R65 battery life - how long does yours last?

[rob650]

I've never gotten longer than three years - bought crappy $40 dollar batteries, expensive Odyssey / Gel / Super-Atomic Unobtanium batteries, nothing lasts longer than 36 months.  Is this normal for you guys and gals?

[Bob_Roller]

I reside in Phoenix, kind of worse case scenario for a storage battery with the incessant summer heat .

On average, I get 3 years if I'm lucky, but I've had an OEM BMW battery last 5 years, and had an Odyssey last just past the warranty period .

If your bike sits for extended periods, I would suggest some sort of 'battery tender' to keep it charged up .

Also if you have a serviceable type battery, you need to check the fluid level on a regular basis, letting the battery get low on fluid will decrease the life of the battery dramatically even if it is only one time .

My most recent battery purchase, was a generic AGM type battery from Staab Battery, so far I have no complaints with it after one year ,  the price was quite reasonable .

http://www.staabbattery.com/product/UB12220-V.html

[Ed Miller]

Rob, how far do you usually ride?  If your batteries aren't being charged well that would shorten their lives.  

I've been using some kind of computer back up battery on my R65.  I swapped out the first one after about 4 years on general principal, and the second one is a couple of years old.  It's a sealed lead acid 18 amp hour battery that fits pretty well, but I don't remember the number on it.  I don't even think it's a good battery for a bike, it's just that I rarely ride less than 30 miles at a stretch.  If I remember I'll check my book when I get home and post what it is.

[Barry]

If I got less than 5 years I'd be  deeply unhappy. My current Varta wet battery is about 5 1/2 years old and my last car battery lasted 12 years. None of this is possible at Bob's temperatures though.

Many people don't keep batteries fully charged and that's what kills them. The self discharge rate means that If either my bike or car are not used for a week they need to be charged especially in the summer when self discharge rates are higher. This or the use of a battery tender is the secret for long life.

[rob650]

Ed, my current battery sounds like yours.  its a ub12180, made for power supplies.  Its at the end of year 3 and starting to die.

I use a "Battery Doc" charger, but only hook it up once a month during the 6 months when I'm not riding.  Most of my rides are an hour or longer, so its not short-trip syndrome killing them.

[Crossrodes]

I don't know about the R65.  I installed a new one two years ago and so far it's fine.  I do put it on a battery tender from time to time.  I also have an '06 Goldwing that I also put on the battery tender.  It is the original battery so is 4.5 years old now.

[Bob_Roller]

I think a battery tender connected to the battery the entire time the bike is not ridden, may help your battery life .

[Mike V]

I think a battery tender connected to the battery the entire time the bike is not ridden, may help your battery life .  

In my case it certainly does. Since I've used a Battery Tender on my /7 with a slosh battery, the life is greatly extended.  Five years is not uncommon for me. I don't commute or do short trips with my /7. It's either parked with a BT hooked up or on the road for extended miles and continuous use. Before using an external charge system for my /7 the battery would go dead and lose substantial capacity crippling it's life and cranking power.  I'm currently running an Odyssey on the 650, great battery so far.

[Bob_Roller]

None of this is possible at Bob's temperatures though.

I've got a remote sensor thermometer in my garage,  from mid May through late October, it rarely gets below 85 F., during June-July-August and September, it's not too uncommon the have temperatures in the garage at 0515, when I leave for work, to be in the low to mid 90's F ., temps will top out at around 105 F. in the late afternoon .

Like I said a worse case scenario for a storage battery .

[bruce_launceston]

8 years out of the factory fitted OEM battery, another 8 years from the second genuine BMW battery, only a couple of years from an Odyssey (during a period of occassional use and lots of storage). I am now running a BMW absorbed matt battery, only been fitted about 2 years with no problems at all.

[Darwin_R65]

Here in the tropics of Darwin, it's 1-2 years for batteries. The extra heat and humidity plays merry hell on batteries.

John

[Bob_Roller]

While were on the subject of batteries, with a serviceable type battery, it's pretty common to develop a conductive path between the posts on the battery from the battery venting oxygen and hydrogen during the charging and discharging process .

To check for this, place the leads of a multimeter set to the DC volts scale, next to, but not touching the metal posts of the battery, if you have a conductive path, you will show a couple of volts .

Common term for this, is 'leakage' .

It can cause a battery to discharge without any 'load' attached to it .

Cleaning the battery with baking soda will neutralize this conductive deposit .