Battery Life

[jimz71]

My 2013 Honda w/MotorTrike Adventure conversion was delivered in June 2013 and arrived via 18 wheeler with a dead battery. Someone had turned on both the handle bar warmers and the front seat warmer. Charged it up and it began giving me problems in July so I bit the bullet and replaced it with a new one.(Honda dealer would not replace it under warranty). No problems since, until one year later, after sitting for two weeks it would not start. Two bad cells, so I replaced it. I never use my radio, I have a GPS and a security system wired so my question is What should I expect for battery life?

[Bikerbozo]

Granted, my trike is only a Harley without hand warmers, a/c or a drone that flies out of tourpack to scout traffic ahead. But I got 4 yrs and 70k miles on my battery and only replaced it because I thought it might be getting a little weak.

[rhino 2]

Keep it on a battery tender if your going to let the Trike sit for a few weeks , The security system is drawing juice[at all times], Maybe the GPS is also?? I don't know if that does, I don't have a GPS, I navigate by the Sun and Moon... Besides I won't even know how to work one...
But seriously use a tender..

[pcombe]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>rhino 2</strong>
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<div class="message">Keep it on a battery tender if your going to let the Trike sit for a few weeks , The security system is drawing juice, Maybe the GPS is also?? I don't know if that does, I don't have a GPS, I navigate by the Sun and Moon... Besides I won't even know how to work one...<br />
But seriously use a tender..</div>

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</div> Good advice!<br />
Your motorcycle has features that put a constant drain on the battery.<br />
Even my old tour glide has a clock in the old radio, It's not unusual for me to get four years out of a battery.<br />
I hate to say it but when I purchase a cheap battery to avoid the insane cost of a battery from H.D. I normally get about 1 season out of it.<img src="images/smilies/shrug.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Shrug" class="inlineimg" />

[rhino 2]

After Re-reading your post, The answer to how long should a battery last??
Battery's are Mysterious black boxes.. Some last a year some 6 +years..
For instance;
My Wife's 2002 Suzuki [suv] Is on the 3th battery, My Dodge 2005 still has the original battery..

[Gold Rush]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>jimz71</strong>
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<div class="message">My 2013 Honda w/MotorTrike Adventure conversion was delivered in June 2013 and arrived via 18 wheeler with a dead battery. Someone had turned on both the handle bar warmers and the front seat warmer. Charged it up and it began giving me problems in July so I bit the bullet and replaced it with a new one.(Honda dealer would not replace it under warranty). No problems since, until one year later, after sitting for two weeks it would not start. Two bad cells, so I replaced it. I never use my radio, I have a GPS and a security system wired so my question is What should I expect for battery life?</div>

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</div>Jim, most of us use 4 years a rule of thumb. Of course there are situations that will shorten that time. The deal that happen to you while in shipment is one. Batteries do not like to be drained completely dead. They never seem to last after that.

As said before if you are not going to ride for a few days then put a battery tender on. My '06 has been attached to a life line twice when I had hip and knee replacement surgery. If you ride daily the batteries seem to last much longer. <img src="images/smilies/poof.gif" border="0" alt="" title="poof" class="inlineimg" /><img src="images/smilies/poof.gif" border="0" alt="" title="poof" class="inlineimg" />

[retdpd]

I usually get 3 years. Its strange because when it goes theres no warning...on trips usually carry a spare

[JaysGone]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>jimz71</strong>
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<div class="message">My 2013 Honda w/MotorTrike Adventure conversion . I have a GPS and a security system wired so my question is What should I expect for battery life?</div>

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</div>I average 2-3 years tops for bike batteries here in Florida.<br />
Cars 3-5 years.<br />
My work trucks less then 2.<br />
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The high heat and humidity of being in Florida is well known for eating up batteries.<br />
Take a day like yesterday.<br />
It was 92 outside.<br />
103 in my garage where my bikes are.<br />
My car just sits outside and cooks for days at a time as I use the bikes a lot more.<br />
Just get used to having to buy batteries a lot more then is normal for most folks and places.<br />
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Now all that said my 2010 trike still has the original YUSA battery and is driven almost daily.

[dogman513]

I change my battery every 3-4 yrs,no matter how well it might be working. Also do same on boat. A battery will let you down at the worse time, so well worth the time and money to replace.

[Shimpy]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Bikerbozo</strong>
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<div class="message">Granted, my trike is only a Harley without hand warmers, a/c or a drone that flies out of tourpack to scout traffic ahead. But I got 4 yrs and 70k miles on my battery and only replaced it because I thought it might be getting a little weak.</div>

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HaHa..........The radar can also be quite a drain. Once I accidentally left my ground sample annalizer on which tests how firm the ground is before lowering side stand and this caused me to have a dead battery. I don't have to deal with that since tiking it.

[John Luciano]

Best thing for a battery is use. The draining and charging. When we leave them sit, even on a maintainer , it is good but not as good as the fluctuation. The battery needs the work...

[RobertW]

I had a real problem with battery drain. Over night it would drain the battery till it wouldn't start. The headlights wouldn't come on either. Took the battery out and had it tested. A bad cell. OK, bought a new one and the same thing. After messing around I found that the trunk light was on all the time. I thought it would go off when you close the door. Can't believe Honda would not have this built in.

[dogman513]

I had a real problem with battery drain. Over night it would drain the battery till it wouldn't start. The headlights wouldn't come on either. Took the battery out and had it tested. A bad cell. OK, bought a new one and the same thing. After messing around I found that the trunk light was on all the time. I thought it would go off when you close the door. Can't believe Honda would not have this built in.

Stick on LED "battery" operated lights work great for trike trunks. but leave it on yes you buy "batteries", but a lot cheaper.

[tfdeputydawg]

Even though "Battery Tender" suggests replacement at 5yrs, using their product, I wanted to "see" just how long mine would last.
It's plugged in to the Tender everytime it's parked in the garage.
So far, it's on it's 8th year, with no signs of weakening

[FRR]

I have had several Harley and Wings over the past 25 yrs and usually replace the battery every three years just so I don't get caught somewhere like I did many years ago. Besides, as someone said earlier, when motorcycle batteries die, you often get no warning at all. Never had a battery die in less than three years so I figured that amount of time is a safe bet.

[Konrad]

Best thing for a battery is use. The draining and charging. When we leave them sit, even on a maintainer , it is good but not as good as the fluctuation. The battery needs the work...

Several years ago I bought a new but perfect 2006 'Wing. About a year later I became concerned about battery life, not knowing the age of the battery, which may have been the original. I was not having any problems but "just-in-case" I bought a "Battery Bug Power Sports Battery Monitor" for $29.95 from Battery Mart in May, 2012. Mounted it with Velcro on the gas tank door and wired it directly to the Battery. Today it tells me that the battery is operating at 38% with 13.1 v. Two years ago it was at 57% with 13.1 v. The engine still starts immediately and without hesitation. No need for a new battery until that operating percentage goes down a lot further. The Bug was a good investment.

[jfingalls]

Bought my GW new in '08 and still has the original battery. As John L. indicated, you need to use it and it will last. If you are in the process of replacing your battery, consider a Litium based battery. Much better technology, dry (no liquid involved), a bit pricier but will last many times longer than the old wet cell battery or gel type. This is the same technology used in cell phones and a couple of good hybrid cars (Hyundai Sonata and Ford Fusion). When my battery finally needs replacement, that is where I am going. Other benefits are the size; the replacement battery is 30% smaller and much stronger in power.
By the way, I have never used a battery tender on my 6 year old battery.

[howardg]

I put a Interstate battery in almost 4 years ago and still going strong. I do keep a maintainer on it in the winter.