Battery Replacement - Preemptive or wasteful?

[bluemoco]

I'm still running with the original battery in my 2004 M800.  It's six years old now, and it still seems to have ample cranking power.  I also keep the bike connected to a Battery Tender when in the garage (which includes about 5 months' storage over winter).  Now I'm wondering how long it'll be 'til I'm left stranded with a dead battery.  Generally, alll of my other powersports batteries last 3-4 years (PWC, boats, ATVs, etc.), and I think I'd like the peace of mind of a new battery in my Duc.

How long are your batteries lasting in your Monsters?  Think 6 years (and 11,000 miles) is too early for a new one?  I guess I'm just curious to see if I'm being overly paranoid about this.   

[ducpainter]

I've gotten 5 years out of a lead acid battery with no special treatment...

I'd run it till it doesn't have ample cranking power.

[Howie]

I changed my battery (an AGM like yours) after 5 years and a few months.  It still tested 100%, but the idea of trying to bump start the bike on a cold, rainy November night in NYC just isn't appealing to me.  Preventive or wasteful?  Up to you.

[Langanobob]

I have the original battery in my '04 M620, or at least I think it's the original.  Still going strong and until I read your post I never thought about changing it.  Now there are two of us who are overly paranoid - thanks a lot 

Seriously, I gave this some thought and the main reason I can think of for changing now is that you can do it in an orderly manner, checking prices and getting another  quality battery.  If your old battery craps out and it likely will within the year, you will probably have to run to Walmart or worse in more or less emergency mode and end up with a POS battery that will itself need replacing in a year or so.  So, I vote for changing it out soon.

[ducpainter]

Walmart is not the place to go for batteries.

They are junk.

[sbrguy]

if its working fine don't replace it, use it all this summer and if you want piec eof mind buy a new one while its instorage over tghe winter, the only time that bump starting really sucks is when its cold out and raining, the summer if its hotter is bad but not the worst thing.

good luck.  use it till it leaves you stranded and you need a jump start, seriously that is how long i used mine for.

[NAKID]

If you are concerned and want to replace it, look in Accessories and Mods. Someone is offering a much lighter Lithium replacement

[♣ McKraut ♣]

i've heard good things about odyssey if you want to be overly paranoid

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/

[BribieDuc]

I have a 2002 620 with 98,500k on the clock (all mine) and it still has the original battery. Used daily.