battery/magna/valk/rocket

[rjb/AKA Bob Barram]

Went out this morning to start up the Rocket3, 25 degrees outside in sunny texas, and it cranked a few times and would not start. Got on the Magna and after forcing the choke to stay open she started up.
I am wondering if you guys on the Valks have trouble starting it in this cold weather?
I have seen a lot of comments on the R3 forum about the stock battery wimping out when it gets this cold, and I have had the R3 not start before when it was this cold.
The guys on the forum recommend a stronger gel battery called Odyssy or something like that saying it cranks longer and harder and even supports more electronic stuff if you have your bike wired for everything.

[Charles S Otwell]

Hey bob, I haven't had any trouble with mine, don't usually even have to use the choke. I know i don't ride in as cold weather as you but have went out and started it and moved it around several times. Probably about 30 degrees is as cold as I tried it. Do you keep it on a charger when it gets cold?

[greg_o]

Battery on my 99 Valk died 2 months back so I replaced it....and it cranks just fine cold (rode it yesterday).
Had to use a bit of choke but it cranked fine and ran great when warmed up
How old is the battery on the Rocket ?

[Curtis_Valk]

I've always used Yuasa batteries and the only ones that died on me was because I killed them (let them go flat about three times and they're toast).  Ever since I started keeping them on battery tenders (about three years or so now) I have not had any more battery failures.  I don't see any real advantage of a gel cel over AGM technology, but then I'm no expert.  Both types are sealed and won't leak, so that's all I need.  I don't know how fussy the Rocket is about low voltage, but with the Valk you can have enough voltage to turn the started smartly and still not have enough left over to fire the ignition module.  I like to keep my batteries at full charge at all times.

Curtis

[lragan]

.  I like to keep my batteries at full charge at all times.

Curtis

This is especially important during cold weather.  The freezing point of a charged battery is much lower than a discharged one.  If they freeze, sealed batteries will suddenly become unsealed when they thaw.

[rjb/AKA Bob Barram]

Well, most of you know that my bikes seldom go a day without riding, so I do not have or use a trickle charger. The battery was with the bike and it is an '06 so maybe it is time for this bike to get a new one, I am sure the previous owner took his time putting on the 6K miles over the two years.
This afternoon I started it up with a jump and drove it around town for a few hours without problems after it started.