Stock Battery lasted...20 months?

[jscon2011]

I just replaced my stock battery after owning a new concours14 for 20 months

I realize this is a very short battery life and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me why it was so short.

I was getting a very slow turn over when I tried to start it and when it did start it would flash "low battery" and the Volts would be way down (around 11V). After about two minutes the volts would be high again, in the 13's. But as soon as I killed the engine the warning would flash again.

I took the bike and battery to autozone after riding it for 30 minutes and had them test it, they said the battery was bad and I replaced it. How do I avoid another $100 battery two years from now?

- I kept the bike in storage with the battery on a trickle charger this winter and the last.
- I installed an aftermarket stereo that used a very small amount of battery when the bike was not running.

Thanks!

[JerBear]

Are you using a trickle charger or a battery tender?  Trickle chargers work well but batteries need to have charge/discharge cycles to get the maximum life out of them.  Battery tenders artificially create that type of cycle to extend the batteries life.  It is also possible that you battery was poorly made and was still in the warrantee period so the dealer should have replaced it for free. I must have gotten lucky because I'm still using the original battery from my 08 bike (bought Aug of 08) and while I know I'm on borrowed time at this point, it still starts her right up.

[aspire61]

Even though I'm gonna get ribbed for it- here's my advice: toss the trickle charger with the "made in china" voltage regulator in the garbage.

just my $.02  mat

[jscon2011]

Are you using a trickle charger or a battery tender?  Trickle chargers work well but batteries need to have charge/discharge cycles to get the maximum life out of them.  Battery tenders artificially create that type of cycle to extend the batteries life.  It is also possible that you battery was poorly made and was still in the warrantee period so the dealer should have replaced it for free. I must have gotten lucky because I'm still using the original battery from my 08 bike (bought Aug of 08) and while I know I'm on borrowed time at this point, it still starts her right up.

I am using a Schumacher MC-1 Trickle Charger 6 / 12V for Motorcycle Batteries. I didn't even think the battery would be covered - I should look into that and see what Kawasaki says... though I did call them and they were the ones who told me to go get it checked oddly enough.

[rcannon409]

I wonder......stereo uses some juice at all times.....Not much, but enough to fool the charger into thinking the charge cycle is never complete?   

I've used the battery Tender jr on my 08 c14.  The bike was two years old when I got it, in 2010. No idea if its the original battery, but I've not replaced one.

The only time its not plugged in is when I'm riding it.

[jscon2011]

I wonder......stereo uses some juice at all times.....Not much, but enough to fool the charger into thinking the charge cycle is never complete?   

I've used the battery Tender jr on my 08 c14.  The bike was two years old when I got it, in 2010. No idea if its the original battery, but I've not replaced one.

The only time its not plugged in is when I'm riding it.

Hmm... well, I also work on a tugboat so I'm gone for 14 days each month. The bike just sits for those 14, do you think perhaps I should put the battery on the trickle during those two weeks?

[sailor_chic]

Nope, put it on a Battery Tender Jr.    Both my bikes sit for 21+ days at a time, for similar reasons, and they both are on tenders when Im not riding them.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423797328&sr=8-1&keywords=battery+tender+jr

[lather]

I used to be a schumacher fan but recently threw two of them away
And bought battery tender jrs. The older shumacher was not keeping the maintence free batteries charged. I boight a new solid state and it ruined a new battery withen 6 weeks due to overcharging.

[stevewfl]

before you owned the bike 20 months, that battery was around a lot longer.

when I buy new bikes I usually toss the battery that came with it fairly quickly.

[maxtog]

Nope, put it on a Battery Tender Jr.   

+1 !

Battery Tender Jr. is great.  Love mine

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=12396
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=2128
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=11636.0
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7745

[TallyRex]

Hmm... well, I also work on a tugboat so I'm gone for 14 days each month. The bike just sits for those 14, do you think perhaps I should put the battery on the trickle during those two weeks?

There is no downside to leaving the battery tender connected, so why wouldn't you?  There is parasitic battery drain when the bike is not in use.

[UhOh]

How do I avoid another $100 battery two years from now?

You buy a $150 battery and maintain it every 2 weeks, or full time your choice, in the non-riding season.
Analysis is based on: $100 for a battery is darn cheap.

[Conrad]

I just replaced my stock battery after owning a new concours14 for 20 months

I realize this is a very short battery life and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me why it was so short.

I was getting a very slow turn over when I tried to start it and when it did start it would flash "low battery" and the Volts would be way down (around 11V). After about two minutes the volts would be high again, in the 13's. But as soon as I killed the engine the warning would flash again.

I took the bike and battery to autozone after riding it for 30 minutes and had them test it, they said the battery was bad and I replaced it. How do I avoid another $100 battery two years from now?

- I kept the bike in storage with the battery on a trickle charger this winter and the last.
- I installed an aftermarket stereo that used a very small amount of battery when the bike was not running.

Thanks!

Where are you reading the voltage levels from, the dash? What are the levels with the replacement battery?

[VirginiaJim]

I have NEVER used a battery tender/charger of any sort and my batteries have gone 3+ years.  The first battery (stock) went 3.5 years and I replaced it because I was going across country.  My current battery is still going strong after close to 5 years.  I bought it from Murph when he was carrying them.  I don't think he carries them now and I don't remember the brand name but it's the one with two + and two - terminals..and it's yellow.  For some reason the terminals get loose on this bike and can cause charging issues (looks good from the dash voltage display).  I tend to check them at every oil change.

[Conrad]

I guess that I'm pressing my luck then as I still have the original battery in my '08 C14 (purchased 5/09) and I've never had even a hint of an issue. I use a BT Jr when the bike sits for more than a couple of days unridden and while the bike takes it's long winters nap. I also remove the battery once a year and clean up the terminals and make sure everything is nice and tight when I reinstall it.

[stevewfl]

you all have better luck than me, thats for sure! my car batteries don't even last as long as some of you are reporting 

[sailor_chic]

Steve, we have the Florida heat to deal with, and that is rough on the car batteries.

[stevewfl]

Steve, we have the Florida heat to deal with, and that is rough on the car batteries.

+1

Yup, my high end batteries  last a wee longer here than they do for me in Phoenix, AZ and much less than they lasted when i lived in the Blue Ridge MTNs for sure 

[jscon2011]

There is no downside to leaving the battery tender connected, so why wouldn't you?  There is parasitic battery drain when the bike is not in use.

Well I live in an apartment and don't have a garage so when my bike is on the tender it has to be at a friends place that isn't close... Otherwise I would. But perhaps I'll take the battery out every two weeks and tend it that way

[jscon2011]

Where are you reading the voltage levels from, the dash? What are the levels with the replacement battery?

Yes the dash. With the new battery it is reading 14.1 pretty much all the time (I unplug stereo when I turn bike off now)