Flat Battery

[darrsi]

Wemoto site:

https://www.wemoto.com/info/buying_motor..._1st,_2018

[YamFazFan]

Cheers darrsi. Top posts. :thumbup

[Grahamm]

I've jump started bikes from the car many times without any problems.

If anyone is thinking of jump starting a fuel injected bike from a car *DO NOT* have the car engine running, otherwise you could fry the bike's electrics!

I have an Optimate charger which claims to be able to recover deep-discharged batteries, although I've never tried it.

Note, however, that if one (or more) of the cells has died, it will still register as fully charged, but you'll have less power to crank the engine. I found this out when a brand new battery failed very soon after fitting it.

The only way to check properly is to find a friendly local garage and get them to put a drop-tester on it.

[darrsi]

I've jump started bikes from the car many times without any problems.

If anyone is thinking of jump starting a fuel injected bike from a car *DO NOT* have the car engine running, otherwise you could fry the bike's electrics!

I have an Optimate charger which claims to be able to recover deep-discharged batteries, although I've never tried it.

Note, however, that if one (or more) of the cells has died, it will still register as fully charged, but you'll have less power to crank the engine. I found this out when a brand new battery failed very soon after fitting it.

The only way to check properly is to find a friendly local garage and get them to put a drop-tester on it.

Once he tells them it's 20 years old i don't think the test will really be necessary.  :lol

[fazersharp]

Sorry Fazersharp, obviously I'm not sharp enough to remember whose post I am replying to  :oops


Mine is the CTEK one, which I bought off the internet.
It's the XS 0.8 bike specific one and it did a great job of recovering the battery after it had gone completely flat, which is why I bought it.

Mine is the CTEK MX 5.0 I think is the same apart from mine also has a car mode

[His Dudeness]

Another thing to keep in mind is if your battery is on it's last legs your charging system will be constantly at full wack trying to charge the dying battery so over time that can cause more serious problems to the charging system

[fazersharp]

Another thing to keep in mind is if your battery is on it's last legs your charging system will be constantly at full wack trying to charge the dying battery so over time that can cause more serious problems to the charging system

Could my 20 year old battery be on its last legs, I keep it on an optimiser. How dose the bike charging work then, I thought that the bike constantly charged anyway didn't know there was a two way communication between the battery and the charging system. 

[darrsi]

[quote author=His Dudeness link=topic=24755.msg288198#msg288198 date=1543673026]
Another thing to keep in mind is if your battery is on it's last legs your charging system will be constantly at full wack trying to charge the dying battery so over time that can cause more serious problems to the charging system

Could my 20 year old battery be on its last legs, I keep it on an optimiser. How dose the bike charging work then, I thought that the bike constantly charged anyway didn't know there was a two way communication between the battery and the charging system.
[/quote]


Unbeknowing to most people, rechargeable batteries do have a very short life, even more so when constantly recharged every day.
They'll still work but not at optimum strength or effect.


We buy Lithium camera batteries at work for cameras that cost about £500 a pop and because they're constantly on charge they do tend to lessen in reliability over time.
Our lead acid batteries which i use for my video monitors will again still work over time, but will noticeably have reduced power, even more so in very hot or cold conditions.


Seeing as bike batteries are so small, and what they now need to power, for me for example spotlights, headlights, heated grips, air horn, etc, they do incredibly well.

[darrsi]

Obviously, i'm of the opinion "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" but this generally applies to most batteries as a guide for rechargeable batteries.
I do actually replace my phone battery (for an extended life one) every couple of years, firstly because i can, and secondly because they are relatively cheap.

[darrsi]

After doing the headlight mod to have both lights on, i found that they can really put a strain on the battery, especially for me doing short runs every day to and from work in major traffic so the bike isn't even getting a good blast to aid charging, even more so when the cold winters kick in.
Then my heated grips add to the draining of power.
But since i've had the spotlights, i just use them on the way to work, so not only are they brighter than the headlights anyway, whether that be night or day, but they draw very little power so it gives the battery a much better chance of boosting itself back up.


