When I got my bike last year, the previous owner told me that the battery had died once and been jumped. It died on me again when i left the lights on for only 10 mins last fall. I charged it and seemed to be fine as long as I ran the bike at least once a week. It has been on a tender all winter.
Is this battery damaged in some way?
Will a new battery need be be used every week or two to stay good?
If I get a new one, what is the most reliable kind for a 2001 zx-7r?
Motorcycle batteries suck. The wet-cells that you fill yourself will lose their charge, sometimes very quickly. Get a specific gravity tester, that bulb thing, to make sure the sulfuric acid to water ratio is ok. Motorcycle batteries really don't last more than 3 years, at the same time, I have a new one that I have to charge every time just to start my bike.
My average is 4-5 years but I don't recall ever having to recharge every week if the battery was jumped it my have shorted or burned out some of the plates. I would replace it there not that expensive.
Your not going to get more than a couple hours of lights on in the garage from a bike battery they don't have the deep capacity of a larger battery. but it should recharge ok unless like I said above it was damaged in the jump process. I've seen people jump a bike with a car battery and frie them right on the spot.
On the other hand my 93 FJ1200 has had the same batt in it for over six years and is just now showing signs of fading. The secret is to keep them out of the cold and if possible the extreme heat but the cold really shortens there life I used to do the whole take it out put it in the basement on a trickle charger and so on. I keep my rides in a heated garage now and pretty much just start the bikes every few weeks for fifteen minutes and go on about my bussiness. If you store the bike outside just put the battery inside up off the floor (the battery will drain to ground through the case if it's directly on the ground) on a board or shelf whatever and if you can get a decent battery tender on it you should be good for at least four years. especially if you do like Saint suggested and watch the acid levels. Make sure to use distilled water also tap water will ruin the battery.
Last edited by BlueBomber14 : 02-17-2008 at 06:25 PM.
Battery - good or bad?
