Batteries ..ugghh

[the Ferret]

Well, the $114 Firebrand battery that my local dealer sold me as a good replacement for my Yuasa lasted 19 months. Of course it has a 12-month replacement warranty.

Started right up at home off the battery tender jr. Rode about 40 miles and stopped to take a pic for the Photo Challenge and it wouldn't restart. Tried bump starting the bike myself but my 74-year old legs couldn't build up enough steam. After the 4th try 2 good Samaritans pulled over and asked if I could use some help. Godsend. With them pushing it started on the first bump and I thanked them a bunch, put my helmet jacket and gloves back on, and headed straight home. Made it without further issue.

Pulled the battery and now I need to replace it. Also been thinking about one of those battery jump starter things since our other 2 bikes are automatics and can't be bump started.

Another Yuasa? Batteries Plus? Walmart? Definitely not another Firebrand!

Any recommendations on a jump started pack?

[dave]

Can't recommend a specific battery brand, but I highly recommend that whatever brand you purchase that you also purchase, and use, a battery tender. It will double the life of your battery.

[peterbaron]

I buy batteries at an average price of C$130 from a reputable motorcycle seller, however any battery can fail at any time and prematurely, i.e. dead cell can occur even with a new battery soon after installation, but this is very rare.
A rider who rides frequently, like Ferret, does not need to recharge the battery if his CB charging system is working properly.
My standard CB averages 15,000 miles a year, unlike my DLX only 1500, and there is no problem with either battery. The Dlx battery is charged a maximum of 2-3 times a year.
I can't remember the last time I charged the battery of my standard CB in the last few years.
The batteries in both bikes are 3-4 years old.
One is AGM, the other came dry with a container of acid to fill the battery.
The batteries in my cars last about 10 years and have never been charged after installation.
If my car battery becomes suspicious, I do the AVR test and make a decision.
In bikes, if the battery does not have a healthy third crank in the row = replacement.
This is how I deal with my batteries.

[the Ferret]

Can't recommend a specific battery brand, but I highly recommend that whatever brand you purchase that you also purchase, and use, a battery tender. It will double the life of your battery.

Yea my 3 bikes are on battery tender jr's whenever they are not being ridden, and have been for at least the last 10 years or so

[Cormanus]

I’m on my third battery. The current one (3 years old) is a Dynavolt as was its predecessor which lasted 4 years.

[the Ferret]

I normally get 4 years out of Yuasa's but they are pricey compared to this Firebrand. Should have known better. But I've had to bump my Yuasa equipped CBs also, but usually after 4 years (which would have been Jan 2027 normally) not 19 months. I'm getting too old to bump start. My plan was just to replace the batteries after 4 years thereby avoiding the bump start, but that didn't work out too well for me this time.

[Cormanus]

By the way, I can recommend the portable jump starters.

[the Ferret]

Cormanus have you used one to jump a bike? Which one?

[Wisedrum]

The Yuasa gave up after 7 years. Half a year ago I unloaded the battery on an Irland trip by charging my smartphone for too long without a running motor. It recovered somehow for a while, but its life suddenly ended without a warning after a ride in my hometown.

I replaced the Yuasa with a fitting JMT for round about 70€ and the battery shows no sign of weakness after 3 years and works fine. Hopefully many more years to come. Since my expierence of unloading the battery I pay attention to not let it happen again. This will drastically shorten a battery's life as I more than one time found out. I do not charge batteries extern. While riding my bikes or car regulary, they will do the work in the year. In warmer periods more often than in colder ones, but they get a change to charge the battery every now and than on longer rides more than 30km.

As a start back up I bought a power booster/jump starter. Didn't have the chance to use it til now. But who knows, maybe someday its time will come.

[Tev62]

This is a very popular jump starter for bikes in these parts. The Noco Gb20 (Genius Boost Sport - 500a Ultrasafe Jump Starter)

Not sure how widely available it is but they have a lot of models.