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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | Well, last fall I drained the battery by leaving my trunk lid open just a tad.
It's never been quite the same since. It will hold a charge, but barely. I really don't want to be on the road and face a dead battery.
Has anyone replaced theirs?
Do you have any suggestions on brands?
Thanks in advance. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 97
Brighton, Colorado | Seems like I read somewhere that the battery that goes in the goldwing is the same battery. Not REAL sure though. |
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Tourer
Posts: 354
20 miles west of Chicago. | Running the battery down shouldn't have damaged it permanently I don't think. How did you recharge it?
The Yuasa batteries that come with the Vics are actually good batteries. I'm wondering if yours was defective from the beggining. I don't think you'd go far wrong with a Yuasa, but my second choice would be an Interstate. If you don't already have one, I'd advise getting a battery tender and plugging it into the bike whenever it's parked at home. This will keep it charged and prevent sulfation. There should be a connector lead from the battery already in place from the factory, down low behind the left fairing. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | - I still have the original battery, 16 months old.
- I've run it dead 3 times
- Trunk lamp for 3 days
- Radio in the drive
- Trunk lamp over night, learned my lesson
- Never have charged the battery, only jumped it.
- Bike starts even when it is sub-freezing temps, no problems.
With that said, yes, it will take the Goldwing Battery, probably Harley and a host of other bikes as well, saves them all money. The last time I bought a motorcycle battery I went to the local tractor supply store and got one even cheaper if I had gone to Wal-Mart with my discount. When I've got to get a new battery, I'm going to see if there is a premium battery that may be least susceptible to drain when I play the radio as it stinks that after 30 minutes of radio play the battery was dead. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | My original Yuasa battery went bad after only four months. I had never run it down, just had a cell go bad or internal short or something. It would just go from 12.8V to under 10V in less than 30 seconds with the key on. I have yet to successfully push start my Vision. Dealer replaced it no charge with another Yuasa. All good ever since. |
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Tourer
Posts: 388
Salisbury, NC | With the way the bracket is made for the battery, you need to replace it with the same shape and -/+ posts on the same sides that the original battery has. Otherwise it may not bolt down in the battery holder. ET |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | Thanks to everyone that replied.
I charged it with a Craftsman charger, on a 2 amp setting. I also have the trickle charger, but I haven't been using it religously as I've been riding it a few times a week.
Sounds like maybe I just have a bad battery. I'll talk to the dealer. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 68
Cabot Arkansas | there is a old thread on battery/starting problems. if i remember corectly someone put a goldwing battery in that had more cranking amps. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Just as a matter of suggestion, get the spec's, size, amp, volts and go to your tractor supply and see what they have. I guess the best way to do it, is find out what you want for your bike, and then take the product number and see if they have it. The dealer, Wal-Mart, etc wants to sell you a "MOTORCYCLE" battery, the tractor supply wants to sell you a "utility" battery. You may find you'll save $5.00 to $10.00 for the EXACT same battery, model #, box and all just because what they are trying to sell you. If that doesn't matter to you then: "IGNORE THIS POST" |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | The Walmart and Tractor Supply and Autozone batteries are only 250 to 270 CCA. The original Yuasa that comes in our Visions is a 310 CCA. The battery is the same as the one for the GL1800 Goldwing, as well as a host of other big bikes, but you need to be aware that not all batteries are created equal, even though they appear to be the same. Most of the discount brands won't even tell you the CCA rating. I would suggest that you get a premium battery, since the Vision has lots of electrical dodads to run, just like a Goldwing does. A bike dealer is a logical place to get a battery, and lots of touring bike riders have been using batteries from Westco with good results for many years. http://www.westcobattery.com They have a 300 CCA sealed gel battery that ships to your door for $86.95.
Ronnie |
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Cruiser
Posts: 85
| When I had my Suzuki Intruder I put an Odyssey battery in it. That thing was amazing compared to the OEM battery. I'm not sure if there is model suited to the Vision but it's worth checking. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | Talked to the dealer and they are going to replace it. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | rdbudd - 2009-03-05 9:26 PM The Walmart and Tractor Supply and Autozone batteries are only 250 to 270 CCA. The original Yuasa that comes in our Visions is a 310 CCA. The battery is the same as the one for the GL1800 Goldwing, as well as a host of other big bikes, but you need to be aware that not all batteries are created equal, even though they appear to be the same. Most of the discount brands won't even tell you the CCA rating. I would suggest that you get a premium battery, since the Vision has lots of electrical dodads to run, just like a Goldwing does. A bike dealer is a logical place to get a battery, and lots of touring bike riders have been using batteries from Westco with good results for many years. http://www.westcobattery.com They have a 300 CCA sealed gel battery that ships to your door for $86.95. Ronnie Thanks Ronnie for that input and will check to see if that is the case where I can buy. My suggestion came also on the fact that when I had the GL1200, I had no alternator for several months and would run it off of the battery to get to and fro to work. I kept a spare battery in my saddle bag in case something would happen, and both of them took a lot of abuse. I had started with the original battery and bought the first EVERSTART battery at Walmart and it was listed for the GL1200. I happened to be in the local AG-Supply store and saw the exact same battery, number and all for $10.00 less and that was the regular price. In my ignorance I've never checked the CCA rating on any of the batteries, I just know they held up really well even after of year of constant drain and restarts. I believe it was the EVERSTART battery. Great information, and thanks for setting the record straight.
