Battery Questions

[He Man]

My freinds 1098 (08 model, only  6000 miles). Was reading 11.3v and had trouble starting. Charged it up and it started up nicely. So i put it on a tender for a week around 5 weeks ago and put the bike away. A few days ago i started her up and it wouldnt turn over, just heard a relay click and thats it. Cant remember what the voltage was. Is it even worth bringing in the battery to get it load tested? or should I just get a new one?

Any recommendations on a new one?

[scduc]

So it's already 2+ years old, I thought I read somewhere that life expectancy was 5 years. I'd say go get one of the lighter speed-cell or shorai's

[He Man]

i dont think those are good choices for low maintence bikes since he only rides it once a week  when its above 60degrees.

[Howie]

If the battery was sitting for a long time sulfation has set in.  I would still have it load tested, just to be sure. Many shops will do this for free. Then I would get a new one anyway, particularly on an injected bike.

Shorai claims their batteries hold a charge for much longer than a lead acid battery.  If the claim is true your friend's bike sounds like a perfect candidate.

[sbrguy]

forget it and get a new battery, that fact taht the battery is going dead so fast means its gone.

i just got a new brutale and the thing with them now is that if the voltage isn't up to a certain level say 12.5 volts the bike won't even let you attempt to start, meaning no crank at all and that is at 12.5 volts you really need it up to something like 12.8 or so. and i was using a tender and ti would lose charge outside in 38F in 5 hours and it was a 1 week old battery, but probably sitting on the shelf for 1 year at dealer.