RE: Battery vs. Tender

["Stan Rife" <srife@xxxxxxxxxx>]

	I don't know Steve. The battery in my RT only lasted 3 years, almost
to the month. I was in Canada when it quit. Had to push start and ride to
the Experience Center in Toronto for a battery. I kept this battery on a
Tender when I wasn't riding it and it didn't seem to extend the life any. I
DO have to admit that I was not too keen on checking the electrolyte
regularly, but it was checked at least every year. It came up pretty low a
couple of times...but never to the point that the battery would not take a
charge or start the bike.
	Six and a half years is REALLY pushing it. That is unbelieveably
long life for any wet cell automotive battery.

Stan Rife
Houston, TX
1999 R1100RT

  

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Steve Makohin
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2003 4:46 PM
To: Oilheads list server
Subject: RE: Battery vs. Tender

On 12/13/03 1:11 PM, Martin Lodahl lodahl@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

>Stan said, on the subject of my battery woes:
>
>> I'm with the rest of the group consensus, MY next battery (for
>> the RT) will
>> be the Odessy (set and forget).
>
>That may well end up being the answer.  The warranty booklet says the
>battery is covered for 12 months.  The bike left the dealership 13 months
>ago ...

My 2000 R1100S is 3.5 years old. I started "Tendering" the factory 
battery the first winter, and I have continued to do so each winter, and 
if the bike is not in use for more than a week or so. Electrolyte is 
checked annually. No sign of the battery giving up the ghost. My car's 
battery ('97 BMW 328ic) is 6.5 years old, and running on the original 
battery. Am I just lucky?

- -Steve

 Oakville, Ontario, Canada
 2000 R1100S/ABS, Mandarin

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