Hi guys, I've been having issues with starting my bike I have the battery connected to the trickle charger when I don't use the bike for more than two days, that being said when I try to turn on the bike it tries to turn on but just can't all the lights come on but the engine won't fully start I find I have to boost it with another vehicle like a car and then the engine starts up fine. I can even turn off the bike after running it for 5 minutes and turn it back on without any issues after boosting it. It's when the bike sits for a full 24 hrs or more I can't seem to start it at all even if connected to the trickle charger or just the bike sitting itself. I did check the acid levels and found some were low I've topped them off with distilled water let it charge over night but this still hasn't fixed the issue. Is it time for a new battery? Also if I grab a new battery I'm thinking of getting the Walmart battery how do I fill acid in it... does it come with acid or do I just add distilled water to it and then charge it for 7 hours? or I could just get the sealed battery that goes in sideways which I'll have to figure out some how. Anyways thanks in advance!

Sound like you have a bad battery.
I will not chime in about the walmart battery  but suggest spending a little bit more on a maintenance free one instead.

Classic bad battery.

DO NOT go cheap. Yes - people brag how they save money and only have to keep the battery on a tender. Load of crap. There are so many stories of wally-mart batteries and people saying they love their battery tender. Don't go there.

Spend the extra for a quality battery and you will have a reliable bike and can throw that tender in the trash. At a minimum, get a sealed battery of the right type and rating. On the high end, $150 for a LiFe Shorai battery.

I have Shorai's. I can let bikes sit for months and still turn over. No tender needed. Others have really good sealed batteries for probably $75.

Methinks time for a new battery & since i'm not a big fan of the wet battery i'd check out Gel or Lithium or SLA....your choice.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TRUGEL-BATTERY-MG10L-A2-SUZUKI-GS500-GS550-GS650-YAMAHA-RIVA-200-VSTAR-250-/200876490149?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec52bfda5&_uhb=1#ht_4554wt_1163
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Shorai-Lithium-Battery-Standard-Fits-Suzuki-GS500-all-1989-2011-LFX14L2-BS12-/390556007587?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5aeef3bca3&_uhb=1#ht_2240wt_906
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MotoBatt-QuadFlex-MB10U-Battery-for-a-Suzuki-GS-500-All-Models-1981-2008-/180910321606?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2a1f186fc6&_uhb=1#ht_3098wt_1397

Wow thanks for all the responses I will pick up a good new battery from some place other than walmart and will look into the suggested ones thanks a lot!

Is there a certain Yuasa maintenance free battery that will work I know the stock part is YB10L-B2 but is there one that never needs to be opened or filled trying to find the battery number.

+1 on the gel battery. It's the best purchase you'll make. Your dealer will know which gel is right for your bike.

I've had good luck with the Scorpion AGM battery riding year around here in NE Ohio and starting in below freezing weather.  The Shorai battery is an excellent battery but it's said to be not so good in the cold.  The AGM seems to have more voltage left for spark while cold cranking.  Only a little more expensive than a conventional lead acid battery.  Choice might depend on where you live.

http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/sYT10L-A2.html

Quote from: gsJack on March 29, 2013, 07:06:15 AM
I've had good luck with the Scorpion AGM battery riding year around here in NE Ohio and starting in below freezing weather.  The Shorai battery is an excellent battery but it's said to be not so good in the cold.  The AGM seems to have more voltage left for spark while cold cranking.  Only a little more expensive than a conventional lead acid battery.  Choice might depend on where you live.

http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/sYT10L-A2.html

This is what I was thinking as well thanks!

A battery is like a parachute.  Buy a good one and it won't let you down.

Buy a cheap one that fits sideways and expect drama, being on the side of the road, and having it die at the most inconvenient time.

Had / having a similar problem.

I have had my GS for over 5 year with the same battery that it came with, probably old then.  So no complaints with you old Yuasua.

Anyway the end of last season the battery needed to be on the tender any time I was not ridding, or it would not start.

I went out to start it up two weeks ago (was on the tender all winter) and it would not go.
After I had tried a few times, I pluged the tender back in, got the red light and after 90 min.  she started no problem.

While on a ride I ended up stalling just as I was pulling in for a coffee and you guessed it... she would not start (after over an hour on the road).  I walked it the 5' to a parking spot and went in for coffee and a bite to eat.  Came out 30 min later and she started back up but I have to say I was worried.     

Batteries at the end of their life do strange things.

I have ordered a DuraBatt Gel for the bike and should be good to go in the next day or so.


Has anyone used or heard of these Durabatt's.  The local dealer says he has had then for 2.5 years and likes them... any thoughts?

thanks,
C

I only use a charger to charge new batteries.  The batteries in my truck and bike are from Walmart.  The bike starts up just fine after sitting for weeks the truck has started up before after sitting for almost a year.  They are the same batteries with different labels.

Quote from: Slack on April 15, 2013, 10:22:01 AM
I only use a charger to charge new batteries.  The batteries in my truck and bike are from Walmart.  The bike starts up just fine after sitting for weeks the truck has started up before after sitting for almost a year.  They are the same batteries with different labels.

yep, I've seen quite a few battery sizes and brands relabeled and sold as higher quality.

the walmart batteries are fine just like any:

if it survives the first three days it will last years. I've broken more batteries than had them fail from defects or poor quality.

checking the charging system and electrolite levels is more important than brand.