Edited by varyder 2009-03-06 7:11 AM
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New user
Posts: 1
| I always buy my replacement batteries from G-Man Industries. I get the ODYSSEY battery 525 CCA and they work. My last bike was a Suzuki Intruder 1500 LC and I didn't even have to have the decompression valve working. They don't freeze or boil over. For my money a great battery. Just my humble opinion but you can forget power problems once installed.
Ride Safe.
It's -34 here and no real break in site from the weather.
Jim |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | The first time my battery went dead, I rode an hour to the dealer so he could tell me "nothin's wrong". The second time, I went to Honda and bought a battery. No problems since. Same battery except for the suffix letters in the part #. Felt it was cheaper than riding to the dealer for more excuses. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | One i'd Jim - 2009-03-06 9:42 AM
I always buy my replacement batteries from G-Man Industries. I get the ODYSSEY battery 525 CCA and they work. My last bike was a Suzuki Intruder 1500 LC and I didn't even have to have the decompression valve working. They don't freeze or boil over. For my money a great battery. Just my humble opinion but you can forget power problems once installed.
Ride Safe.
It's -34 here and no real break in site from the weather.
Jim
Do you have a link and price? Good information is always good to have. Thanks.
Ronnie |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 40
Oppelo, Arkansas | rdbudd - 2009-03-07 10:40 AM One i'd Jim - 2009-03-06 9:42 AM I always buy my replacement batteries from G-Man Industries. I get the ODYSSEY battery 525 CCA and they work. My last bike was a Suzuki Intruder 1500 LC and I didn't even have to have the decompression valve working. They don't freeze or boil over. For my money a great battery. Just my humble opinion but you can forget power problems once installed. Ride Safe. It's -34 here and no real break in site from the weather. Jim Do you have a link and price? Good information is always good to have. Thanks. Ronnie I was doing a search about the Vision Battery and happened on this thread. I had a Suzuki C90 (1500) and also had an Odyssey Battery in it. I got mine from GMan Industries. If it's a fact that the newer Goldwing Batteries are the same as the Vision's then the PC545 Odyssey from GMan should fit. Whenever I get around to taking the Battery out, I'm going to take measurements and send them to GMan to see if the dimensions are the same. If so, my next Battery will be an Odyssey. They are a little pricy, but are excellent Batteries. Here's the link to GMan's site. http://gmanindustries.com/index.php?cPath=21
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Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | +1 on the PC545 Odyssey battery. I ran one on my 91 Ultra Classic loved it. Smaller, lighter and more cranking power than the stock HD battery.
While they are expensive; if you're used to buying at the "$100 Store" then you wont feel that the price is unreasonable for the performance.
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Cruiser
Posts: 125
Kerrville Texas ( now a homeowner on six acres) | Batteries in the Vision must be good.
My story:
Baught the Viosion in late Sept. of 07.Been on the road since. Park the Vision in an enclosed trailer every night. One night parked in and left the KEY ON all night (STUPID STUPID). had a Harley guy come over and jump start it.( his HD came with a small set of Jumper cables).
Another time the trunk lite stayed on all night.Had to get another jump. Just a month ago, hit the kill switch and walked away for about four hours.Had to get an RV neighbor to hook up a charger to start it again. That is three times in the last two years and 30,350 miles. Still charges itself well and has never even acted like it was slow to turn over.
So far no battery charging problems (except timing and headspace problems with the owner/operator).
Smadge |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| I'm a friend of Gary from Gman industries so you know up front and I'm the idiot who suggested the idea which resulted in the Gbat. Yes kicking myself for not doing the R&R myself, lol.
With that said the Gbat is very similar to the Odyssey battery and will out perform a traditional battery in every area. They also lose less during storage and startup. So my opinion is you can't go wrong with either an Odyssey or the Gbat. Shouldn't be much more $$ than most quality replacement bateries. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 40
Oppelo, Arkansas | Tarpits99 - 2009-09-26 10:56 AM +1 on the PC545 Odyssey battery. I ran one on my 91 Ultra Classic loved it. Smaller, lighter and more cranking power than the stock HD battery. While they are expensive; if you're used to buying at the "$100 Store" then you wont feel that the price is unreasonable for the performance. If the PC545 will fit the Vision, that will be my next Battery from GMan. I had one from GMan in my Suzuki C90 and the cranking power was a whole lot better than the OEM Battery. It was also nice not having to use a trickle charger through the Winter. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 40
Oppelo, Arkansas | Teach - 2009-09-26 2:50 PM I'm a friend of Gary from Gman industries so you know up front and I'm the idiot who suggested the idea which resulted in the Gbat. Yes kicking myself for not doing the R&R myself, lol. With that said the Gbat is very similar to the Odyssey battery and will out perform a traditional battery in every area. They also lose less during storage and startup. So my opinion is you can't go wrong with either an Odyssey or the Gbat. Shouldn't be much more $$ than most quality replacement bateries. I had a PC535 from GMan in my Suzuki C90 before I got the Vision. Much more cranking power and didn't have to worry about charging it through the Winter. If the PC545 that GMan sells will fit the Vision, that will be my next Battery. There may be cheaper Batteries out there, but these are well worth the extra money in my opinion.
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Battery needs replaced - any suggestions?