I must add that a new or well conditioned (charged) battery does undoubtedly make the bike run and feel better. I'm not exactly sure why, because once the engine is running you'd simply think the electronics would take over, but it really does make a difference.

[fazersharp]

I don't have heated grips but do have the two light mod. But 90% of my rides are traffic free fun rides and then the bike comes home and gets hooked up to the charger/optimater in an insulated cosy garage. 

[VNA]

Could my 20 year old battery be on its last legs

20 years old :eek    Are you sure?  I ain't sure that's possible. That's one execptional battery.

I did back in my skint skin flint days get 13 years out of a battery.  The car in question was an 83 Cavalier Sri.  My old man bought it when it was 4 years old – it had a GM battery in it – so I’m making the assumption that this was the original battery.


In it’s last year it was getting a weekly charge and at times only just turning the engine over.  Eventually had to ditch it.  When I did pull it out you could see the whole casing was warped. 



I figured 13 years was something of a foccing miracle.  And bike batteries get an even harder time than car batteries I’d say.

From July 1st 2018, the law around motorcycle batteries is changing. After this date, anyone wishing to buy a motorcycle battery with a separate acid pack will require an Explosives, Precursors and Poisons (EPP) Licence, costing £39.50.

For focs sake.  Been happy enough with my Yuasa gel pack batteries.  Usually get 4 to 5 years, which seems OK for turning over the thou.

[mtread]

I've just changed my original Ford Mondeo battery after 13 years. With another lot of below zero temperatures arriving it wouldn't have taken it.
I think the acid pack issue is because of misuse with rather life changing consequences. Inevitable rule change I'm afraid.

[VNA]

I think the acid pack issue is because of misuse with rather life changing consequences. Inevitable rule change I'm afraid.

I guess so.

[fazersharp]

Could my 20 year old battery be on its last legs

20 years old :eek    Are you sure?  I ain't sure that's possible. That's one execptional battery.

No its a brexit lie  :pokefun

I suppose there is a chance that between 1998 and 2001 when I brought it (01) there could of been a battery change but I was given all the receipts when I brought it. I drained it once back in 2012 trying to start it with knackerd plugs after it being not used for a few weeks so after that I brought the CTECK charger which brought it back to life and then as an optimiserand its been on it ever since after each ride.So from 2001 to 2012 it was never on the charger / optimiser and the bike only about 1000 miles per year BUT they were all non traffic "fun" miles so no silly stuck in traffic ticking over type stuff.Touch-wood the battery seems as strong as ever and I only need to go near the start button and it instantly fires up. 

[VNA]

That's impressive.The battery I have in the thou I think is five years old and going for a 6th - that's the best I've managed so far!

[YamFazFan]

I suppose there is a chance that between 1998 and 2001 when I brought it (01) there could of been a battery change

What make is it?. The original in mine was 'GS' I think. Even if it had been changed before you bought the bike, which is unlikely, it would still be a long life.

[YamFazFan]

I think the acid pack issue is because of misuse with rather life changing consequences. Inevitable rule change I'm afraid.

Yes it says in darrsi's Wemoto link that it's a government response to an increase in acid related violent crimes.

[fazersharp]

[quote author=fazersharp link=topic=24755.msg288265#msg288265 date=1543762498]


I suppose there is a chance that between 1998 and 2001 when I brought it (01) there could of been a battery change

What make is it?. The original in mine was 'GS' I think. Even if it had been changed before you bought the bike, which is unlikely, it would still be a long life.


[/quote]Yes I think I remember it being a GS - can not tell in situ but I remember when I took it out

[fazersharp]

[quote author=mtread link=topic=24755.msg288259#msg288259 date=1543757225]

I think the acid pack issue is because of misuse with rather life changing consequences. Inevitable rule change I'm afraid.

Yes it says in darrsi's Wemoto link that it's a government response to an increase in acid related violent crimes.
[/quote]Very popular with certain communities and now spread.