Hi folks think i may have a duff battery, Have not been able to ride my bike for 3 weeks due to other commitments. Anyway tonight thought i sneak in a short ride for the last hour of daylight. BUT the bikes battery was totaly dead not even a neutral light, the only thing showing life was the running lights had a faint orange glow. It started and ran ok after a charge but i would expect a ten month old battery to last longer than 3 weeks. When i first got the new bike i did notice that the engine turned quite slow after a weeks lay off so i checked the alternater was charging which it was.
So folks how long can you leave your bike before the battery runs flat? does the immobilizer run the battery down quick?

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XTz 660 tenere, adventure spec bash plate, main stand, skid marks tall screen, Oxford tail pack 36 litre. Kobra hand guards, Bigger cast footpegs, Zen overland luggage plate, USB power point, iridium spark plug, TKC80 f k60 R tyres, o2 and fuel Kev mods, DNA stage 2 filter. bark buster bar wieghts, Touratec side stand base and GPS mount. Led spot lights

Mine sits around for weeks at a time while I'm away at work, and during cold weather because I am a wimp.

The battery was well down after a month once, so I've taken to leaving it on a trickle charger after two or three weeks.

From my experience, three weeks should be ok if it's not very cold outside. My battery is 5.5yrs old.

+1 for a trickle charge if the bikes parked up for more than a couple of weeks.
But I do find the park light key position a pest at times when leaving the bike in the daylight. I've nearly left the lights on again at work. Luckily hasn't been drained to dead flat yet.
The Dealer where I got my Tenere from has just replaced an original Yuasa battery in his own bike after 9 years service.

It may be worth checking the fluid level in your battery to if possible Keithy2.

Your right about the parking lights but i always check, However i did have to move the bike during my garage sort out and I always leave the bike with the steering lock on. Its a very slight possibility I left it in park but i dont think I did. Any way have just checked the battery this morning after riding it last night, the battery shows 12.5 volts and when i ran the engine it went upto 14.2 volts so it is being charged. I am going to the LLangolen bike fest on sunday so it will be well charged after that run! I have just had a look at the battery its a sealed unit with no level view window, connections are tight. Thanks for the replies.

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XTz 660 tenere, adventure spec bash plate, main stand, skid marks tall screen, Oxford tail pack 36 litre. Kobra hand guards, Bigger cast footpegs, Zen overland luggage plate, USB power point, iridium spark plug, TKC80 f k60 R tyres, o2 and fuel Kev mods, DNA stage 2 filter. bark buster bar wieghts, Touratec side stand base and GPS mount. Led spot lights

No problems with my OEM battery. Bike stands outside even in winter.
Battery hasn't charged ever since I bought the bike 7 years ago. Button pushed and the bike fired up immediatly even after several month winter break.

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Ronald Reagan '84: "My fellow Americans, I pleased to tell you today, that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in 5 minutes."

I'm still on OE battery after seven years and never been a problem. I do use an Optimate, but more for peace of mind rather than necessity.

Might be worth checking the current being drawn from the battery when the bike's ignition is switched off? It should only be a few mA on a standard bike (without alarm).

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