Gold Wing Battery Life?

[Okie]

I recently bought a 04 trike 1800 that was bought late in 04. My question is "what is the life of a goldwing battery"?
I normally change batteries in my cars at about 3 years. I beleve in replacing them before they go bad, since they always seem to go bad at a bad time for me.
What is the general thought?
Okie
Tulsa, OK

[John Luciano]

I am on my 3rd year with my battery. I have made it thu 4 but just barely

[katfish16]

Not saying I am right but I usually change mine every 3 yrs... like U mine will go out at the worst time... so it is cheaper and easier for me just to write the date on the battery and change it every 3 yrs. To each his own, I have friends who will not change it till it is DEAD!!!

[ben721364]

A <u><b>properly</b> maintained</u> battery typically lasts about 5 years. I typically replace batteries at about 4 years as a cautionary measure.

[Okie]

I'm going to the shop tomorrow and get a new battery. My trike is to big to push start. LOL
Okie
Tulsa, Ok.

[John Luciano]

MHO if you buy a wet cell and watch the water level and keep it on a maintainer it last 3 years. $45.00 . If you buy the sealed battery it last maybe 5 years on a maintainer $85.00. Do the math . Buy a new wet cell every 3 years $90.00 = 6years but, it is new every 3 . Or $85.00 for 5 years and worry after 4 if it is gona start.<img src="images/smilies/confused.gif" border="0" alt="" title="huh??" class="inlineimg" />

[katfish16]

John, I have the upgrade Alternator on my trike it will boil the water out of a water filled battery.... besides I hate having to worry about it I can afford the sealed battery and then I don't have to worry bout it.:yes:

[John Luciano]

Did it actually boil the battery or were you told it would. my friend had the sealed battery on his Goldwing with Compufire alternator and it stated at the gas station at last fill up and when we got home 30 miles later the battery was dead. Emergency we ran to Wal Mart and got a $45.00 battery. that was 3 years ago and it is still fine. If I didn't check his battery it would never get checked. I add water in the spring and again in the fall and it stays on a tender until spring. a friend of mine is an Electrical guru. He makes and sells Battery monitors. A motorcycle battery will take 14 volts with out a boil. An alternator puts out more AMPS not more Volts.<br />
<br />
If the Alternator puts out more that it is the Regulators job to get rid of it to ground.

BTW if you want a simple battery monitor he has them.

[ben721364]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>John Luciano</strong><br />
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<div class="message">Did it actually boil the battery or were you told it would. my friend had the sealed battery on his Goldwing with Compufire alternator and it stated at the gas station at last fill up and when we got home 30 miles later the battery was dead. Emergency we ran to Wal Mart and got a $45.00 battery. that was 3 years ago and it is still fine. If I didn't check his battery it would never get checked. I add water in the spring and again in the fall and it stays on a tender until spring. a friend of mine is an Electrical guru. He makes and sells Battery monitors. A motorcycle battery will take 14 volts with out a boil. An alternator puts out more AMPS not more Volts.<br />
<br />
If the Alternator puts out more that it is the Regulators job to get rid of it to ground.

BTW if you want a simple battery monitor he has them.</div><br />
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</div><br />
</div><br />
</div>Correct. Of course the same is true of a cage with a 12v electric system. <g>

[katfish16]

Well John, I did not ride down the road with my side cover off looking at my battery.... I purchased what was recommended for the Compufire....
Please feel free to buy any battery u WANT and maintain it any way U want...

[Spirit Warrior]

Both of my Goldwings have batteries about 3 years old. This year both were DEAD when I went to start them, yesterday, and today. Ordered a new battery from Venco Wings the other day for the trike. Have not decided what to do about the battery in the '95 as I might be selling it. I never take my batteries out of the Wings for the winter. Maybe I should.

[John Luciano]

I never remove them but I do leave them on a battery tender all winter and check the water

[jim peacock]

Before I got the compufire altenator,about all I could get out of a wet cell battery was a little over two years and this was with keeping it on a battery maintainer and keeping a close eye on the licquid level.Since going with the compufire set up and battery I have went five years,but to be on the safe side i am going to be getting a new battery real soon,got caught out onc and once is enough.
Just have not decided what brand to get,any body have any ideas feel free to speek up.

[ben721364]

Before I got the compufire altenator,about all I could get out of a wet cell battery was a little over two years and this was with keeping it on a battery maintainer and keeping a close eye on the licquid level.Since going with the compufire set up and battery I have went five years,but to be on the safe side i am going to be getting a new battery real soon,got caught out onc and once is enough.
Just have not decided what brand to get,any body have any ideas feel free to speek up.

Your experience is not common. Properly maintained batteries in properly maintained vehicles typically last much longer than you report. Five years is normal. Do you have an unusual amount of electrical drain causing your battery to deep cycle? That could shorten it's life.

[jim peacock]

Ben no not really,96se was pretty much stock then,now wife and I both have gerbing heated clothing and a few extra lights plus pull a trailer some times but this has all been done after we had the compufire installed and the compufire battery has lasted so far a little over five years.

[ben721364]

Ben no not really,96se was pretty much stock then,now wife and I both have gerbing heated clothing and a few extra lights plus pull a trailer some times but this has all been done after we had the compufire installed and the compufire battery has lasted so far a little over five years.

Five years is about right, I think. I don't trust a battery beyond that. The Compufire branded AGM battery appears to be a Yuasa AGM.

[patriot]

I just changed out my battery. I've got an 03 Wing and until this year, I've not had any problems. I think what happened to my battery is I had it hooked up to a maintainer charger and it got disconnected for the electrical outlet. Going into a 6th year with it just didn't make since. I bought mine at Sam's for $93.

[ben721364]

I think you were wise to replace the battery after 5 years.