Luck Finally Ran Out

[Papa]

After being grounded for two weeks I was off to Jim Potts Open House. Went out and the bike would not start. Now it's just clicking - which I have read means the battery is dead. Calling BEST. Very disappointed . . . first real problem after 8500 miles.

[pitbull]

After being grounded for two weeks I was off to Jim Potts Open House. Went out and the bike would not start. Now it's just clicking - which I have read means the battery is dead. Calling BEST. Very disappointed . . . first real problem after 8500 miles.

Hey just a battery, wouldn't sweat it too much, it happens sounds like a quick fix and you'll be riding agin soon

[Dudley]

Sounds like it could be a dead battery. I would check the terminals to be sure they are TIGHT! White knuckle tight, not just snug. If they are not tight, a trickle charge for 24 hours after they are tightened may do the trick unless one of the cells is dead. Good luck.

[Papa]

Thanks. I learned a good lesson - - ride no matter what the weather is. It's been cold, rainy and windy here in the Chicago area for two weeks and I wimped out and didn't ride. Gave that battery a chance to die. Won't let that happen again.

[ThreeFeet]

A battery tender is cheap insurance if you think you'll not be ryding for any length of time. Makes it easy to just plug into the pigtail that's attatched to the battery. I got my tenders fromthe dealer, and had them put the pigtail thing to the battery.Worked GREAT on my RS kept it going for more than the two years expectancy of the battery.

[pjp623]

Get a battery tender and leave it on whenever your spyder is not running. That way you won't have this issue again.

[ARtraveler]

I have let mine sit as much as a week--without a charge--but never two.

[BajaRon]

I have let my Spyder sit for several weeks, never have it on a charger and it always starts. OEM battery, January 2008. Not sure why others have issues.

[arntufun]

I have let my Spyder sit for several weeks, never have it on a charger and it always starts. OEM battery, January 2008. Not sure why others have issues.

I have never once put mine on the tender. I have one, but I never used it. Spyder sat all winter in my garage and fired right up in the spring. Original 08 battery. I wish someone could answer the question why it happens.

I hope I didn't just jinks myself

[docdoru]

I have let my Spyder sit for several weeks, never have it on a charger and it always starts. OEM battery, January 2008. Not sure why others have issues.

'cause you bought-it in Florida?!?

[boborgera]

I have never once put mine on the tender. I have one, but I never used it. Spyder sat all winter in my garage and fired right up in the spring. Original 08 battery. I wish someone could answer the question why it happens.

I hope I didn't just jinks myself

Could be that the battery was NOT fully charged when first put in service. Most battery's have to be fully charged before the first drawdown or they won't take a 100% charge from that point on.
Just like cell phone batteries say , Charge before first use.

[bruiser]

Batteries are built with a certain amount of "cycles". A cycle being a discharge/charge. Anything from manufacturing defects, charge rate, load, environment etc., has an impact on how long a battery will last. Large manufacturers buy batteries in balk. They may sit on the shelf for months or even a year before being used. Then they may not receive a full charge when installed. Couple that with how long the product sits at the dealer before being sold. Whenever I install new batteries (6-12 volt deep cells) in a customers machine I always tell them to let them fully charge before using the machine. Our machines use automatic chargers, plug and forget. I test the alternator output on the at least every six months just to be sure it's putting out the required voltage/amperage. One thing you have to remember, when you add lights, radios and other goodies to your ride, it's an added power draw. You may need to change the alternator and or battery to compensate for that. My has sat as much as three months and has started right up every time. And by the way, heat is as hard on a battery as cold.

[BajaRon]

'cause you bought-it in Florida?!?

True, very true...

Must be those Florida batteries...

[JJW SpyderRider]

Hope you get it fixed before Sunday, I hear there's a 1/2# burger calling your name at the Bristol Tap. I will be going on the ride to Baraboo and not making it down this month for one of those great burgers.

[SpyderAnn01]

Papa sorry to hear you're having troubles. I'm one of the lucky ones that didn't even put my battery on a charger over the winter and it has never let me down. I hope you get back on the road soon as it looks like we may be in for a little Indian Summer next week.

[CLH]

I have 2008 GS, 2014 STS, and now a Ryker Rally. But each and every Yassa battery has lasted me at least 5 years each even in NC not starting during winter for a couple months. If you dont get that kind of life you have some issues like something drawing current when it shouldnt! I have never used a battery tender at any time.
I have a friend that has had all kinds of problems with batteries, I checked it out and there was a leaky diode in the rectifier pack. I have seen these issues before, these kinds of things can cause noise in an audio system by putting trash on the DC power line.

[Peter Aawen]

Interesting info CLH, and info that is probably useful to new readers at that!

But you really should check the dates on the original post (the post that started the thread) & also check the posting dates as you run back thru a few of the most recent posts in any thread where you might be considering answering....

Cheers!

[Elwood58]

I have 2008 GS, 2014 STS, and now a Ryker Rally. But each and every Yassa battery has lasted me at least 5 years each even in NC not starting during winter for a couple months. If you dont get that kind of life you have some issues like something drawing current when it shouldnt! I have never used a battery tender at any time.
I have a friend that has had all kinds of problems with batteries, I checked it out and there was a leaky diode in the rectifier pack. I have seen these issues before, these kinds of things can cause noise in an audio system by putting trash on the DC power line.

Original post was 9 years ago. That bike went on to serve him for 18000 more miles, until he got a 2014 model.

[Harrison55]

You in eastern NC where is your garage. Need a good place near Fayetteville to keep my spyder up and add lights and trailer.

[Peteoz]

You in eastern NC where is your garage. Need a good place near Fayetteville to keep my spyder up and add lights and trailer.

Harrison, unfortunately, very few people will see your post buried in here, especially in light of the age of the thread and its heading. I would suggest starting a new thread to ask your question.......besides, putting your question in another thread is called “hijacking” and can nullify the original poster’s question and is considered poor form .......it’s pretty easy to start a new thread...... Click the “Forum” button top left. Select an appropriate category from the selections below it, click “post new thread” (inside red banner - top left) and create a thread with a catchy heading like “Any good service guys in eastern NC”..hope this helps

Pete.

[krakum1967]

If it died out in the rainy cool, it was ready for a change...and you didn't get stranded.