Battery Question. To replace or not?

[ShiftHappens]

Last September, I went away for 1 week and my bike sat. When I tried starting my 99 interstate, the battery would not turn over bike. I put on battery tender and all was well in a few hours. The battery in the bike was from prior owner, which I believe was purchased about 3 years ago (I have had the bike for 2 ½ years).  I'm not sure of the brand either as I have never had it out.

I bought a new Yuasa YTX14-BS from Amazon to have on hand as well as a Yuasa YUA1201501 Smart Shot Battery Charger that would provide an initial charge to the battery per manufacturer recommendations (1.4 amps). The battery tender did not have enough power for the initial charge and my other battery charger was too much.

I put the Yuasa charger on the battery and the old battery was easily able to get me through the fall no problem. It almost seemed it "fixed" the battery. I never had another issue with the battery. I left without a charger on for 10 days and the battery started the bike fine and was no issue and all the multi meter readings were good. I have kept the Yuasa charger on all winter and fully expect the battery will have no problem starting the bike right up after the winter thaw and salt is washed away.

I plan on going on an extended trip (5 weeks and about 9,000 miles) and wonder if I should change out the battery or just keep with the old battery. Since the one episode, I have had no trouble with it. I have not put the acid in the new battery, so it has an unlimited shelf life. I would be riding every day, so the battery should be charging.

I am leaning to just changing, but do not have any other needs for the discarded battery and don't want to replace prematurely. I would like to hear some thoughts on replacing the battery or not.

By the way, that Yuasa battery charger is sweet. I like it a lot. I also back feed the charger through the Power (cigarette) outlet via a SAE adapter, so I don't have to remove anything to put the charger on. That makes it way easier.

[Hoser]

I have carried a spare in my saddle bag before, for trips, have never needed it.  I don't bother with that if I'm not touring.  Hoser 

[gordonv]

That's a hard question. What is your comfort level?

If the bike is ridden regularly, which it will on a trip, I would figure that the alt would charge the battery fine.

If the battery wont hold a charge good enough to start the bike after a week, then I would replace the battery.

[Chrisj CMA]

battery over three years old...previous episode of problems...long trip...no brainer-I would change it...not sure about keeping a brand new battery on long term charging status though, hopefully its still a new battery

[hubcapsc]

My year-or-so old USA made YUASA recently cranked my bike
with one button push, after the bike sat through three weeks
with two snows and several 10 or 15 degree days.

A couple of times since I've had it, my Valkyrie has failed
to start because of the battery. I replaced the battery
both times.

I commute on the Valkyrie irregularly. When I am riding, it is
often someplace where I don't want the bike to quit running 



-Mike

[Michvalk]

I have left my Interstate setting for the whole winter (Nov to March) and had it start without charging the battery. I would replace yours before I went on any extended trips just because the old one failed after a week. May not be a bad battery, but, why take the chance?

[Ricky-D]

My year-or-so old USA made YUASA recently cranked my bike
with one button push, after the bike sat through three weeks
with two snows and several 10 or 15 degree days.

A couple of times since I've had it, my Valkyrie has failed
to start because of the battery. I replaced the battery
both times.

I commute on the Valkyrie irregularly. When I am riding, it is
often someplace where I don't want the bike to quit running 



-Mike

Cove Creek road...

***

[donaldcc]

  Replace it and forget about it.

[Patrick]

If you have removed and cleaned all the connections and have made sure the alternator was charging correctly, I wouldn't worry about it. Are you comfortable with push starting, just in case ?

[hubcapsc]

Cove Creek road...

197 north of Asheville. I see a Cove Creek road over near 441 with google maps,
it looks dirt too...

-Mike

[old2soon]

Iffin it were ME and it ain't me-it's you-but me would replace it prior to the trip.  Sides-you already have it available.  Do you REALLY wanna screw up your trip with the battery issue chippin away at the fun time??DO YOU????  Me ain't you but me leaving on a long trip would much rather be ridin then wrenchin.  Been there done it got the T-shirt and grease under the fingernails.    RIDE SAFE.

[da prez]

  FYI , I would check the battery by a load test. If it starts to break down ,  the alternator will have to work harder. Everyone knows that the alternator is cheaper and easier to put in. I have had a battery in my Kawasaki last for 12 years , but at the first sign of trouble on the valk , I will change it. 

                      da prez

[sandy]

For $11 you can buy MC jumper cables. They take up little room and then you can use the old battery on your trip. Riding charges the battery all day. No sitting dormant for the battery to fail. I've had 2 batteries in 11 years of owning my tourer. I ride daily and don't use a smart charger on it. The Gold Wing is ridden weekly and gets the CTEK 3300 plugged in for maintenance.