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Original Batterys on 08's ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter arntufun
  • Start date Start date
'08 SM5 Rode the first year without a charger during regular ryding season. Put it on the charger for winter. After that first winter, I now put it on the charger every time I park it at home. I have had some long(ish) breaks from ryding even during the usual ryding season up here. Now, I'm just used to plugging it in all the time. I don't have any extra lights or other components which draw on the battery. Battery still going strong.
 
I have an 08 so I'm looking for the same year responses. I still have the original battery installed and it is showing no signs of failing yet. I'm running no extra lights and only run a small inverter in my trunk once in awhile to power Bose speakers for my Ipod music when we are out. I only put it on the tender in the winter, never during riding season. I'm just wondering if I will be able to get one more year out of it. :dontknow:

Who is still running the original battery ? If your battery was replaced, post when and if you were running electronics and lights. We are the pioneers of this machine so we need to collect this data for our 09 and above riders and to see if my battery lasting this long is a fluke.

I have my original battery...no issues....2008 GS. I do keep it connected to the battery tender plus in the garage all the time though...no question the BT keeps the battery fresh. I'll likely replace it in the spring when I get a service done/oil change, etc...but, no issues with the battery...
 
Bought my PE Spyder GS in April of 2008 and have 59,300+ miles on it and always have my Garmin Street Pilot on, a Shark 250 watt stereo system which is always on when ryding and an extra LED running/stop light. Quite often I am towing a trailer that is lit up pretty well. Always use a battery tender in the winter but only in the winter and in an unheated garage. Still have the original battery and never had an issue with it and don't plan on changing it unless I start to have problems next spring!:thumbup:
 
2008 GS - original battery still good. 55w driving lamps and ride weekly year 'round, no tender(it's on the Harley!). I replace all batteries at 4 yr (fleet exp)so this one will be a goner in a few months with all new tires and front brake pads. Actually, batteries hold their charge better in the cold - they lose 10% of their charge per month in the heat of summer - but bad is bad and cold will not tolerate marginal batteries for sure.
 
2008 GS - original battery still good. 55w driving lamps and ride weekly year 'round, no tender(it's on the Harley!). I replace all batteries at 4 yr (fleet exp)so this one will be a goner in a few months with all new tires and front brake pads. Actually, batteries hold their charge better in the cold - they lose 10% of their charge per month in the heat of summer - but bad is bad and cold will not tolerate marginal batteries for sure.

Cold worse as bike is used less, so the longer periods of time without use end up draining the battery more, no?
 
Cold worse as bike is used less, so the longer periods of time without use end up draining the battery more, no?

Heat over time will weaken a battery,
But harder starting [cranking] in very cold weather will weaken it even more,. And then eventuality need to be replaced. If the Spyders battery were next to the engine under the tupperware it probably wouldn't last a year.
 
Heat over time will weaken a battery,
But harder starting [cranking] in very cold weather will weaken it even more,. And then eventuality need to be replaced. If the Spyders battery were next to the engine under the tupperware it probably wouldn't last a year.

Interesting...points understood. I have mine in the garage with the tender whenever I'm not riding it (yeah, and it sits more than it is ridden)....I guess the tender really keeps the battery fresh and running well. I'll likely replace preventatively in the spring when I go in for maintenance...
 
Battery Life

Well mine finally went bad on me this past week
Has a bad cell in it so says battery tester
I do have the HID headlight/foglight combo installed and a GPS and never used a battery tender.
I got about 40 months/26k miles of service out of it so I really cant complain.
Will be putting in an Odessy A.G.M. battery when the weather warms up a bit. Looks to be about $140 retail
Never had a problem in my Seadoos w/Odessy - even with running total loss ignitions in them
 
Well mine finally went bad on me this past week
Has a bad cell in it so says battery tester
I do have the HID headlight/foglight combo installed and a GPS and never used a battery tender.
I got about 40 months/26k miles of service out of it so I really cant complain.
Will be putting in an Odessy A.G.M. battery when the weather warms up a bit. Looks to be about $140 retail
Never had a problem in my Seadoos w/Odessy - even with running total loss ignitions in them

I have the Odyssey PC680 with the Odyssey Ultimizer. Other battery maintainers like the battery tender junior won't completely keep the Odyssey battery at 100%. I know others here don't agree.

You may want to check out post # 16 and 17 here:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?26679-Odyssey-Chargers&highlight=odyssey+pc680
 
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