Battery failed...hoping to hear from Scorpion...

I don't always use my battery tender, but I've never had any problems with OE or replacement Yuasa's. All Yuasa's that I've had on 1100's and 1300's since 1997 have lasted at least 4 years.
 
Uncle Phil said:
I've had two Yuasas fail with no warning at all in different ST1100s. One started fine, rode to breakfast, came back out to the bike and it was deader than a hammer. It appeared to have shorted out the plates when I put the ST1100 on the center stand. The second one I started the bike with no problem, let it warm up, then cut it off when I had to go back in the house to get something. Came out and hit the starter and it would not even put out a grunt. Voltage was around 10 volts. Both of these batteries were in bikes that get ridden regularly (I commute on a daily basis on them besides a 'few' little rides here and there) and the batteries were 2 years old or less. I would have been glad to replace them before I needed to if I knew they were going to fail... ;-)
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Yep, my 1100 eats batteries worse than any bike I've ever owned....I think it has to do with the fact that the battery seems to get extremely hot during a long, hot ride.....

The only way I can figure to stay on top of things is to do a load test before each long trip. From personal experience, if a battery fails a load test, a no start is in your future during the next month or two.
 
One problem is that for what they are asked to do, our batteries are way too small. They turn over an engine that is larger than some car engines, power more electronics than many cars had even just 20 years ago, and yet they are smaller than what my lawn tractor came with. I really wish there was a way to get creative and make room for a larger battery, but it just isn't happening unless I want to invade my luggage space. The problem then comes down to keeping that battery charged, and our charging systems aren't all that great. But at least a larger battery will have more reserve power available.

If I keep my bike I might just look into where I could fit something larger.
 
Neither of mine showed any 'sign' of weakness. That's the reason I believe it was a plate shorted out in both cases (both did it after I put them on the center stand). When one dies slowly, you get the 'I don't want to crank' response and you know what's up. No way to test for plates that are about to fail to my knowledge ... ;-)
 
2 e-mails over the course of a week have gone unanswered by Scorpion. I've lost more faith in getting this resolved through them. I'm abandoning their suggested method of contact and will call them Monday.
 
I'll let you know how the MotoBatt batteries work out. It looks like my other Yuasa is fixin' to kill over. I do like the 'extra' set of terminals on the MotoBatts to hook up your mods. They don't come with the extra set of terminals to screw into the connectors, but they are about $6 for a set and well worth it.
 
Al Gully said:
There is a free battery under the free ads if your interested.
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That one doesn't fit the ST1300, and they aren't good to use as a starting battery. The terminals are too small and delicate to hold up well for our usage.

On the bright side, it almost seems like Scorpion was watching these posts, as they sent me a reply yesterday after I posted here. Someone must be working late there, or else their reply got delayed. Anyway...they gave me their instructions for performing tests, which are similar to what I did. I'll do them again and respond...they said it the numbers fail I will get a new battery. Then to decide whether to keep the new Scorpion, or sell it and buy one of the Yuasa's. Decisions, decisions...

Since the bike will probably have to be sold in the spring, I'll probably just put in the Scorpion.
 
All I know is this....$160-$180 for a OEM Yuasa....and it craps out before 1 yr. Nothing funny about that one bit in my book! If my Interstate Battery can go 6+ years- Yuasa needs to take a long, hard look at their Product! My opinion......
 
Out of curiosity, Doug, did you get your OEM directly from the warehouse or did a dealer get their paws on it first?

--Mark
 
st1300doug said:
All I know is this....$160-$180 for a OEM Yuasa....and it craps out before 1 yr. Nothing funny about that one bit in my book! If my Interstate Battery can go 6+ years- Yuasa needs to take a long, hard look at their Product! My opinion......
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when you say OEM Yuasa...you mean the one that came with the bike? Because any other Yuasa isn't OEM. What the dealer will sell you isn't what came in the bike...compare batteries, labels, case details...different. Dealer and other Yuasa batteries seem to have a much shorter life, which is why I went with the Scorpion in the first place...if I'm only going to get 2 or 3 years out of a battery, I'd rather pay $80 than $180.
 
