Battery Question & Other Maintainence Stuff

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by marko138

Where do you live? Im in PA...winter temps here are tough on car batteries.

I am in NY living on LI. Winters arent THAT bad here but it does get cold for prolonged periods. just dont get all the snow they get upstate.

tom

[ericr]

My VTX turned 7 yo this Jan and it still has the original battery, but that's the best I've ever had one last too. It's never been run down and this past Nov and Dec is the longest I've ever gone without riding so it's stayed charged all these years. That being said, I'd have one on standby Stephanie, because you've said yours has been sluggish turning over sometimes in the cold. It's nearly done most likely.

Do find out the valve adjusment interval and if one's coming up. Other than that, you're pretty well covered when your tires come in.

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by ericr

My VTX turned 7 yo this Jan and it still has the original battery, but that's the best I've ever had one last too. It's never been run down and this past Nov and Dec is the longest I've ever gone without riding so it's stayed charged all these years. That being said, I'd have one on standby Stephanie, because you've said yours has been sluggish turning over sometimes in the cold. It's nearly done most likely.

Do find out the valve adjusment interval and if one's coming up. Other than that, you're pretty well covered when your tires come in.

Do you keep your battery on the tender durring down time?

Tom

[fnfalman]

Originally Posted by tommymac

Do you keep your battery on the tender durring down time?

Tom

That helps considerably. This last year and a half, I was between two places and one of them didn't have an outlet to plug the Battery Tender in, so my KTM's battery went tits-up even though it's barely two years old.

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by fnfalman

That helps considerably. This last year and a half, I was between two places and one of them didn't have an outlet to plug the Battery Tender in, so my KTM's battery went tits-up even though it's barely two years old.

this year the battery (only a yr old) started to konk out on the priller in th ecold since I used the bike infrequently. Since then the battery has been in the basement on the tender. I will attatch a pigtail connecotr after we get into the house. Righ tnow the bike is stored outside under a carport so its somewhat exposed to the elemnts.

Tom

[rogue]

Is the valve check something I have to take it to a shop for?

Where do you guys usually buy your batteries? Any good places online?

Thanks for the help!

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by Rogue

Is the valve check something I have to take it to a shop for?

Where do you guys usually buy your batteries? Any good places online?

Thanks for the help!

if youre not THAT mechanically inclined I would take it to the shop. I have them do it on my futura becasue its a PITA but my TL like your SV is rather easy to work on/access the valves.

I forgot where I ordered my battery from fo rthe futura i also have used the Neverstart ones from wallyworld.

Tom

[ericr]

Originally Posted by tommymac

Do you keep your battery on the tender durring down time?

Tom

Originally Posted by ericr

and this past Nov and Dec is the longest I've ever gone without riding so it's stayed charged all these years.

Yes Tommy, my starter button is my battery tender Seriously, no, i haven't ever had it on a tender or had to charge it. This past fall I had 2 back to back sinus infections and we had our coldest winter in years so that's why I didn't ride for 2 months. Heck, it got down in the teens a few times It's back to 60's and 70's now It's usually not cold long enough to worry about the battery running low and not riding around here.

[marko138]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Actually the cold temps aren't that bad on the battery itself. its the cold motor and cold oil that pushes the batteries CCA limit. The motor is harder to start in the cold.

In reality the 100 degree temps are harder on batteries.

Technicalities, brother. I know its the cold oil and shit. But those are results of....cold temps.

[rogue]

I didn't think a battery for a bike would be hard to find where you didn't get ass raped in the process!

Around town the cheapest I can find it is 83.95 and it has to be ordered. The Batteries Plus place Cutty suggested has one for 60 and it's going to take me about 6-7 bucks in gas to get there and back. And not one of the places has a brand name that a couple of people have suggested.