Preparation.

[snowy]

I read somewhere that you should look to replace after around 5 year's? Stand to be corrected.

There is no set life of a battery, the only way you can really see if a battery is still up to it is a drop test, i.e. test how long it'll hold it's charge on load.
Mine died in 1 day, fine on initial start, wouldn't do it again after a couple of hours then wouldn't take any charge.
My philosophy is buy the best you can afford with the best warranty, peace of mind if it dies before warranty expiry.
If you haven't replaced the battery yourself, so date unknown, whip it out as manufacture date stamp usually on there, and get it tested whilst out!
Replaced mine recently with a Lucas from local motor factors, again good warranty, load rating, and can get it replaced locally if dies again!

[Burchy]

Put a Motobatt in my GTR.  Can't fault it, plus it has 4 terminals, so adding extras is a doddle without having to completely disconnect

[GTRpilot]

just had a quick look at the battery, Yuasa, no date stamp that I can see, charging 12.1v on start up then going to 14.4v with a little throttle after about 15 secs.
Ran a meter on it when disconnected showing 12.53. anyone know is that about right?

[flatfour]

When the battery on my GTR failed (at two years old) it went without warning - cranked normally one day, rode around 100 miles and just enough power to light dash panel next day! I thought that it might be a charging issue, however after fitting a new battery there were no further problems in the twelve months that I kept it after that.

[shaggs147]

I'm still on the original. 2010 bike, not far off 30000 miles and never been on an optimate. Starts first go even though it's not had a lot of use this year. 5 years for a battery is a good rule of thumb, but I've got no intention of changing it until it dies. Unless you are planning to ride out to the middle of nowhere I'd stick with the original. Hopefully you will be sensible enough to have breakdown cover anyway just in case. If you try to cover every eventuality it'll be sods law that something else fails. Alarms seem to be a good battery killer from my past experiences.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[GTRpilot]

I'm still on the original. 2010 bike, not far off 30000 miles and never been on an optimate. Starts first go even though it's not had a lot of use this year. 5 years for a battery is a good rule of thumb, but I've got no intention of changing it until it dies. Unless you are planning to ride out to the middle of nowhere I'd stick with the original. Hopefully you will be sensible enough to have breakdown cover anyway just in case. If you try to cover every eventuality it'll be sods law that something else fails. Alarms seem to be a good battery killer from my past experiences.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Croatia bound in a few week's, covered by Carole Nash breakdown, no alarm (Who notices them nowaday's anyway)  got 3 days to get down to Zagreb so don't fancy getting stuck in the middle of Slovenia or somewhere with a dead bike, so just trying to cover the basic's.

[snowy]

Think you've really answered your own doubt!
Testing off load will rarely find a decaying cell, needs a drop / load test.
If you can afford it, it's peace of mind.

[GTRpilot]

Thank's for all the input, new battery ordered, this ones done it's job but, better safe than walking 

[PaulB]

Thank's for all the input, new battery ordered, this ones done it's job but, better safe than walking 

Wise man. I did the same last year before heading off to rural Sweden, Finland and Norway.

Mine was also the original battery, left on an Optimate when in the garage. I just knew I'd be kicking myself if I stopped for a coffee somewhere, then had to waste a day sorting a new battery when the bike wouldn't start again...

Cheers

Paul B.

[Stolichnaya]

Pants, wallet, passport.
Get going !!!

[GTRpilot]

Pants, wallet, passport.
Get going !!!

Toothbrush?