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Author
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Topic: Average battery life (Read 4642 times)
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madscottx
Newbie
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Posts: 9
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I bought my 99 F4 in August 2001 from the original owner. At that time, the bike hadn't been ridden for a while and the owner provided a new battery with the purchase. With the onset of colder weather, I've been diligent in cranking up the bike every few days, but today it wouldn't crank. After push starting the bike and letting it run for a while, the battery isn't holding a charge.
Don't batteries typically last longer?
What is the warranty period for new batteries? Since I don't have the receipt, my guess would be 12 months.
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sargeek1975
Sr. Member
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Posts: 385
2000 F4 Silver/Red
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My "guess" would be this: It would have been better to have just left the bike alone and not started it at all than to have started it every couple of days and then shut it off after a few minutes. It takes a long while to actually charge a battery. Starting it every few days and letting it sit and idle probably ran your battery right down.
And as far as I know it takes a long time for a battery to actually lose it's charge. Unless you are in extreemly cold weather ( below freezing? ) for weeks/months on end it should keep a decent charge.
Case in point: When I left for the Navy in February of 95 I put my 750 in my girlfriends garage in Ct. Two and a half years later when I came home on leave in the summer I decided to pull it out. Just for shits and giggles I decided to see if it would start. On the third push on the starter it came to life. I hadn't even drained the gas tank or anything. Just rode it in there and set it on the center satnd. Two and a half years later after a couple winters it started.
I would go to Walmart and get a charger. Charge the battery and you should be fine. Then if you feel the urge just charge it once a week.
But if after charging it it still won't hold a charge you obviously would need a new battery.
Do bikes charge the battery with an alternator like cars do? Or do they charge them differently? Maybe it's not getting charged when the bike is running?
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NeverFinished
Newbie
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Posts: 33
If it ain't broke...of course it is!!
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I'd agree with the geek. It takes a long time for a battery to recover after a start, and running at idle RPM's doesn't result in much juice from the alternator (notice how the HI beams go dim when you stop). For data: I disassembled my 3 year old bike (original battery) for 3 months. On reassembly it had plenty of juice to reprime the fuel lines and start the bike. On another occasion it was idle for 2 months in freezing weather. Started fine. A battery in good condition doesn't need weekly charging.
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Danielh
Full Member
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Posts: 170
I'm a llama!
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I have a few sheets of corugated (?) cardboard under mine. But I'm in GA. I am riding to work tomorrow morning 
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hondatech
Justin
Administrator
Sr. Member
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Posts: 428
Jeffy sent me!
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Batteries usually go about 3 years, but I have one in my 600s, no, it's in my 900 now... Well, it's in one of my bikes, anyhow, it's 5 years old and going strong. Like a few others have said, your battery is dead because you go out and start your bike without riding it. That is, one of the worst things in the world you can do to a bike. It's terrible. It loades the spark plugs, it cleans the protective layer of film off your cylinder walls, and it causes conensation that can form in a bunch of different places and start corroding from the inside out. And, as you've found out, it drains the battery. Motorcycles don't have generators like cars. They're charging systems are much smaller. A bike, or most bikes anyhow, doesn't start charging until up around 3000 rpm. At idle, all your doing is running the battery down. In fact, as far as the charging system is concerned, idling is the same as having the key on with out the engine running. Put a little stabilizer in your gas, maybe drain the carbs if you feel plucky and leave it alone until the weather breaks. I take the batteries out of my bikes about once every 4-6 weeks and throw them on the render for 4-6 hours, then put them back. That will keep them fresh just as long as possible.
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Justin
97 900RR
93/97 F3 Frankenbike
83 RZ 350
90 VTR 250
"Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer" -Twain
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Danielh
Full Member
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Posts: 170
I'm a llama!
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render? I got mine out today. I rode to work and back. I ate lunch while i was working so I could just go ride during my lunch break. I got it well over 3000 rpms.. Well, I wasn't looking at the tach much. I rode to my neighbors house about 1/4 mile from me without my helmet on. With the stock exhaust the engine sounds like crap. I have never not worn a helmet before. It sounds like its going to explode. I guess thats what it IS doing though.
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sargeek1975
Sr. Member
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Posts: 385
2000 F4 Silver/Red
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You just lost some cool points with the "no helmet" thing.............
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Danielh
Full Member
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Posts: 170
I'm a llama!
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And that is why?? It was down to the end of my street... in a neighborhood.
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Danielh
Full Member
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Posts: 170
I'm a llama!
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And even if you do.... dang... its a couple cool points....
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Pages: [1] 2
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my rear wheel is up on a stand but my front one is down.
i rode without helm once. just right down the block about 200 feet, and ONLY because i heard some weird noise with my helm on. so i took it off to see what it was. found out my chain was to loose... it was snagging on the sprocket teeth because it was moving sideways to much.
