readers on.  If the display was backlite, it would be alot better.  The ability to simply read it is why I'm planning on replacing it. 

[Hoser]

They are all toys, all you really need is a voltmeter to keep track of your battery condition. Toys can be fun, though.     Hoser

[Jess from VA]

They are all toys, all you really need is a voltmeter to keep track of your battery condition. Toys can be fun, though.    Hoser

Not really Hoser, those Tenders extend battery life to at least double what you'd get without them, and pay for themselves over time, and the power draw is miniscule.  And the peace of mind in knowing that your battery is in top condition with almost no sulfating each time you pull out for a ride is worth something too. And if you do get an electrical symptom of some kind, you can be about certain it is NOT the battery.

Since the bikes have no battery light, I do agree that having an on board volt signal or gauge is also a good idea.

[Brian]

The battery tender junior is what I have been using for the last two years. Like Ricky -D I feel this  battery bug maybe a piece of junk. At any rate I can read the display, it is accurate to use as a voltmeter and it is backlit when the bike first starts,it even lights up when the garge light goes on. As for knowing how much life is left in the battery may be a load of crap.

I have compared the voltage reading of the bug against a digital Fluke a few times so I guess it will stay on the bike for now as a voltage meter only.

[Hoser]

They are all toys, all you really need is a voltmeter to keep track of your battery condition. Toys can be fun, though.    Hoser

Not really Hoser, those Tenders extend battery life to at least double what you'd get without them, and pay for themselves over time, and the power draw is miniscule.  And the peace of mind in knowing that your battery is in top condition with almost no sulfating each time you pull out for a ride is worth something too. And if you do get an electrical symptom of some kind, you can be about certain it is NOT the battery.

Since the bikes have no battery light, I do agree that having an on board volt signal or gauge is also a good idea.

I dunno, can't argue the point, to each his own and all that.  I am on my third battery since new, in 1999.  I think the fact that I ride a lot and keep my bike in the garage is a lot bigger factor.  I have never owned a battery tender. My old 1994 ford f150 is on it's fourth battery since new, 195,000 miles and 20 years ago. I do have a 12v/6v battery charger/jumper though, a good thing to have around.   Hoser

[vanagon40]

[T]hose Tenders extend battery life to at least double what you'd get without them . . . .

So if I got ten years service from my OEM battery (sans tender), it is your contention that I would have gotten at least 20 years if I had used a battery tender???

[Jess from VA]

[T]hose Tenders extend battery life to at least double what you'd get without them . . . .

So if I got ten years service from my OEM battery (sans tender), it is your contention that I would have gotten at least 20 years if I had used a battery tender???

Well, probably not (busted).  But I bet it would have lasted longer than it did.

Perhaps another issue, on this subject, is who gets to ride all Winter and who does not (or very little).  I do recall riding regularly all year at Maxwell AFB.  Not in MI or VA where a bike mostly (or completely) sits for a number of months every year.  Also, I have two bikes, and do not alternate every week or two, but about every three months (a bit of a storage issue).  

So I guess geography/weather affects my opinion on this to a degree.

[Brian]

Just thought I would update this thread by saying that I cycled the power on the bb by removing and re-attaching the battery lead. After the 30 second count down the bb reset to reading 100% battery life. So the 46% reading was indicating the start life after it cranked over. It never shows the idle battery life after that. It is suppsoe to show both readings. I plan to install a switch to manually cycle the bb after each start just to see what happens. No big deal seeing that I have switch already to go froma previous project.