My original Yuasa battery on my 1500 Drifter went 9 years before I bought a new one. The first battery was still starting the bike fine, I was just getting a little nervous about its' age. I credit at least part of this long life to liberal use of a Battery Tender smart charger, especially during winter. I was just curious to see if any other owners had experienced such long battery life.
Smokey
don't know yet, one one summer and first winter.....but was told the battery was original, but I am going to take it out and look and see if I can tell.
The VN 1500 seems to have one of the best charging systems, perhaps that is part of the reason..
John.
As far as I can tell, I just replaced the original Yuasa in my in my '01. It was starting to give me some intermittent problems.
anyone know how to tell the age of the battery? I have a Yuasa that came in the bike and just wondering how old it really is.
Is it starting the bike OK?
Most batteries I've bought have some sort of markings on them as to when they were made, usually for warranty issues.
The only batteries that normally come with a date code are the ones sold retail. The OEM batteries generally do not have a code or even any real warranty. There is no date code on the battery I replaced, but there is on the one I bought. I bought the bike from an idiot who tried to destroy it and then parked it in has father in law's barn for 4 years, until I bought it and started the restoration process. When I got the bike home, the battery was stone dead. I charged it for about an hour, and it came back enough to let me get the engine running. I checked the charging system output, and I had 14.9V at idle. charged it over night and haven't had to do anything with it, other than pull it out in the winter, since 2009, when I brought the bike home. I experienced a little early warning a few times this last Fall. Hit the starter, and get "solenoid chatter", hit it again and it fires right up. I put the next size larger (in capacity) in about 2 weeks ago. The original is a 16, I put in a 20..same case size, same sealed AGM battery...If this had been an H-D, there is no way it would have lasted since July of 2000, when the bike was built!
no issues with it yet was just trying to figure out when things were installed or done on the bike, the PO had no records of these things, so I want to start as of this summer being a new year. So was just wondering and asking......
There is the "use them until they fail date", and the "recommended SHOULD replace them date". Both vary based upon battery type, climate, use, etc.
Average climate, use and maintenance- AGM Sealed batteries should be replaced every 4-5 years. They can last longer if you gamble. Conventional batteries should be replaced every 2-3 years, but usually last longer. I replace mine at 5 years unless something tells me I need to do it sooner. If I end up with a couple of discharged battery situations... forgot to turn on the tender, left lights on, etc... I replace the battery anyway. I've been in the middle of no place with a dying battery - ridden without lights to get to a lighted area to park etc. Not my idea of fun.
I have been unpleasantly suprised by the sizing on some of the AGM batteries, (not on my drifter)..being an old man I was bought up on batteries that had walls about 3/8" thick, the new batteries have a case that is about 1/32" thick because that is all they need..until you have a tight fit and have to 'persuade' the battery to fit, then the outer casing just splits.
John.
I might have to change my name to jophn..I have big hands and my fingers keep hitting the O and P buttons at the same time..
OEM FTZ16-BS - 78 months (ridden 60 miles daily)
CTX16-BS - 21 months
YTX16-BS - 46 months
All 16 Amp
Have a Yuasa YTX20CH-BS (as recommended on this forum, 20 A, 270ccA) arriving this week . Expecting to get more than 5 years of it. Also have trickle charger wired to the bike now. :)
I keep mine on the battery tender over the winter, and I try to start it and let it run about every 3-4 weeks.
Last year I start a post about problems with cold starting with my bike. tested the battery and it tested fine. If I put a charge on it I could start it in the cold most days. about 40F no issues. This is the original batter and this year I am going to replace it. cant hold out anymore :)