Triumphrat

SilverThief · 02-16-2006, 08:49 PM

I own a 98 Sprint Exec, which has the original battery still in it. Just wondering what the typical life-span of these batteries is.

Tbirdnz · 02-16-2006, 10:06 PM

I find bike battery life amazing. I too have a 98 Triumph still with its original battery, and a 95 Kawasaki farm quad with its original plugs and battery ! despite daily use, or should I say because of daily use !

I find car batteries don't last anywhere near as long, had one go after two years but in general if I get 3-4 years out of them I think I am doing well.

In this part of NZ (northern) we have quite a temperate climate so no heavy cold starting which I would imagine puts a severe strain on batteries.

On another long life, I have a 97 John Deere tractor with the same battery from new !

Now having said all this watch them crash out bigtime.

-----------------------------

Beats kick-starts !

SilverThief · 02-16-2006, 10:26 PM

Quote "Now having said all this watch them crash out bigtime"

hahaha! Sounds like my kind of luck.
lets hope it doesnt happen!@

:-D

GeoffE · 02-17-2006, 07:12 AM

My (March) '95 Thunderbird is still with its original battery.
I think its longevity has been helped by using an Optimate every other weekend, and watching/topping-up the fluid level?

Is this a record for one of our bikes?

(.....and yes, I do have my fingers crossed!).

Ciao,
Geoff
:wink:

robadele · 02-17-2006, 11:28 AM

The OEM battery in my 99 is an AGM (advanced glass mat) type battery and not your typical automobile wet cell.

If you know what an Optima battery for cars is, this is the same type.

Typical life for an AGM battery can be ~6-7 years. Far longer than the 3-4 for the typical wet cell.

As a note, when your battery does die, you'll want to put another AGM battery. A wet cell in motorcycles doesn't usually last more than 3 years.

vinnyf · 02-18-2006, 11:27 AM

There's a very nice little tutorial on battery types, life expectancy, usage, etc., at this site:

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html

SilverThief · 02-20-2006, 11:24 AM

Thanks for the info. Good read on the different types of batteries.

Now, can someone suggest a good battery, that will work with my 98 executive? I'm hoping I can pick one up locally, maybe at another bike dealer. Or even wal-mart?
The nearest Triumph dealer is 4 hours away.

I want to make sure I get the right battery, just dont know enough about bike batteries to venture a guess on my own.

Thanks

j98sprint · 02-21-2006, 10:52 AM

Sears Die-Hard #44364, $35. Do it before it dies.

j98sprint

B02S4 · 02-22-2006, 05:56 PM

When I sold my 96 Bandit last year (05), it still had the stock original battery. Never touched it. I was impressed.