How long should a battery last?

[winxp-master]

I've always steered clear of optimate and the like and I've still got the same battery in the bike as when i bought it about 5 years ago (it wasn't a new bike so don't know how long it's been in there). I had to charge it a couple of months back but that was due to inactivity on my part, that's all.

I use all sorts too, heated grips, vest, sat nav, 12v accessory etc...

[sparklymarkly]

I don't think there is a definitive answer to this one.
The battery on my Vara is the original so it's over 4 years old now and prefectly fine (touch wood) - bike has hotgrips, GPS, Autocom and spots. Always on an optimate when parked up.
However the OEM battery on my Versys gave up after it was just 2 years old - however that was hooked up to an Acumen charger which packed up (and thus brought about the most comical episode of "customer service" (in deliberate inverted commas) that I have ever experienced).
What a shower of ****! Never buy anything from them.

[thetimkirby]

I suspect living on an Optimate can bring battery life down to a year or two.

How so? I thought they were intended to prolong battery life, especially when not used much or with an alarm on. Don't mean to challenge you, just interested to know what the story is.

[piguglyshandydrinker]

How so? I thought they were intended to prolong battery life, especially when not used much or with an alarm on. Don't mean to challenge you, just interested to know what the story is.

Nothing scientific, just personal gut feeling.....
The only battery trouble I have had, was in the past was when I used to swap the Optimate between the bikes (4 or 5 i think it was then) every couple of days over the winter. After a while the bikes seemed to "need" charging even if only left a week or so. When I stopped using the charger, the problem miraculousley went away!

I do still use a charger if the bike has been stood a while (a few weeks or more) the night before I intend to use the bike.

No problem asking a question Tim, I made a comment, nothing wrong in asking for my reasoning behind it

Phil

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk 2

[tendays]

Re Optimate, I am now wary using mine on the DRZ since when left on for more than an hour or so I could hear a hissing, bubbling noise like it was releasing hydrogen, and charger would not move from charge to maintain mode. Since replaced battery with a yellow one and only use Optimate with caution as it still doesn't go into maintain mode.

DL650 battery is never charged except by regular riding and is still strong after 5 years.

[winxp-master]

I don't know if a bike battery is the same but in re-chargable`s you're supposed to run them down fully and then re-charge, using them just alittle then charging them considerably reduces the life. This is why i don't like the sounds of these optimates.

I'm with Phil on this one

[Lutin]

I don't know if a bike battery is the same but in re-chargable`s you're supposed to run them down fully and then re-charge, using them just alittle then charging them considerably reduces the life.

That all depends on what type of battery you are talking about - and only generally refers to NiCads. Which are old technology these days.

And for the so called "lead acid" (12 Volt) batteries, there's all sorts of flavours of them too nowadays.

[chronyx]

Correct but only for Ni-Cd and Ni-Mh batteries found in older phones, drills, etc.

Li-Ion are pretty durable, and have no memory effect and built-in circuits to prevent total discharge.

Lead-acid batteries are damaged by total discharge.

[jasonbc]

I don't know if a bike battery is the same but in re-chargable`s you're supposed to run them down fully and then re-charge, using them just alittle then charging them considerably reduces the life. This is why i don't like the sounds of these optimates.

I'm with Phil on this one

I always leave my Varadero connected to my Optimate when not using it, also used it this week to recover a knackered battery on the wife's nephew's CG125 which had a charging problem i can't see any issue with them certainly keeps them looked after in the cold deep winter months when they need it the most

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Two years is definitely poor, especially as there's no alarm to drain it. I expect the warranty has expired so a refund seems unlikely! However, as others have said, it does raise suspicions about a fault in the wiring or perhaps an electrical component such as the ignition system. Check with an ammeter before replacing the battery.