Triumphrat

ohiorider · 12-31-2007

A new battery! My bike is an 03 model, running on the original battery. From experience, I know that when these things fail, they fail big time. I was riding out my driveway on the R100GS a few years ago when I killed the engine. When I went for the starter .... nothing. Some years later. I was laying out a Triumph ride for a few of us NE Ohioians last May, when the GS battery crapped out again. I was lucky that a biker offered to jump start me with his car. (you have to remember to ask them to shut off their engines .... don't want a bunch of overcharge from the car alternator). It was probably 4 years old at the time.

I've had better luck with the no-maintenance batteries than the old lead-acid ones (probably because I don't have to add water), but even so, five riding seasons is more than enough for one battery. (I stretched the W650 to over 7 riding seasons, only because I reasoned I could probably start her with the kicker if the battery couldn't turn her over).

That's my additional New Year's resolution!

Bob

CAPTDON · 12-31-2007

Yeah a bummer now. The old batteries used to warn you when they were on their way out, as in slow crank etc.. The newer ones just DIE!! 04 here & still XX fingers-still rite on!!
Hope all stays well till nxt year. Got some perf things(shocks springs etc) I wantto do 1st!

bonnevillebilly · 12-31-2007

Ok Bob you are scaring me in to buying a new battery and I was going to
push it one more year. 7 riding seasons on my original battery and it is
still cranking. I am totally amazed at how good these new batteries are
I was lucky to get 3 years out of the old ones I used in my 76 Bonnie.
I don't like the sound of them just dieing so I think I will spring for a new
one to replace this one. I may need a little more to crank over the new 904.
Bill

roy005 · 12-31-2007

Hi, five years on my '03 Tbird and counting. Four years plus on the D1200. I am on borrowed time. But I just keep them hooked up to my Battery Tender all year long. '08 maybe the year to spring for at least one new battery but I am hoping for the best. Let's see how long we can go. Happy New Year to all, Best of Health & Happiness for 2008!
Ride Safe!

ohiorider · 12-31-2007

Roy005 - best of luck on the battery. I was in Rhinebeck in 1999. The Cole Palen Museum is totally amazing.

Bob

roy005 · 01-01-2008

Bob,

Cole Palen's Aerodrome is still alive and well thanks to lots of volunteers. I volunteer a few weekends a year when I can. In season I help out as ground crew during the airshows. Every so often they let me ride the Tbird in the classic car parade before the show. Great fun! Back to your thread: I have never yet tried a gel battery. Are they the same technology as maintenance free car batteries? Why aren't they used more in bikes?

Pauljo · 01-01-2008

I am originally from Connecticut. I remember attending the airshows in Rheinbeck twice. I really enjoyed them.

As for gel batteries, I think most motorcycle manufacturers have been using them for at least 5 years now. I bought two 2003 Suzukis - both had gel batteries. My 2006 Kymco scooter has a gel battery. It never even occurred to me that my new 2007 Bonnie might not have one.

I accept the tube tires, the carbs with manual choke, the reserve petcock in lieu of a fuel gauge - hey, it's a retro bike. But a battery I need to check water level in? Whew! I just checked my owners manual and the battery is the sealed no maintenance variety. (The bike hasn't been delivered yet, but I did run off with the owner's manual.)

Incidently, the gel battery in the Suzuki I'm trading in on the Bonnie is close to 5 years old - still working fine. The worst bike ever for trashing batteries was my 1995 Kawi Concours. I had several new batteries that only lasted one season apiece in that bike. I think it may have been the high frequency vibration of that engine damaging the internal plates in those (non gel) batteries - causing the battery to short out. All of those failures were "sudden death", no prior warning signs.

djchow · 01-09-2008

...what kind of battery did you eventually upgrade the "W" ? My new acquired W650 still has its stock battery but I think I am going to shop for a new one.

Thanks

ohiorider · 01-09-2008

DJ - the bike still had the original battery when I sold it this past spring. I gave the new owner a complete service history, and suggested he should get a new battery. Not bad, nearly seven full riding seasons (we do have some shut down for winter here) and 52,000 miles on the original. This speaks well for the battery, the charging system, probably both.

Hope you enjoy your W. I certainly liked mine.

Bob

mecscc · 01-09-2008

I have always run my batteries until they quit which is usually a lot longer than people think. Five years is not uncommon on a new battery but if you take care of an old lead acid it will last a long time. I've had them last over 7 years on several bikes. The L-A battery on Sue's '97 Virago was original and was fine when we sold the bike in '06, for example.

But now being older, if not wiser, and realizing that no one likes to be stuck fifty miles from no where I imagine I'll change mine after 5 years just to be on the safe side.

It goes against my cheap streak, but ........