Oh, I should add that when mine died, it was a catastrophe of sorts. Here's the problem: My Nighthawk starts so easily, the battery turns the engine maybe 2 times before she fires. So I was able to ride to work unsuspecting there was any problem.
After work, we had a Komen fundraiser ride. I was a group leader. The battery (and bike) died while I was idling waiting for my group to leave. I tried push starting, but because the RPM was below 2000, instant stall. Another leader was picked and I was left alone in the parking lot wondering how I was going to get home. So...I got a jump start and just ran her with the choke wide open, which kept the RPM over 2000. As soon as I was at speed, I'd close the choke. Approached a traffic light, open choke, apply brakes...and so on. What a PITA. But I did get home safely. --- On Tue, 7/13/10, Rusty Fairmount <[email protected]> wrote: > From: Rusty Fairmount <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Battery > To: [email protected] > Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 10:06 PM > Mine lasted 4 years...without me > knowing about the weak charging system. I ride an '83 > 650, also with a Yuasa battery. > > I've read that the key is to keep it fully charged. > So if you do lots of highway miles where you're revving over > 2000 consistently, the battery should last a long > time. If you do lots of city driving or lots of short > rides, you should put it on a trickle charger or tender > periodically. > > How often depends on your riding frequency and style (city > v highway). > > Rusty > > --- On Tue, 7/13/10, Joey Kelley <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > From: Joey Kelley <[email protected]> > > Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Battery > > To: [email protected] > > Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 9:52 PM > > MN Blue, > > It's probably > > a Yuasa.... > > For a cheap > > battery it isn't uncommon to see two years on a > > battery before you just can't get anymore out of it. > My > > Dad's 2002 > > Harley FLHTC just had its factory battery replaced. > However > > - he keeps > > it in a warm garage on a battery maintainer. (My > Nighthawk > > sits > > outside under a shade tree in my driveway and still > starts > > better!!!!!!! He really doesn't like that part) > > If a battery > > gets let go without charge / proper > > maintenance - it shortens the life severely. I would > > suggest cutting > > your losses before it goes completely and you wind up > with > > a dead > > ride. > > I purchased > > an Energizer from Sam's Club this time around, > > only downside, it is not a maintenance free one so I > have > > to keep > > checking water levels and such. > > Good luck! > > -Joey > > > > On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 9:35 PM, Minnesota Blue <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > Hello all, > > > > > > I think the battery on my 83 650 is giving out on > me. > > Like an idiot I > > > let it dry up this winter. Slowly brought it > back to > > life with > > > charging and distilled water and it has been > doing the > > job. However, > > > I think letting it dry up is finally cathing up. > I > > was just wondering > > > what the average life span for a battery is on > these > > bikes? I am sure > > > many people have very diffrent experiences, but > I > > imagine there is a > > > certain amount of consistency. I bought this > current > > battery in the > > > fall of 2008. I purchased it from the Honda > dealer > > (Yusa? Can never > > > remember the proper name). With the weak > charging > > system on these > > > motorcycles I am curious if it wears out a > battery > > faster than most > > > bikes. > > > > > > Thanks! > > > > > > MN Blue > > > > > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed > to the > > Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected]. > > For more options, visit this group at > > http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. > > > > > > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the > Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