No replacement. Employment changes (none for right now, and not hopeful for anything meaningful in this area) mean the toys must go. The hobby is too expensive for what pay is in my area, and vacation time is pretty much non existent in this area, so a long distance bike would just go to waste. If things look up in the future I might puck up a cheap used dual sport just for local riding and to save $$ commuting. Both bikes, the new 'Stich, all the accessories & gear will get sold later in the spring when there is more demand. Not doing anything yet in hopes we see a miracle before then, but once people start looking for bikes they will be put up for sale.
 
nhdiesel said:
No replacement. Employment changes (none for right now, and not hopeful for anything meaningful in this area) mean the toys must go. The hobby is too expensive for what pay is in my area, and vacation time is pretty much non existent in this area, so a long distance bike would just go to waste. If things look up in the future I might puck up a cheap used dual sport just for local riding and to save $$ commuting. Both bikes, the new 'Stich, all the accessories & gear will get sold later in the spring when there is more demand. Not doing anything yet in hopes we see a miracle before then, but once people start looking for bikes they will be put up for sale.
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Did you ever think of.....or consider moving out of the area. I know it is hard for some people to change but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. I dragged Laura out of NH to MA and she did not want to go at first but now admits its the best thing she ever did!! You really have to look at why you live in the area you are at, what are the benefits to staying vs moving?? Sometimes you may think you know all the answers but having an outside objective person giving there point of view is worth listening to sometimes. Not sure if you knew it but I lived in North Conway for 5 yrs after moving from RI. Realizing unless you are independently weathly, it is very hard to make a living up there and get paid the same amount that I was making in RI. I got out!! and moved down to MA. Sorry to hijack the thread.... pm me I can go into to more details.

sent from my Droid phone.
 
st1300doug said:
All I know is this....$160-$180 for a OEM Yuasa....and it craps out before 1 yr. Nothing funny about that one bit in my book! If my Interstate Battery can go 6+ years- Yuasa needs to take a long, hard look at their Product! My opinion......
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Doug , are you saying the one you just bought from the group buy has failed? I know you had problems with the first one but then you got a replacement from Scott.

Greg
 
Yep. Greg: The first one died like in 2 weeks. Scott took care of it quick. Standup guy! But, in reading all these threads, YUASA sounds like, is NOT putting out the same battery as years back. Why? That's some serious cash, to get a bad battery. The Honda Dealer here said that if a battery sits like for two years, it can sulfate and go bad. Even though it was "new". Under load test, the new Yuasa had a dead-cell. Happens. I kinda am miff'd about where Honda puts the ST battery. What's wrong w/the old -under-the-seat way? Com'on....it's THE battery. Make access quick and easy to access. Scott at Evapor is cool though. A+ in my book!
 
For what it is asked to do, the batteries in our bikes are way too small. They start an engine the size that is in many cars on the road, yet is 1/4 the physical size. Ignoring other loads- such as accessories, because they should be run by the charging system, these STARTING BATTERIES are much too small to do what is required of them. I can only think Honda assumes bikes are only ridden in perfect weather, not used often, and batteries are replaced every couple years.

While our original batteries have a fairly long lifespan on average, it takes almost nothing to leave them dead, and our bike stranded. Add in the poor quality of the typical replacement battery and things get worse.
 
I think I read a post about one ST lister who installed an Odyssey PC580 into their 1300- it's an absorbed glass mat battery with outstanding starting power. I know it involved some mods to the battery area, but IMHO would be worth it. My younger brother has a PC580 in his BMW Airhead now for almost 10 years (yes, TEN years), and mine is 4 years old with no problems. I rarely charge it, and it sits for long periods often. Might be an idea!
 
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