Condensation Problems (Maybe)

[Simon.Pieman]

A trickle charger would probably be a good investment.

I agree, that's why I bought an Optimate III some years ago and keep the battery topped up with it

Well that is probably the big problem. If you use an Optimate regularly how is it possible to tell if the battery is failing? (other than meter tests)
As a rule, I use an Optimate only if the bike has stood still for 2 weeks and largely discharged itself (or got very low). If the battery is a good'un it easily lasts a week between starts, it doesn't need an Optimate to hold charge for that long. Bad batteries do.

[esetest]

As I don't use the bike much in the winter , I take it off the bike early November and put it back on in early march , I bring it indoors and put it out the way somewhere , then once  a month when I,m going to take it out I put the battery on charge for  an hour , the cold will kill a weak battery .

[Grahamm]

Well that is probably the big problem. If you use an Optimate regularly how is it possible to tell if the battery is failing? (other than meter tests)

The Optimate does have a built in tester where it switches between charging and then checking the charge stays in there, but I don't know what the tolerance on it is. I've not had it register the battery as "weak", but obviously that's not proof.

[Grahamm]

As I don't use the bike much in the winter

However I do, hence why I don't want to be spending time removing/ replacing the battery every time I want to go out.

And, of course, temperatures at the moment aren't at "battery killing" levels.

[His Dudeness]

It's not difficult get a multimeter and test the battery or get a battery and try it. You're just wasting people's time debating the most basic things

[locksmith]

Once, I had a knackered battery that was "OK" on the optimate, and that was less than 2 years old.

I stopped having alarms fitted and don't bother with a charger now.

[YamFazFan]

Once, I had a knackered battery that was "OK" on the optimate, and that was less than 2 years old.

I stopped having alarms fitted and don't bother with a charger now.

My last battery was less than 2 years old and wouldn't hold charge on the bike enough to even operate the fuel pump after a week without use,but it came up "OK" on the optimate (after recharging).Charging it up and leaving it off the bike it was still reading over 12v after 4 days,by which time i'm thinking I've got a discharge problem on the bike,but on the 5th day the voltage had suddenly dropped to 0.3v! and putting the multimeter back on took it into -volts.Fitted new battery & all is sorted .

[Dead Eye]

Go home battery, you're drunk

[Grahamm]

It's not difficult get a multimeter and test the battery

I have, as mentioned in the other thread.

or get a battery and try it.

Fine, you pay £50 for a new battery for me and if that turns out to have been the problem I'll pay you back.

If it isn't, I'll have it as a free gift.

You're just wasting people's time debating the most basic things

Nobody is forcing you to read this thread, but thank you for your helpful comments.

[darrsi]

I don't mean to put a spanner in the works, but battery chargers foc up as well.
I see it all the time at work as we have hundreds of them (no i can't get you one).
They look like they're charging, with all the lights showing up okay but they can be dud too, just like ropey phone chargers.
Everyone just presumes it's the battery but it's not always the case.
Just something else to consider that's all, i'll shut up now. 

[midden]

Have you tried disconnecting the battery completely then leaving it for a couple of days to see if it holds it's charge?

As I don't use the bike much in the winter

However I do, hence why I don't want to be spending time removing/ replacing the battery every time I want to go out.

And, of course, temperatures at the moment aren't at "battery killing" levels.

Just bump start it then, like I have the couple of times it's happened to me.  Mine has even flattened after a long ride just by leaving ignition on for a few minutes. I know the battery is on its way out but so far like you've mentioned it works fine after a bump start. So I put up with it but when it becomes a problem as it clearly has for you I'll just take the plunge and buy a new battery.

[Grahamm]

Thanks to everyone for the advice and my apologies for the delay in replying, but my mother was taken into hospital a few days ago so I've had a few other things on my mind.

I did actually bite the bullet and buy a new battery, unfortunately I'm having *another* problem, this time with a stuck bolt, but I'll detail in a different thread as I think this one has run its course.

[Doddsie]

No need for apologies, some things are more important than others.