Not enough battery power to start this morning

[SVonhof]

I will admit, I am a fair weather rider. When the rain started, I stopped riding and then it hasn't been raining in quite a while, but I don't like to ride to work when it's in the 30's (F) as I go to work early, so it has been just over 3 months since I have ridden the bike. And of course, it wouldn't start this morning. I kinda expected that and had thought about starting it a few times in between to let it run and charge the battery but I didn't.

I have an 09 and there was still some juice, just not enough. I have never used a trickle charger, but it seems like maybe I should get one since this is normal for wintertime for me (have been riding since 1996).

The biggest question is, should I buy a new battery or should I try to charge the one I have? I only have around 12,000 miles on the bike.

[tjpgi]

I would say if the battery is original, replace it , attach a pig tail to your battery, and use a trickle charger when the bike is at prolonged rest or during extreme temps. I have a 09 with the original battery that always is connected to a trickle charger when not in use.

[gPink]

new w/battery tender

[Conrad]

new w/battery tender

+3

[SVonhof]

So, is there a preferred brand for battery tenders/float chargers?

I probably should have invested in one years ago, but never have. I have a plug right near the bike and can hang it on the wall or make a shelf for it that would be perfect.

[connie1]

I'll make a vote the other way.  Pull the battery and clean up the contacts , put it on a charger, re install, apply pigtail and tender.
 The battery is not by any means old.  A little care and attention will likely perk it up.  ( kinda like SO) 
If it doesn't perk up then change it.
A Honda tender with desulphating function is what I use. ( Seems to breath a little more life into batteries.)

[Conrad]

So, is there a preferred brand for battery tenders/float chargers?

I probably should have invested in one years ago, but never have. I have a plug right near the bike and can hang it on the wall or make a shelf for it that would be perfect.

I use this one.



~$25 at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362150857&sr=8-1&keywords=battery+tender

[Rhino]

Depends on how old the battery is and how long it sat discharged. Mine's 3 years old, never used a tender and it still starts the bike no problem and shows 14.1v. The only time it sat for an extended period was when I was overseas for 3 months last year. Got home and it started the bike right up and showed 14.1v.

[motocopter]

I use this one.

Same here on two bikes. My 2K8Z1K battery will be five years in a few months and still starts the beast when called to duty.  That battery is only a fraction in size to the C14 battery.

[thundermax]

Ditto on the tender Jr. at Amazon. Ditto on working with the old battery first.

Right now I am doing this on my aunt's car. Rarely used, battery went flat. Thing about a tender is they require at least 3 volts existing in the battery before they will begin working. Connected to aunt's battery, just got flashing red signal. Then I put the old fashioned charger on it for a few hours, built up the volts, re-connected the tender Jr., and it worked. After a few days went over and it was still charging, ie, red signal still on constantly. Disconnected and the battery had enough volts to start the car. Rode around about an hour, came back, parked the car, re-connected tender Jr. and it continued charging. So now if tender Jr. never changes to constant green signal, most likely the battery will never fully charge and something has gone bad in it and needs to be replaced.

So if after connecting tender Jr. and your battery never reaches constant green signal, your c14 battery needs to be replaced.

I am not a technician but this is what I would do. To err on the careful side, buy a new battery after this.

[SVonhof]

So, maybe I should get one of these instead:

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0128-Plus-Charger/dp/B00068XCQU/ref=sr_1_6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1362156147&sr=1-6&keywords=battery+charger

Double the price, but I may be able to save the current battery with it if it doesn't have 3v in it.

[thundermax]

There you go! Perfect for every man's garage! Thanks for the post!

[Conrad]

So, maybe I should get one of these instead:

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0128-Plus-Charger/dp/B00068XCQU/ref=sr_1_6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1362156147&sr=1-6&keywords=battery+charger

Double the price, but I may be able to save the current battery with it if it doesn't have 3v in it.

I would have bought this one if I didn't already have a couple of standard chargers.   

[jamiemac]

This place sell an AGM battery and a free maintainer/charger for 66 bucks, shipped.

http://www.impactbattery.com/ytx14-bs-moto-classic-agm-yuasa-replacement.html

[SVonhof]

This place sell an AGM battery and a free maintainer/charger for 66 bucks, shipped.

http://www.impactbattery.com/ytx14-bs-moto-classic-agm-yuasa-replacement.html

Crap. I need it faster than they could get it to me...  Great find though.

[TallyRex]

Also, just running the engine for 5-10 minutes is not a good idea to charge the battery.  You'd need to ride the bike for at least 20 miles to get the moisture out of the fuel.  I've got 3  bikes and a battery tender is always hooked up to one of them and I change frequently.  A battery will last longer if it is kept close to or at full charge.

[maxtog]

+3

+4

"Battery Tender Jr."

[maxtog]

I'll make a vote the other way.  Pull the battery and clean up the contacts , put it on a charger, re install, apply pigtail and tender.   The battery is not by any means old.  A little care and attention will likely perk it up.   If it doesn't perk up then change it.  A Honda tender with desulphating function is what I use. ( Seems to breath a little more life into batteries.)

I agree he can try, but it really *is* is pretty old condition now.  A 4 year old battery that is left to sit for months in the cold, dead, multiple times, is probably sulfated badly enough to warrant replacement.

[connie1]

Cold to a battery is -25C. Old for a battery  is 10 years.  A quality battery should last at least 8 years if it's never allowed to drain. If it sits completely drained at that kind of temp the acid will freeze and it will be hooped.  If he had enough juice to turn the bike over it wouldn't have been frozen.  You can tell a frozen battery because it is bulged to the sides. Once it's bulged there is no way to get it going again as there is internal damage.  A frozen battery will only produce as many volts as there are cells that aren't damaged.  They usually produce nothing for amperage.
It costs very little to try to get a battery going again.  It's a complete loss if you just go buy a new one.

I've gained a lot of battery knowledge by having about thirty different vehicles and equipment that each have a battery.  I've had quad batteries that have lasted upwards of 12 years,  parked all winter, enduring -45 C temps.  My current batteries in my 140 hp JD are 13 years old and test as good as new ones, but that machine is started just about daily.  Never let a battery drain and it will last a long time.
As far as desulfating goes, I've actually brought a couple of batteries back from almost dead by repeatedly running them through desulfating cycles.  Doesn't always work but occasionally it does.  It doesn't hurt to try.

[VirginiaJim]

How do you run a battery through a desulfating cycle?