SuzukiSavage.com - No Riding Battery Question

LostArtist Ex Member	Re: No Riding Battery Question Reply #15 - 02/10/10 at 13:15:31 he mighta just found out it was weak, probably rode the bike a lot when it was nice and now that it's cold not getting riden as much as the battery is acting up. we all aren't know it all gods like you Bill
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dasch

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Re: No Riding Battery Question
Reply #16 - 02/10/10 at 21:42:55

50 miles every other day and never gets below 32... I wish. That explains some things, neverless, we are not all that lucky.

However, even in worse conditions, battery should hold charge for much more than few days, LostArtist. Check your charging system, and get a good new battery. That one will leave you flappin' sooner than later.

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serenity3743 Serious Thumper Offline Striving to better, oft we mar what's well Posts: 778 Black Mountain, NC Gender:	Re: No Riding Battery Question Reply #17 - 02/11/10 at 05:29:15 I've put 70,000 + miles on my Savage in 9 years. A battery lasts me 2 years on average.
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: No Riding Battery Question Reply #18 - 02/11/10 at 05:52:21 serenity3743 wrote on 02/11/10 at 05:29:15: I've put 70,000 + miles on my Savage in 9 years. A battery lasts me 2 years on average. What do you do with your battery in the winter time?
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LostArtist Ex Member	Re: No Riding Battery Question Reply #19 - 02/11/10 at 07:10:25 how do I check my charging system? you mean the charging system of the bike right
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Routy

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Re: No Riding Battery Question
Reply #20 - 02/11/10 at 07:29:44

LostArtist wrote on 02/11/10 at 07:10:25:

how do I check my charging system? you mean the charging system of the bike right

Running at fast idle, check the voltage at the battery,.....should be at least 13 volts minimum, if the battery is discharged. As the battery come up in charge, so will the voltage. On a full charged battery in good condidion, I would expect the voltage to be 14+ volts. This is automotive specs, but I would think the bikes are near the same.

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Rich
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Routy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2280 Winston Oregon Gender:	Re: No Riding Battery Question Reply #21 - 02/11/10 at 07:33:53 serenity3743 wrote on 02/11/10 at 05:29:15: I've put 70,000 + miles on my Savage in 9 years. A battery lasts me 2 years on average. A battery that last 2 yrs or less, I would suspect has spent quite a bit of its time in at least a partially discharged state,.....which is a killer for lead acid batteries.
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dasch Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1137	Re: No Riding Battery Question Reply #22 - 02/11/10 at 08:02:04 LostArtist wrote on 02/11/10 at 07:10:25: how do I check my charging system? you mean the charging system of the bike right Yes. As Routy said - Let it fast idle and measure voltage on battery terminals. Should be at least 13V on 2000rpm. A tad higher with increased rpm.
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serenity3743

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Re: No Riding Battery Question
Reply #23 - 02/11/10 at 08:57:21

bill67 wrote on 02/11/10 at 05:52:21:

serenity3743 wrote on 02/11/10 at 05:29:15:

I've put 70,000 + miles on my Savage in 9 years. A battery lasts me 2 years on average.

What do you do with your battery in the winter time?

My battery just sits in the bike in the winter. But I ride 12 months a year as long as the weather is not wet AND cold.

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Routy

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Re: No Riding Battery Question
Reply #24 - 02/11/10 at 20:29:46

serenity3743 wrote on 02/11/10 at 08:57:21:

bill67 wrote on 02/11/10 at 05:52:21:

serenity3743 wrote on 02/11/10 at 05:29:15:

I've put 70,000 + miles on my Savage in 9 years. A battery lasts me 2 years on average.

What do you do with your battery in the winter time?

My battery just sits in the bike in the winter. But I ride 12 months a year as long as the weather is not wet AND cold.

If your round trips are at least 30 minutes, your battery should be ok if ridden every month. If not, the battery could be setting much of the time in a 1/2 discharged state, w/o you even knowing it, because it will still start the bike.
If possible, connect the battery to a small maintainer charger once a month for a day or 2,......it will most likely add years to the service life of the battery.

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Tanker2Biker

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Re: No Riding Battery Question
Reply #25 - 02/12/10 at 03:37:57

I've just been looking a the Battery Tender web site. I notice that one of their accessories is a 12v cigarette lighter type plug. Does anyone have any experience using this type plug for battery maint? I just finished installing one of these (POS to the battery, NEG to the frame) and it would certainly be a convenient place to connect if it is effective.

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Routy

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Re: No Riding Battery Question
Reply #26 - 02/12/10 at 08:35:58

A cigar liter receptical will work fine for charging, but there are smaller, more positive 12 volt plugs that I prefer. I used a small 12v pigtail plug that is the same size/pattern as the flat trailer connectors, but only 2 wires. I've installed these on my Bike, ATV, and my 12/24 volt B&D mower. The matching other 1/2 I've installed on all my chargers. You can also get a flush mount receptical for this same plug from most RV/solar panel dealers.

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Rich
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serenity3743

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Re: No Riding Battery Question
Reply #27 - 02/12/10 at 10:14:12

Routy wrote on 02/11/10 at 20:29:46:

serenity3743 wrote on 02/11/10 at 08:57:21:

bill67 wrote on 02/11/10 at 05:52:21:

serenity3743 wrote on 02/11/10 at 05:29:15:

I've put 70,000 + miles on my Savage in 9 years. A battery lasts me 2 years on average.

What do you do with your battery in the winter time?

My battery just sits in the bike in the winter. But I ride 12 months a year as long as the weather is not wet AND cold.

If your round trips are at least 30 minutes, your battery should be ok if ridden every month. If not, the battery could be setting much of the time in a 1/2 discharged state, w/o you even knowing it, because it will still start the bike.
If possible, connect the battery to a small maintainer charger once a month for a day or 2,......it will most likely add years to the service life of the battery.

My ride is usually to and from work, 23 miles one way. I've got a charger that will do 2 amps, 12 amps, or jump start. I guess I need to take your advice and use it once a month. Thanks for the tip.

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2000 LS650P Suzuki windshield, luggage rack, saddle bag racks, k & n air filter, Dyna muffler,2/3 white spacer, do-it-myself seat. Love to ride!

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LostArtist

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Re: No Riding Battery Question
Reply #28 - 02/12/10 at 10:17:04

dasch wrote on 02/11/10 at 08:02:04:

LostArtist wrote on 02/11/10 at 07:10:25:

how do I check my charging system? you mean the charging system of the bike right

Yes. As Routy said - Let it fast idle and measure voltage on battery terminals. Should be at least 13V on 2000rpm. A tad higher with increased rpm.

how do I know my rpm without a tach?

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Routy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2280 Winston Oregon Gender:	Re: No Riding Battery Question Reply #29 - 02/12/10 at 11:30:45 You won't know, and you don't need to know exactly. Just rev it well above an idle, and that should give you the max charging volts of well over 13.
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