Battery Question Please

[Muscle Bike Rider]

Well I think my battery is on the way out, its charging ok but if I leave the bike for a couple of days it struggles to start the bike, after 4 days its flat so definitely not holding its charge. Have charged it using an oxford optimiser and again if the bike is used every day fine, if not it discharges quickly.

What benefits will I get from a gel battery, better cranking power, less discharge, if I left the bike stood for say a week in my garage should it retain enough charge to start the bike?

What you think?
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Previously Known As A5tra_G
Old Bikes :2010 Kawasaki ER6 F & 2000 Honda VTR Firestorm
Current Bike : XJR1300

[Bloggsy]

A gel battery is better cos they dont need topping up with water and any battery should be able start a bike after several months

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

[Blatant plug for a good battery.]

Motobatt. Can't fault them. Websearch and see the OTT back to back tests.
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[Chalky.]

Even the cheapest batteries these days come with 2 to 3 year warrenties, I go for them now.

[Fizzer Thou]

If one cell of the battery has sulphated,it can cause the battery to behave the way that you have explained.Sulphation is caused by powder from the plates dropping to the bottom of the cell,and when this level gets to a certain height it shorts out the plates,rendering that cell useless.

If the battery has been on an Optimate,it can help the battery short--term.But long term,the battery needs replacing.

Check to make sure that there is no leakage when the bike is turned off.

Is there a low drain of current from an alarm?

Are the earth connections good?
If there is a bad earth,this is easily checked with a multimeter.Put one connection onto the -ve post of the battery with the other lead of the meter to a good clean chassis point,like part of the engine.This reading should be little or no resistance.If the resistance reading is say 10 ohms,this is far too much.The corrosion that causes this resistance reading will stop the battery from being charged correctly.
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[Kickstart]

[Muscle Bike Rider]

[Fizzer Thou]

I know that many batteries come dry charged if they are lead/acid where you add the acid upon receipt,but even gel batteries will need a good charge before being installed into your bike.This will dictate the life of the battery in the future.The last battery that I put into my bike was charged thoroughly according to the instructions that came with it.
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'