How long does your battery last between rides?

[Aggy]

Over the past few weeks I have not been able to ride my bike as much as I would like and it has spent on the odd occasion up to 2 weeks in the garage. Now usually I hook it up to an optimate charger to keep the battery topped up (I got caught out years ago with a ZXR and one flat battery and £80 lighter I vowed never to do it again). But on occasions I forget. Now with my other bike (Suzi Bandit 1200 with Meta alarm) the bike can run for about 4-6 weeks before the battery starts to flatten. But the S3 can go completely flat with in 2 weeks. I have the factory fitted alarm on the bike and was wondering if this is drawing more current than the Meta on the B12 or if my battery is on the way out.

So how long does your battery last before it goes flat when left in the garage?

[SP3inAZ]

Hi Aggy - I've been traveling a lot for work lately, so haven't ridden as much as I'd like. I have a Bandit and Speed Triple too. The Bandit has gone for over two months with no problem. I've never let the Speed Triple sit for more than 3 weeks without riding it and it cranked right over and started no problem.

[prs3]

Hi Aggy,

My 04 Triple has sat in the garage for the past 1 1/2 months without anybody riding it. It started up on the 2nd try and I have not had any problems with it.

[kdguy]

My average is 2 days. Third battery in one year. All electrics have been checked out by dealer and found to be OK.

Very frustrating.

Aggy,

I had mine wintering in Florida and shipped it in Spring to NYC, started on the 3rd go, even though it was on older battery! (which I have rplaced since) - sounds like you need a new one!
c

[TRISPEED]

I just put a new one in my bike. If you get a new one make sure it gets a nice full charge at about one amp. Some shops want to hurry the job and give it a higher charge over a shorter period of time. I have even taken batteries home and then charged then myself. The charging directions should be with the bat. or on it. A easy way to get the battery in or out is to use the plastic clothes line and run it through the battery post. You can then make a handle to pull the battery out and use it to drop the new one in.

[ This message was edited by: TRISPEED on 2004-08-09 12:34 ]

Hi Aggy, I've got an 04 speed triple that i've had for a couple of months. Cos of work I didn't ride it for 8 days and when I went to start it last week it turned over very slowly, and took a second attempt before it fired. It is alarmed, and as it's new the battery should be fine. I guess it just likes suckin' juice. Still is another good reason to ride it regularly

Hi Aggy, I've got an 04 speed triple that i've had for a couple of months. Cos of work I didn't ride it for 8 days and when I went to start it last week it turned over very slowly, and took a second attempt before it fired. It is alarmed, and as it's new the battery should be fine. I guess it just likes suckin' juice. Still is another good reason to ride it regularly

hi aggy. there have been a few reports of triumph alternators not doing their job. get it checked out . also, check the voltage of the battery before you lay the bike up and again when you come to start it up. should show about or at least 12.5v if it is being charged properly. do this without the engine running. to do a quick test of the alternators output, start the bike, connect a multimeter set at 20v and take a reading. now rev the bike. you should see a rise in current. repeat this with the lights on. should show about 13.5v when you rev the bike. do you ride with your lights on all the time. this will run the battery down. fit a 12v 20 bulb in place of your park bulb. this gives out plenty of light and goes easy on the battery. good luck Page Title

Further to my last post, I've just spent 3 weeks on holiday. I was concerned about the battery. When I got home the alarm had gone into sleep mode, but it came out and fired up first time. I would think makin' a habit of that would quickly kill the battery though.