Chaps,

I see that there are numerous posts on this site about owners having battery problems with the Swing. I have just had one die on me (my bike is a 2009 model), but I have only just managed to start the bike this morning after fitting a new battery last Friday. Reading other owners comments, my afternoon commute takes place at a very slow pace and I wonder if the battery is getting much charge. I also notice problems if I stop a couple of times to run errands on the way home.

Have other owners noticed problems if the bike is used for short journeys?

I guess that I also probably need to take the bulb out from the underseat light as others have suggested!

or switch it (pun intended) and change the globe to LED

I have no probs with my 'Wing' (2009,) I tend not to do short journeys and when it's laid up, it is attached to one of those battery optimiser machines to maintain the battery when not in use.

The trunk light was removed long ago. If I need to see in the trunk in the dark I have one of those led lights on a key fob which is adequate for rummaging about.

I have to say it has been thought provoking all the talk of dodgy batteries, but, I put that down to new members with recent purchased Silver Wings. (When we buy a used machine we trust the previous owner has lavished care and attention on their ride.) Not necessarily true in the real world!!

Very, very bad, for life time of battery...
Letting voltage drop to low.

Often by dealer shop (not selled for long time) or by user in winter time.

My rule of thumb...

Monitor rest voltage.
Never let below 12.5 Volts.
--------------------------
Short trips are not a problem.
1; When charging system of the bike is OK.
For SW... about 14.5 volt idle.
2; When bike starts good ..<1 second.
-----------------------------

I have made a charger with a convertor of some old tool.
220 Volt to 15 Volt , 0.5 Ampere.
Wired to male plug for power outled in left storage.

I have a 2009 that I've had for 1 year (bought new), and so far, the battery has been strong. It has sat for as long as three weeks (vacation), and still started normally. However, this is starting to look like a trend, so I'll keep a close eye on it for signs of problems. Thanks for the warning...

Kim and I have 2005 models with original batteries in bikes.

This past winter was a long one for us with some surgeries, work and weather that kept us off the bikes. I do not use a battery minder. We have not had any problems with our batteries.

I just had the dealer put new Metezlewr feel free tires on yesterday. We talked a bit and he said that S'wings do not charge batteries up if they are low, so a charger would extend the life of the battery.
I just replaced mine a month ago.

MaxB

I have two 04 and one 06 Honda products with the original batteries. All three spend there down time on a Deltran Battery Tender.

The worst thing for a battery is discharge. Slow discharge is when sulfation occurs, and sulfation is what typically kills batteries that are used occasionally.
A good float charger will keep the battery fully charged preventing sulfation, but not apply enough voltage and current to overheat and boil off the electrolyte.
Repeat discharge / recharge cycles may slow sulfation compared to leaving the battery sit, but avoiding discharge completely is best.

I had a small incident with my battery going out on me 2 weeks after I got it. But it was a brand new, just "out of the box" 2007 with only 48.1 miles on it when we signed the papers, so I assume the battery was that old also. It did great until a few weeks after I got it. Dealer offered to replace it but they were out so they gave me a gel cel battery. No problems since. Oh, and DH did put a toggle switch on the light in the under-the-seat compartment so that it is on only when the lid is open AND the switch is in the "on" position. He said it was a very easy thing to do.

I am also having issues with my battery. Had this replacement for less that 2 years.
I hadn't been on in for 2-3 weeks and when I jumped on the other day it was dead, although it did try to turn over. I have read in the chats that disconnecting the underseat trunk light would help. This suggestion is telling me that the light is on even when the trunk is closed, that doesn't make sense to me. Could there also be some major battery drainage from the digital clock which is located on the dash. Would appreciate any advise. Thanks.

2007 Silverwing

Can 't be the bulb in the trunk.
After 2 weeks , the battery is completely dead.

- There is some thing demanding current from the battery, with the ign.key off.
Can be a pain, even for a technician, to find.

Or.

- Bad battery.
To let check out by a dealer, probl for free.

Or.

- Bad alternator/regulator/
To monitor with a Voltmeter if engine is running.



Question...
Something changed on the scooter lately?
Maintenance?
Placed add on?

Eddy...I assume you've got European model...the power socket in the LH pocket is always live....do you have anything plugged in?

Rogerscoot...

I am not the one with battery troubles.

I am trying to help Gypsy.

I have a car battery on my Silverwing. I have found a slim + tall battery at Costco. It comes with a 5 year warranty. I have jumped 1 motorcycle and 2 cars with my bike.
You have two under the seat mounting options. Either at the bottom free standing or in the back anchored. Mine is up.

Slightly as an aside: do older Silverwings have lead/acid batteries? Mine's gel and is on its side.

My 2011 model has the battery upright set into the front left of the underseat compartment with a moulded cover

Mm. Perhaps I was disorientated and looking at it sideways.

Be sure to give the seat an extra "tap" at the rear after closing to be sure light switch is activated. If you just close the seat without the tap you will come out to a drained battery!

I have a 01 SW and have had battery problems.... however only in the Winter when I have let the bike stand for a few weeks without starting it.

I should point out that the problem has been quite erratic. For example on more than one occassion (during the Winter) I've been in to the garage to start and move the bike and after it starts and runs fine (for 30 secs or so) I can switch off the ignition and then the bike won't start again thereafter. It won't even turn over. The only way to get it going again is to charge the battery.

Thinking I had a dud battery I purchased a new one about a year back. But I've had the same issue last Winter.

The bike runs without problems in the summer, but I am using it every few days.

I stand corrected bigbird, the battery is indeed on it's side. I was quite relieved to see the words 'spill proof' !!!

I put a new battery (lead acid) on my 01 Swing when I bought it, 18 months ago. I often leave it for up to 6 weeks without starting and it starts first time, every time. I removed the underseat light bulb as soon as I got the Swing as I have had problems in the past with scooter underseat lights. Imo, a bulb left on for 2 weeks under the seat will definitely flatten a battery.
In the winter, I often only use the scoot to ride 2 miles to the shops and back and have never had a battery problem.

wingnprayer, if she starts and then 30 seconds later won't, I think you must have an intermittent earth (ground) problem?

Wait a sec- can you use a lead acid battery in this position? Won't the battery acid leak out since it is sideways? Isn't that why the bike comes with an AGM battery from the factory?

Jesse

They are all lead-acid battery's for mc's.

The difference is the stuff between the lead plates.

- Liquid acid.
Needs maintenance. ( adding water )
Fill holes always upright.

- Gel

- Type of glas fiber (AGM)

Gel and AGM can used on it's side.
No maintenance needed.No fill holes.

Mine is the Yuasa YTZ12S.
AGM i think.

The Voltage regulator of the Silverwing is designed for that type.

I don't think replacing with the liquid type is good idea.


Eddy.

Never install a lead-acid battery on its side. It WILL leak.
An AGM (absorbed glass mat) has no liquid electrolyte and can be installed in any orientation you want, including upside down.

If you want real light weight and the latest technology, look at a Li-Fe battery, made by Shorai.

Here's where I got mine. I went with the 18AH instead of the stock 12AH.

http://www.twfracing.com/shorai.html

It was the recommended Yuasa battery I fitted. The point I was trying to make was that my Swing starts on the button even after long periods of standing, but I appreciate the info guys.