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Cruiser
Posts: 208
Edmonton Alberta, Canada | 08' Vision TP, Just pulled out of winter storage for the 4th winter. 1st winter in enclosed trailer, 2nd winter in my garage, not heated however never much below freezing, and now the last 2 winters in nieghbors garage, not heated.
Where I am going is as to how my battery just seems to hang in there and not let me down! Parked bike mid October, went out this morning, opened the garage door, rolled it out on the pad. Turned the key, lights turned on, fuel pump energized, pushed the starter, rolled a little slower than mormal, rolled over maybe about 6 revs more than in the fall. Fired right up, no burps, or gargles. The only prep for storage I do is top the tank to full and add fuel stablizer and ride it around the block 2 - 3 times, park on side stand, unplug the I-Pod.
Although, I have ever listened to the radio in accessory mode more than 5 - 10 mins, I do not have any extra lights or accessories, as up north here when the sun only goes down after 11pm, which happens to be way latter than my bed time! lol |
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | My 08 is similar. When I store it just add SeaFoam and Marvel Mistery Oil and cover. In the spring hit the button. No problems, just starts and runs. I know that a lot of folks use a battery tender, I just have never seen a need for one. All my bikes have gone more than 4 years on there battery and so have the quads and riding mowers. Keep them clean and maintained and they just go. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 44
Edmonton, AB Canada | Norcan
Did you take it out for a ride before the snow started again?
My Vision is still sitting in the garage with the cover on. I do have a heated garage, so I usually don't have issues with the battery or any other part of the bike. When I had my previous bike I used to take the battery out and keep it in the basement, but now we have a heated garage and that seems to make a bit of a difference.
I hope to see you riding around Edmonton this summer.
Ward
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Here in Minnesota hook up the tender cover it up give it a kiss good bye. Garage not heated and for the most all ways above zero in the garage,
You have a long ways to go my battery is still the stock one. O its a 2008. This for sure will be its last year bike is to big to push.
We use the same battery as a Harley softail and I hear they sell for $175 this year. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | john frey - 2012-04-01 7:17 PM
We use the same battery as a Harley softail and I hear they sell for $175 this year.
We also use the same battery as the GL1800 Goldwing. Direct Line Parts has them for $84.99 shipped. http://www.directlineparts.com/product.asp?pid=1620&str=4
Ronnie |
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Tourer
Posts: 394
Tucson, AZ | That's the only concern I have with mine. My Vision was three years old on November 1st and still has the factory battery. I have the opposite concern you do though. Even though we don't have severe winters or put the bikes away for the season, we have many days of 100+ heat. I do know the heat shortens the life of batteries in cars, but I'm not sure about bikes. My last Valkyrie's battery lasted seven years before it died. I'm tempted to go ahead a replace it so I don't get stranded. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| You scared about your battery put a full charge in it like a half day of riding and swing into a battery store and ask for a load test. Hell I still have the one that came in my 08 and we get hot days like every one ells. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 208
Edmonton Alberta, Canada | I just wanted to metion this as it has reacted the same every year and the is 4 winters, no tender, no charging , just park it and fire it up in the spring, and never an issue! Only listen to radio in acc when having a coffee an smoke on a trip, maybe only 15 - 20 mins. I would not wan to try to push start my Vision! My experiance with batteries, is the more you baby them the more trouble you have! Being on a tender, one only finds out 50 miles down the road that your charging system is not working. The spring that it does not start will be the year that it get a new battry!! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 208
Edmonton Alberta, Canada | I just wanted to metion this as it has reacted the same every year and the is 4 winters, no tender, no charging , just park it and fire it up in the spring, and never an issue! Only listen to radio in acc when having a coffee an smoke on a trip, maybe only 15 - 20 mins. I would not wan to try to push start my Vision! My experiance with batteries, is the more you baby them the more trouble you have! Being on a tender, one only finds out 50 miles down the road that your charging system is not working. The spring that it does not start will be the year that it get a new battry!! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 25
SE Wisconsin | Just had my 08 in for service and I had a load test becouse on way in hell will I be pushing that beast. I was told don't worry. It was as good as a new one. The bad thing is it cost $45! Oh well. |
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Tourer
Posts: 411
Dallas, Texas | I have an '08, and had to replace already...this one has done me well so far...
http://www.batterymart.com/p-Big-Crank-ETX20L-Battery.html?Category...
I have a solar tender myself. It won't over charge, and won't pull from the battery either. And doesn't cost anything to keep it hooked up, free electricity. I think stock battery life probably has alot to do with the abuse it may or may not have received prior to purchase, sitting on the Dealer floor. I purchase my '08 in the summer of '09, so it could have had some abuse early in it's age..who knows.
Edited by iluvink 2012-04-05 11:45 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Battery stores and auto parts stores check them for free. |
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Battery.