Battery Question

[Tomster the Duc]

I've never liked the hesitation when my 2008 Hyper starts. I'm told that this is normal for Ducati. Generally it takes 3 or 4 turns when cold to start. Now, it seems that if I haven't started the bike in as few as 3 days that it will not start at all if it has not been on a battery tender.

So, 2 questions:
1. Is this indeed normal for a Ducati? The 2008 model bike was purchased used with 800 miles on it and now has about 1,100 miles.

2. Do I need a new battery and if so, where's the best place to buy? I've seen lots of near $100 prices for a new battery.

Thanks

[AXE]

Batteries can be some fickle equipment. You could load test it to be sure it is still good. If it wasn't set up and conditioned right during dealer prep it can severely shorten the life of the battery. I just had a battery in my Teryx puke in less than 3 months of ownership. It couldn't be revived. Other than that, I have gotten several years of use out of most of my motorcycle batteries.

Batteries die because of sulphation concentrating on the lead plates and building up enough to contact the adjacent plate which shorts them. If the lead plates break and make contact with an ajacent plate you get the same effect. Also, if not shorted, the sulphation can also cause the battery to not take a full charge regardless of it being on a tender, because the sulphation does not allow the electrons to attach to the plates.

You can try and use a conditioning or pulse charger which will cycle through some higher amp charge rates to desulphate the battery and it can be revived. I have done this successfully with an Optimate charger. There are others available now from most auto parts stores or Sears or Walmart.

If your battery checks out, you should probably have a dealer check the fuel settings or have the valves adjusted, as that can make cold starts more difficult.

Out!

[jboothe]

Mine can sit around for several weeks in the cold and still start without any real problems. It takes a revolution or two more and might quit after 20-30 seconds but then starts right back up and stays there till its warmed up. No battery tender this winter. Just start it up, let it warm up to operating temp (10-15 minutes) and shut it off till the next week or so. Or if the roads are clear take it for a quick ride around. 2008, 9500 miles and the original battery

Gives me an excuse to listen to that 2v Italian music...

[Tomster the Duc]

I appreciate the info Axe......not sure I followed all of it but am appreciative.

Based upon Jboothe's (John Wilkes?) message it seem like my battery is at the end of its life. It should be able to start after only sitting for a couple of days in the garage.

That said, anyone have any recommendations as to who makes a great battery at a fair price?

[motodan]

Have you'r TPS reset after you change the battery. Mine would crank and not fire, had this done at the dealer and it fires right up now.

[smartbomb]

My bike cranks what I think is slow, my Ducati riding friends tell me its normal.

[Decreasing Dave]

Originally Posted by smartbomb

My bike cranks what I think is slow, my Ducati riding friends tell me its normal.

Mine cranks slow too. I was gonna change the battery out but I've been waiting until it died before spending the cash.

Maybe it won't die......

Dave

[remery]

When new the dealer told me to turn the bike on and wait for the odometer reading to come up before starting. I've had no problems with starting, once or twice during winter when it sat for a couple of weeks it might have taken two of those 20 second cycles. The other day I was in a rush and started without waiting for the odometer and it seemed to take a little longer and back-fired a couple of times. Maybe there is something in giving the ECU a few seconds to get its act together?