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Posted by kw-retrorider
- June 04, 2016, 05:47:54 AMAt the risk of incurring the wrath of the group, and prefacing this with "I know better".....
- Bought my 800 Drifter in late 2011 with 10K miles on it.
- In 2013, I pulled the battery out, to verify date and take it to Battery Warehouse for a load test. It was a Deka battery dated 2/2011. It load tested sat....so put it back in.
- It's still in and I have almost 26K miles on the bike now.
So I know this is overdue for replacement and I am flirting with disaster. It's a sealed battery, so it's not like I'm doing any maintenance. Don't even have the trickle hook-up on it. To date I guess I ride it enough and winter temps in MD between rides have not killed it. I don't lay the bike up in the winter...I ride when its at least 40 degrees F....about 3K a year.
The battery situation is worse on my W650...but I keep it on a trickle and can kick start it if things get bad.....I know, I know....what am I thinking?...but it speaks to battery life. I'm surprised too.
Posted by Troll
- June 03, 2016, 18:17:45 PMWhen I had H-Ds, it was almost every year...with the drifter, I've put in 2 in 6 years, but the first one was a cheapie that only lasted about 1 1/2 years.
Posted by Trall
- June 02, 2016, 22:42:37 PMI bought my 2001 Drifter 800 last October from the grandson selling for the original owner. The grandson did not know how old the battery was but it was always on a tender that came with the bike.
I looked but did not see a date code and for now my bike starts normal. I generally replace my car battery at 5 years if they make it that long to just to avoid the day I am stuck with a problem (which has happened more then once before adopting 5 year change). I am debating just putting a new battery in for the same reason but should I wait till it shows an issue first. Does anyone here just change the motorcycle battery every 3,4, or 5 years just to save an headache on the road?
I found this Yuasa on eBay for for $60 and debating to change as preventive or wait till there an issue? The ad says for Drifter 2004-2006 but it would/should all years-