[Guest]

Good evening everyone. So while my girlfriend is out with her friends for a "ladies night", I'm at home with a Guinness pondering life's mysteries...like how long does the Yuasa YB16AL-A2 battery typically last before it needs to be replaced. This battery is actually the original one that came with the 900CR back in '98! I've kept it on a Battery Tender every winter and the thing just keeps starting up every time. I can't help but wonder if the battery is getting ready implode any day now or if this is typical for a well cared for battery. I'll be having the valves on the Duc checked this weekend and figured it would be a good time to replace the battery as well. I wouldn't mind saving the $ though if I can expect some more life out of the old Yuasa. Does anyone have any hints on what I should look for to determine if the battery is about worn out? It did start to get a little corrosion on the negative terminal for the first time this winter, if that's any indication.

Cheers

and best regards,

Jeff

 

[Guest]

Re: Battery life question (Jeff H.)

you'll know when its ready to be replaced when the bike stops starting!

mine lasted 4 years (just replaced it) but it sat outside all winter, no tender.

eventually it got more and more difficult to start the bike, it would spin over more slowy and eventually give up. i had to use jumper cables once, and that was enough to say, "hey time for a new battery!"

Chris

 

[Guest]

Re: Battery life question (chris900ssie)

I've heard about 4-5 years is typical for a normally used and cared for battery. I just replaced the one in my '99 SS last month, it was never on a tender and occasionally the bike was not ridden long enough that the battery was totally discharged. All that abuse and it still lasted about 5 years. Since you've cared for yours substantially better than did I, it will likely last a lot longer. I wonder if Guiness has any stats for the longest a motorcycle battery has lasted?

 

[Guest]

Re: Battery life question (blueSS)

99 ST2- 45k miles,,,,original battery, on Tender always. Topped up with distilled water when needed. I've installed a relay to kill the headlight when starting..this helps the draw on the battery.
I understand that a battery will lose 1% of it's charge if not used/ or on a charger...so after 100 days...it's DEAD!!
BTW..my starter solenoid just went south and BCM has them on backorder, so I found one for an outboard motor that worked like a charm....$20.

 

[Guest]

Re: Battery life question (Jeff H.)

Jeff, the most important thing for battery health, as I learned one battery ago, is to use a battery tender when you will not be riding the bike for long periods of time. Also, it's a good idea to remove the battery to a warm place if the bike is to be stored in cool temps. Finally, the worst thing for a battery is any combo of going flat and/or cold temps.

Sounds like you have been doing everything right and shouldn't need to replace the Yuasa anytime soon.

 

[Guest]

Re: Battery life question (Jeff H.)

Jeff, I found out the hard way when a YB16AL-A2 Yuasa will die. The bike started fine, I rode a few miles to the gas station, turned off the bike, got gas, turned the key and nothing. It wouldn't even light the neutral bulb. It lived for several years and always on a tender when not in use. Mine must have sulfated and shorted out, but it died that fast. BTW, a batteries life is longer in cold climates than warm. I saw this on a chart from SAAB. I would guess the process slows in the cold, of course the cranking ability drops too, but supposedly the life is longer in cold.

 

[Guest]

Thanks to everyone for the advice and feedback! I dropped the Duc off at the shop today for the valve service and my wrench said he would run a check on the battery to see how much cranking it still had in it. I pretty much ride on the weekends, and have started topping off the battery with the B-tender before each weekend anyway, so maybe it'll be good for a little while longer. Good thing there's races on tv this Sunday, otherwise I'd be stuck doing yardwork the entire weekend...

Cheers

!

Jeff

 

[Guest]

my 99 900ss has 23,000 and is on the factory bat. never been on a battery tender. Still seems like new.