Symptoms of a bad battery?

[Guest]

Hi All,

I think/hope I already know the answer to this question, but it doesn't hurt to get another opinion (or 3!). My '81 GS850G has a relatively new (about 1.5 years old I think) battery; it's one of those fancy AGM batteries. I have ridden the bike very little since, and it sat over another cold winter here in Michigan. It started and ran just fine five or six months ago, but now it won't do anything - no start, no lights, no horn, nothing. When I put the slow charger on it, I reads about 12.4 volts across the terminals, but as soon as I hit the start button, it drops to less than two volts. Is that a sign of a totally dead battery? Is there anything I can do but buy another battery?

[tom203]

I had same issue with my 8 yearold AGM battery this spring,,, looked ok coming off charger ,but fell on its face when starter button was pressed. A new $48 unit did the trick.

[Steve]

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[cowboyup3371]

Just as an FYI, Motobatt told me a couple of years ago that even their batteries need to have an occasional charging over the non-used months. This isn't a constant every day on the charger but instead more of a once a month for an overnight at most. The battery should also be brought inside the house during the winter

[Guest]

Just as an FYI, Motobatt told me a couple of years ago that even their batteries need to have an occasional charging over the non-used months. This isn't a constant every day on the charger but instead more of a once a month for an overnight at most. The battery should also be brought inside the house during the winter

Yeah, I think I proved to myself this winter that what you just said is true. This was the 2nd winter for this battery, and the first winter I did just that; I brought it inside, then in the spring it was fine. But this winter I got lazy, and the extreme cold (-20F one morning!) killed it. So I just bought a new AGM battery from BatteryMart for $46.00 (including shipping) that has 210 CCA; we'll see how that does.

[alke46]

I have to replace the battery in the GS this year also. The one I bought was only 2 years old but would no longer hold a charge. I took in today to have it tested and the guy told me it appears to have 1 or 2 dead cells as his attempt at putting in on his charger he said it wouldn't take a charge. Only had a 6 month warranty so now I have to shop for another one -- probably will go for the Motobatt as it seems to be the proverbial "best" one on this forum.

[hannibal]

I had same issue with my 8 yearold AGM battery this spring,,, looked ok coming off charger ,but fell on its face when starter button was pressed. A new $48 unit did the trick.

8 years is not bad for a battery!