Guys, I don't get it. I've owned a lot of bikes from just about every manufacturer out there, something close to 100 as I have been restoring and collecting for years. Aside from the old 60's, 70's, and 80's vintage bikes, I've owned a new Harley, 1500 Nomad, and a ZRX1100 - all purchased brand new. Even my 2013 Suzuki loves it's original battery. Batteries have always given me 3 - 4 years, but not the ST.
Of all of them, my 2009 ST1300 has the shortest battery life. My 4th new battery just died and will not reliably start my bike. This battery was one of the Scorpions that I'd read good things about - purchased entirely because of it's fantastic price. My 1st/original battery died in 2012 (3 years) after I left the lights on when a friend dropped his bike on his leg in a parking lot drop. The battery never recovered and the engine barely turned over - even after a full charge. The 2nd one came from a Honda Generator that one of the members here was selling new (take offs) at a good price. It lasted about a year and I figured that it may have been in storage long before I bought it. I purchased a new Yuasa and it gave me about 18 months, but soon it started dragging during start-up. This new Scorpion is only 10 months old and now even after a full day's charge will barely turn the bike over. I rode 440 miles on Saturday, but today - barely fast enough to start.
While my bike sits unused for weeks at the time, the ST1300 has always seemed to have "marginal battery" supply to me. I have never felt that with my other bikes - battery power was the last thing I worried about with them. I have a voltmeter wired into my bike (The new TPMS from Orange has it built-in), so I can see my charging system is working. While running, it shows a consistent 14.1~14.3 volts. At the end of the days' ride, I had 13.1 volts, this morning I had 12.6 and the bike was slow to turn over - all at 70 degree weather in my garage.
I will be buying the Yuasa factory battery this time (my 3rd) unless you have a better option. I'm stuck on this idea that the ST1300's battery should be a 16 Amp model.
Thanks for the inputs! Gordon
Of all of them, my 2009 ST1300 has the shortest battery life. My 4th new battery just died and will not reliably start my bike. This battery was one of the Scorpions that I'd read good things about - purchased entirely because of it's fantastic price. My 1st/original battery died in 2012 (3 years) after I left the lights on when a friend dropped his bike on his leg in a parking lot drop. The battery never recovered and the engine barely turned over - even after a full charge. The 2nd one came from a Honda Generator that one of the members here was selling new (take offs) at a good price. It lasted about a year and I figured that it may have been in storage long before I bought it. I purchased a new Yuasa and it gave me about 18 months, but soon it started dragging during start-up. This new Scorpion is only 10 months old and now even after a full day's charge will barely turn the bike over. I rode 440 miles on Saturday, but today - barely fast enough to start.
While my bike sits unused for weeks at the time, the ST1300 has always seemed to have "marginal battery" supply to me. I have never felt that with my other bikes - battery power was the last thing I worried about with them. I have a voltmeter wired into my bike (The new TPMS from Orange has it built-in), so I can see my charging system is working. While running, it shows a consistent 14.1~14.3 volts. At the end of the days' ride, I had 13.1 volts, this morning I had 12.6 and the bike was slow to turn over - all at 70 degree weather in my garage.
I will be buying the Yuasa factory battery this time (my 3rd) unless you have a better option. I'm stuck on this idea that the ST1300's battery should be a 16 Amp model.
Thanks for the inputs! Gordon