Blog post August 15, 2004 Got the Savage. Battery partially dead, replaced about October, 2004. Got a Yuasa battery, came dry, acid, fill, charge, ride next day.
Blog post April 08, 2008 In the cage. "Did you know that letting a battery go totally flat three times in three years is a good way to kill it? I knew that. Didn't let it stop me!"
Less than 4 years with a Yuasa flooded battery. Third time letting the battery go flat totally killed it -- rode home, shut down, try to start, totally dead after a 5 mile ride. Lancer had posted re: Optima AGM batteries -- looked it up, interesting! When I killed the battery I bought a
"Big Crank" AGM battery. It arrived from UPS, arrived sealed and charged and the bike was running in five minutes.
The Savage has that stupid kick stand thingy that shuts off the motor. Unfortunately I kept forgetting the key. 'Specially in '10 when I was dying. I had flatten the battery at least eight times. Yet in January '13 the battery still was working just fine, capable of starting the motorcycle after letting it sitting for weeks.
I
LIKE AGM batteries.
Batteries can be good or cheap. Not both. The good batteries use virgin lead, pure lead. Chinese batteries can use recycled lead, not pure, not as good. You do not need an unreliable battery.