BATTERY LIFE

[oldguyinTX]

What have folks been getting in terms of battery life? My 2013 RTL still has the original battery and it shows no sign of dying anytime soon. The gets ridden 6 - 7 months out of the year, roughly 6,500 miles per season. The rest of the time it is hooked up to a battery tender. My voltmeter shows 12.2 volts with the engine off, and 14.5 at idle. So I'm thinking that I'm OK for at least another season, maybe two.

[Roadster Renovations]

I got 2 years out of the RT's. We rode about 34K in that 2 years. Sounds like you got a Wednesday battery.

[Bob Denman]

I'm usually pretty happy if I get four full riding Seasons. If it lasts that long: I replace it more for peace of mind; than anything else...

[4 MARIE]

I'm thinking 3 years is pretty decent , which is where I am now. If it starts okay in spring
after being winterized, I will leave it in for this years ryding season. I agree with Mr. D, better to do it a
month early than be stuck in some parking lot at dusk with a dead one.

[Ranman42]

I am new to spyders but had bikes for years . Usually use the tenders. Have gotten 7 plus on some and only 3 on others. Last year kept one bike on tender all the time. Took a late winter ride. Everything fine. Back on tender. Come spring dead as can be. Your stats sound good but in my experience when they die they go rather quick. You might well get another year or more from this one. From others posts that doesn't seem to be the norm.

I did learn that even the smart tenders will not be able to bring back up a battery if they drop much below 12V. Sorry can't remember the exact number now.

Just my experience your results may vary.

[Aracknoid]

Missed four years by 30 days, about normal battery life for my bikes. Four years without problems, may have been able to pull a few more months but it is not worth it to me to run that close to batttery failure.


Good Luck

[Ben Burped]

What have folks been getting in terms of battery life? My 2013 RTL still has the original battery and it shows no sign of dying anytime soon. The gets ridden 6 - 7 months out of the year, roughly 6,500 miles per season. The rest of the time it is hooked up to a battery tender. My voltmeter shows 12.2 volts with the engine off, and 14.5 at idle. So I'm thinking that I'm OK for at least another season, maybe two.

I deal with 12 Volt DC gel cell batteries in the course of normal business and anything that low is living on borrowed time. The only reason that you haven't been stranded is that the tender is peaking out the battery each time before you ride. For your own safety and well being, replace the battery now.

Is it really worth the risk of being stranded?

[Chupaca]

I have a 2012 RS which I ryde all year . The kids have killed the battery a couple of times but it has always come back to life. This will be the 5th year and I have seen up to seven that I know of. I also have bare bones electric acc to drag it down....Your good to go another season...

[PapaHotel]

What I found out on my last bike is that Batteries are much cheaper than alternators. If your battery works, but is going bad, the alternator burns out. You usually find this out hundreds of miles at home and approaching dusk....

Be smart, replace a battery before it dies on the road. I replace mine 4 years at the max

[oldguyinTX]

Thanks to all for some good advice. I'm thinking a new battery will be my first spring project.

[cmungen]

[QUOTE=oldguyinCT;1214764]What have folks been getting in terms of battery life? My 2013 RTL still has the original battery and it shows no sign of dying anytime soon. The gets ridden 6 - 7 months out of the year, roughly 6,500 miles per season. The rest of the time it is hooked up to a battery tender. My voltmeter shows 12.2 volts with the engine off, and 14.5 at idle. So I'm thinking that I'm OK for at least another season, maybe two. [/QUOTChange every 3 years to be statistically safe. They die fast and in all the wrong places.
good luck

[Bob Denman]

Did you know that Murphy was an optimist?

"Whatever can go wrong: will" We know that this is true...
But it will also go wrong at exactly the worst possible moment!

[Gunkandpudge]

I'm on my 2nd RT-S. I find that at 3 years I'm replacing a battery I had one go completely dead in 3.5 years resulting in a trailer ride plus the cost of a battery, plus the loss of time. So at 3 yrs I replace.

[007james]

I have a 2012 RT Limited I bought new in Jan., 2012. I got a full 5 years out of my battery, with 47,000 miles on it. Not bad! I ride year around, and keep a Battery Tender on it only in the Winter cold weather. The battery wend dad and would not take a charge. I had to get AAA to trailer it to a Dealer. [QUOTE=cmungen;1215022]

What have folks been getting in terms of battery life? My 2013 RTL still has the original battery and it shows no sign of dying anytime soon. The gets ridden 6 - 7 months out of the year, roughly 6,500 miles per season. The rest of the time it is hooked up to a battery tender. My voltmeter shows 12.2 volts with the engine off, and 14.5 at idle. So I'm thinking that I'm OK for at least another season, maybe two. [/QUOTChange every 3 years to be statistically safe. They die fast and in all the wrong places.
good luck

[blitzkreig]

i carry one of those small (the size of a small paperback) Lithium battery packs which are supposed to be able to start your car battery if stuck in a jam.

It is too weak to start my truck (which has TWO on board batteries to start the diesel engine) but just enough to start my bike. I think I paid about $50 for mine. That way if my battery dies when I am at my most vulnerable in the dark on some lonely highway I just hook her up. Start and go directly to my home where I have spare batteries for my bikes.

What I have done, which is invaluable, is connect a couple of leads to my battery and just let them dangle in the frunk (taped off of course). I can get to the leads MUCH easier than the top of the battery in my 2014 RT. These leads work for connecting my charger or even connecting a boost as I used 10 gauge wire ...