I have a (new to me) '01 GS500. I've only put 50 or so miles on it so far (one trip).

I went to start the bike Sunday, and got the dreaded 'half a crank then click click click'. The headlight dims badly when trying to crank it, so I'm assuming the battery is low/bad. However, like I said above, I had just put 50 or so miles on it just a few days before (back roads, so I was moving good the whole time), which makes me think the battery isn't taking (or keeping) a charge. What is the life expectancy of the stock battery? Being an 01, should it be about time to trade it out for a new one?

I'll definitely be investing in a trickle charger, as everyone seems to say they are nearly a necessity with a GS.  

In reality No need for a trickle charger ... I managed to squeeze almost 5 years from a $30 walmart battery ... I never let it sit more than 2-3 days max, and never made short runs ... Then I crashed in 2000 losing all the acid and ended with a battery that had no fluid ... It then sat for a few months, then I put a sealed battery in it ... and have 4 years or so on it, but it had been sat quite a bit. Sealed battery is much better especially if you neglect it. Of course a tender is good in case you plan to neglect it ... anyway a sealed batter and tender will be the ticket ... now that your bettery is dying ... see batteries have a habit of letting you down at the worst time ... The first instance of failure I swap it ... but like I said ... charge it, use it and it stays good.
Cool.
Srinath.

My battery lasted about 18 months.  Kind of stinks, I used the bike all year and it never sat more than one week.

my batt still holds charge.. its 3 years and counting.. but it needs a charge periodically. Once it is charged, barring tempratures (which is its biggest fault) it does fine.. In the summer with normal riding it doesnt need a charge.

My stock battery from June '03 is still going strong and I do a lot of short hops and leave the bike outside all the time.

I took it out a couple of days ago to trickle charge for the first time and I was a bit surprised to find it was a "FURUKAWA FB10L-B2" my Honda had a Yakusa and the owner's manual for the GS shows a Yakusa.

What battery comes as "stock" with your bikes?

Make sure it has water in it!

I bought the 97 new in Mar of 99 and had to replace the battery four years later in Feb of 03 with 67,800 miles on it.  The 02 GS with 21k miles on it has original battery.

I ride year around in NE Ohio and have to jump start the bike occasionally when it has sat for a couple weeks or longer in cold weather.

Oh well ... 4 years and 68K miles ... I think My crash ended my battery's life prematurely ... OTOH ... my 89 turd has such poor compression a wet fart will make it turn over ...
Cool.
Srinath.

You have me encouraged that I likely won't need a new battery yet ($64 at my local Suzuki dealer). I'll check the water in the cells, and throw on my new trickle charger... the weather man says it'll be in the 80's this weekend     :mrgreen:  

When I bought my Gs it was 3 yrs old and had stood for 18months. Needless to say the original Suzuki one was well and truly shagged and wouldnt hold a charge. I bought a cheap "Yang-Bang" one to get me going and that failed suddenly after 10 months. I tracked down a Varta replacement over the net and I can only describe it as fantastic. It holds its charge over the winter when I dont use the bike for months and its never lost any fluid. My advice is to stick with branded names when it comes time to replace, it pays in the long run. On the subject of winter lay-ups, twice I have had to replace the choke cable after a lay-up due to it completely seizing despite lube`ing it in the summer. (Both times with genuine Suzuki items). Am I on my own  here or is it a common thing?. Its stored in a dry (but un-heated) garage for about 4-5 months over winter. All the other cables have been fine despite being 10yrs old now.

Well, either my GS500 got *very* thirsty, or the battery hadn't had its water level checked in a long time... all cells were about 10% full. Using distilled water, I filled them about 90% full, and slapped the battery on the charger.

Before I put it on the charger, I used a cheap Radio Shack multimeter, it says the battery has 11.8 volts, which sounds almost full??  :dunno:  I don't think my multimeter can measure amps (VDC, VAC, a little arrow with a line at the point, resistance, and continuity) and I think amps are what it takes to crank, correct? I threw the battery back in after I filled it, and it wouldn't crank yet, so I'm assuming I've got volts but no amps. Trickle charger, do your thing!

If you want to learn about batteries, the Battery Tender site is good. http://www.batterytender.com/

Take a look at their FAQs link.

The difference between a cheap automotive battery and a good quality one is usually in the trouble and care that the manufacturer takes in the design and construction of the lead plates.  

The killer in m/c batteries is usually vibration - in a cheap battery with simple plates the electroltyic paste shakes off the plates and gathers at the bottom (causing yet more problems).  An expensive unit will employ a complex pattern to retain the paste on the plates under difficult conditions, such as heavy vibration.  Some types use a gel to hold the acid, rather than having it as a simple liquid, and this also helps to keep it all together.  

Suzuki's cheap OEM battery is probably good for two years, and will most likley need nursing along after that.

Quote from: Fint........... the battery has 11.8 volts, which sounds almost full??  :dunno: ................

If your voltmeter is correct 11.8 volts for a rested battery is zero charge.  12.6 is full charge. In this case you will be lucky to be able to charge it with a trickle charger.