Why?? **Battery**

[Guest]

For the love of all things holy WHY CAN A BATTERY FOR MY BIKE NOT LAST LONGER THAN 2 YEARS??

Finally pulled it out from under the tarp and cleaned it up put the battery in that has been in a tender all winter and on the charger today ---- and ---- nothing, lights are dim, check the voltage, with the ignition off, 11.5V with the key on 6V. It is almost without fail, that every two years I gotta spring for a new battery.........Is this everyone else's experience that lives where the bike sits over the winter?

[Crazy_Russian]

you need to store the battery in a cool place, about 60 degrees, if it freezes, it will die

[tkent02]

Because you keep the battery on a tender all winter.
Charge it every couple months or so, the rest of the time leave it alone, it will last for years and years.

[chuck hahn]

And you need to check the fluid levels a few times a year as well and keep it between the limit lines. I get the plastic jug of battery acid and keep one on hand. Tenders arent all that bad in the winter PROVIDED you service the battery for the last time in the winter when you put it away. Of course I am assuming you have the servicable battery. Some say dont remove this strip on them but i pry it up anyways and refill the cells on those types too.

[Killer2600]

What brand is your battery? I can't really sympathize, my last battery lasted 5 years and hardly spent any time on a charger/tender.

[TheCafeKid]

Spend the extra dough and get an AGM as well.
Don't let it freeze..
I've got one from '04?? Still cranks like a champ..Knock on wood...

[Bookmon]

All of the above is correct. Too much charging/overcharging will shorten the life. Cold has its ill effects.

[bwringer]

Par for the course with old-fashioned "wet" batteries.

You can leave it on a battery maintainer all winter -- they automatically shut off and on as needed. You can't leave it on a trickle charger, though.

If your battery is an AGM or gel, then you might suspect your maintainer isn't doing its job properly.