How long did your ST1300 Battery last?

[M&M Take2]

My 04 was purchased May of 05 and still has the original battery. I've been using a tender from day one but I must admit I've been keeping a close watch on any possible symptoms of battery issues. I've got a few trips planned this season so I think a new Yuasa should be in order just to be on the safe side.

 

[shutupnride]

My 05 is still running strong. Occasional battery tender in the dead of winter, but mostly regular riding in search of pie.

Last spring, I pulled the bike out of mothballs for my first ride in awhile. I punched the starter button, nothing happened. After pulling some tupperware and an hour or so of highly technical troubleshooting, I happened to notice the kill switch was off.

Smile, if this has ever happened to you! :roll:

 

[SupraSabre]

When my battery was 4 years old, I was having issues with the FI light and tried new plugs and then a new battery, neither helped. I replaced the map sensor and cleaned out the 5 way tee connecting the throttle body and map sensor and problem seems no more! :clap2: I still have the original battery sitting on the shelve, but the new battery is doing just fine.

 

[snowmoer]

I will be starting year 7 at the end of June. When the bike is not running, it is on the tender. Temps are around 100 five months of the year around here.

 

[Shuey]

New '08 ABS picked up Oct'08 - 19 months old, just clicked over 52K miles. Original Yussa battery still seems strong, even after running it down 5, 6, maybe 7 times eek after shutting engine off for a quick chat, but without 'turning it off.' Lights blazing through a pleasant conversation then . . . sometimes a click, sometimes not.

Only goes on a tender if I'm not riding for more than a week (pretty rare).

Quick push start, easier than I thought it would be the first time, and battery seems to charge back to full in pretty short order.

Thanks to wb5tty for starting this thread and Joe for the Poll. I'll be keeping an eye on it.

Shuey

 

[slo~ride]

Bought new St1300 may 2006. Ridden almost daily through winter and every day in summer. 75000+ miles and still going fine just like the energizer bunny.

 

[Shadowfax-ST]

84,000 miles and 6-years on the 2004 (assuming it the original).

It certainly looks worn - but has been sub-optimum for the past year, or so and died this week after leaving the ignition on for 2-hours while I polished Shadowfax. I know it was in poor condition because with the new battery fitted tonight I saw my 'N' lamp the shiniest I've ever seen it.

The dull battery may have explained the 'mysterious' self-re-setting clocks and poor tick over over the past weeks?

 

[Tom Mac 04a]

snip...The dull battery may have explained the 'mysterious' self-re-setting clocks and poor tick over over the past weeks?

When the clock resets during starting = time to get new battery!

 

[Shadowfax-ST]

When the clock resets during starting = time to get new battery!

Thanks, Tom. :

 

[judgecb1300]

Thanks guys
You have answerd a lot of questions .my pan will be gettting its third battery if i use it every day she starts fine but if i leave it for more than 3 days she fails to start

Is there anything on the pan you guys now about a possible cause of battery drain

all my electrical farkles have been checked and double checked

I'm at a lost

help

 

[RCS]

possible cause of battery drain

Heat. Batteries have fluid in them that evaporates over time. Also, make sure the battery you purchase hasn't sat on a shelf at a distributor for a long time after it electrolyte acid was put in it. That is when the battery is first "activated".

 

[Viggo]

My '04 with 40,000+ miles still has the original Yuasa. Living where I do, it gets stored for the winter hooked up top a battery tender. Last summer, I had left the ignition on for about 5-10 minutes and it wouldn't start (got going by bump starting on a hill) which is the only time it was ever seriously discharged.

I fully expected to replace the battery this spring after 4 months of storage but to my surprise, the ST fired up like I had ridden it the day before. So now I'm still using it. I have 2 big trips planned this year so I'm a little nervous about it lasting. I suppose I should just bite the bullet and get a new one. For what it's worth, before I had a battery tender, I was lucky to get 2 years out of a m/c battery.

UPDATE: I'm still using the original battery. It will be 7 years old next summer with 53,000 or so miles on it. I wonder if it will last another year?

 

[YR]

UPDATE: I'm still using the original battery. It will be 7 years old next summer with 53,000 or so miles on it. I wonder if it will last another year?

It is not just mileage and years, it is also the history and quality of life of the battery. If you ride only in warmer weather and for longer distances, the battery will function longer at an acceptable level. The colder the temperature is, the sooner you will need to replace the battery. Crank amp dramatically goes down with the temperature, where the viscosity of the cold oil just puts an extra load on the system. Repeated cold weather operation will shorten the battery life.

I don’t know what you do that makes the battery last for 7 years and 53k miles but I would keep doing it

 

[KTD1911]

still on original battery on my 05 52000 but i do use a tender all year right after i park the bike in garage but if i leave the ignition on for more than 5 minutes the thing is dead but i have lots of farkles radio,gps,cruise control and additional led light i use for extra daylight visibility. I am looking for new battery just cause of age and plan on couple of long trips this year

 

[Killtimer]

The OEM in my '05 is still going strong. This bike sits for 4 to 5 months of the year on a tender. <Hint> (works for me) tun the key on for 20 or 30 seconds every week or two to jolt the battery.

 

[jnsgardner]

Just a side question about a Battery Tender and a '05 STeed. When I return home even from a long trip and my battery indicator is saying 100%, I plug in the Battery Tender and it always goes RED for about a hour or so. Does that mean that the Tender has higher standards about the state of charge than the STeed itself?

John

 

[racer1735]

The originaly Yuasa on my '04 ST1300 started to crank slow earlier this week. Went to go for a Sunday ride this evening and it again cranked sluggish but started. topped off the tank with fuel at the gas station four blocks from home, went to re-start, and nada. Clock reset to 1:00 am a tell-tale sign. Pushed her home...uggh...sweat...and am now online searching for a replacement battery. Have used a Battery Tender religously and got 21,000+ miles and 7 years out of the original. Can't fault that! Now to decide...replace with an OEM Yuasa or something else?

 

[TPadden]

....21,000+ miles and 7 years out of the original. Can't fault that! .....

Nope, all your fault. 3,000 miles a year - SHAME ON YOU !

 

[racer1735]

Nope, all your fault. 3,000 miles a year - SHAME ON YOU !

Yep. And I've topped that number (3,000 miles) since this past June. I was off the bike for nearly 2 years (there is a thread related to that, as well) thanks to Texas DMV's requirement that all 'new' licensed riders hold a MSF certificate. 'New' riders includes previous riders licensed in another state. 21 years of riding and I had to take the MSF basic course. Main challenge was coming up with the $200 to do so.

 

[TPadden]

Yep. And I've topped that number (3,000 miles) ...

I'll be passing through Austin on my way to FLSToc if you want to add a couple thousand ....