Battery Shelf Life

[Joseph Shaw]

I had allowed my 2019 ST to go unridden during most of July, and when I tried to crank it the first part of August, it would not crank without assistance from battery charger/starter. I charged the battery overnight, and it still did not want to start without assistance. I ordered a new battery, which arrived while I was away on vacation. When I returned home, I went out to change the battery out, and on a whim, attempted to start it, and it fired right up, and has been starting every since with no problem. I hope to take several trips over the next three months or so, and am trying to decide whether to proceed with changing the battery out, or continuing with the old battery until I have further trouble. I am inclined to change it out, as I have the new battery, and I hate the idea of it failing on a cool morning while on a trip.

Does anyone have any thoughts about whey the battery did not appear to hold a charge initially? Would you be inclined to save the new battery and get all that you can from the old one, or would you go ahead and change out the four year old original battery?

JAS

 

[bimota]

if i had a new one in my hand i would change it, it would be my luck parked up somewhere with the old one on the bike new one at home and it died

rob

 

[RCinNC]

Why not take the old battery to someplace like Advance Auto Parts and have it load tested? That way you can actually confirm it's status, and you'll have better information on whether to trust it or not.

 

[TenereGUY]

What rc said and bring a NOC0 jump pack with you. But if you ordered the new one and can't take it back... what are you going to do with it? I would use it if that were the case.

 

[AusTexS10]

I had allowed my 2019 ST to go unridden during most of July, and when I tried to crank it the first part of August, it would not crank without assistance from battery charger/starter. I charged the battery overnight, and it still did not want to start without assistance. I ordered a new battery, which arrived while I was away on vacation. When I returned home, I went out to change the battery out, and on a whim, attempted to start it, and it fired right up, and has been starting every since with no problem. I hope to take several trips over the next three months or so, and am trying to decide whether to proceed with changing the battery out, or continuing with the old battery until I have further trouble. I am inclined to change it out, as I have the new battery, and I hate the idea of it failing on a cool morning while on a trip.

Does anyone have any thoughts about whey the battery did not appear to hold a charge initially? Would you be inclined to save the new battery and get all that you can from the old one, or would you go ahead and change out the four year old original battery?

JAS

Like others have said, likely best insurance is to use the new one. When you said you charged it overnight, was that with a legit charger or a trickle maintenence charger like many use while the bike sits? If a trickle charger, it may have just taken a lot longer to build up the CCA this beast likes. You have the new one, so I'd use it and reduce the worry. Mine only gets out of the stable about once or twice a week, so I leave it on the maintainer when not riding; mine's also a 2013 I picked up in early 2020 and I have no idea if the original owner ever replaced it, but it keeps cranking along. With that unknown, I won't plan on an extended trip without replacing it; at 76, I'm not into surprise roadside maintenance.

You're over in the SE which is what I understand is some good riding, so change the battery and enjoy.

 

[Joseph Shaw]

Thanks for all of the replies....yes, I think I will go ahead and change it. I had charged it with a regular charger. I do plan to hook up a way to easily keep a trickle charger when not using it. I look forward to riding this fall.....it has been very hot this summer and I have waited until cooler weather.
JAS

Like others have said, likely best insurance is to use the new one. When you said you charged it overnight, was that with a legit charger or a trickle maintenence charger like many use while the bike sits? If a trickle charger, it may have just taken a lot longer to build up the CCA this beast likes. You have the new one, so I'd use it and reduce the worry. Mine only gets out of the stable about once or twice a week, so I leave it on the maintainer when not riding; mine's also a 2013 I picked up in early 2020 and I have no idea if the original owner ever replaced it, but it keeps cranking along. With that unknown, I won't plan on an extended trip without replacing it; at 76, I'm not into surprise roadside maintenance.

You're over in the SE which is what I understand is some good riding, so change the battery and enjoy.

 

[AusTexS10]

Thanks for all of the replies....yes, I think I will go ahead and change it. I had charged it with a regular charger. I do plan to hook up a way to easily keep a trickle charger when not using it. I look forward to riding this fall.....it has been very hot this summer and I have waited until cooler weather.
JAS

Mine has a fused SAE tap connected to the battery and the end cable tied to the frame about 4-6" below the seat/tank juncture that the previous owner had installed, saving me the trouble. Easy to plug/unplug with a matching connector on the trickle charger. Some with dash inlay panels surface mount one up there. Either way, easy-peasy and you'll thank yourself. Enjoy the ride.
Something like this:

Amazon.com

 

[OldRider]

What brand of battery do you have in the bike now and what brand did you buy? Batteries are like a box of chocolates.

 

[MattR]

I would put the new one on and then do a long charge of a few days of the old one with an optimate charger. My old battery recovered after a few days and I keep it as a spare


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk