riding a couple miles to work. bad 4 battery?

[ANDYVH]

Definitely need to exercise that bike at least twice a week, with a solid 1/2 hour of highway speeds. As much for the battery as for the engine itself. All that short putt-putt riding is condusive to moisture buildup in the crankcase and oil.

I used to live at least a 1/2 hour from everything I did when I lived in a small rural town in east central Wisconsin. I would ride daily from April 1st to December 1st, so at least 45 miles a day, all highway. I had no Battery Tender then, and the original Mareg battery lasted eight seasons and was still useable when I replaced it with a Westco. At that time I relocated to Green Bay, and worked from my home. My daily 45 mile ride reduced to a weekly 100 miles at best.

That Westco battery suddenly died after less than two full seasons. Right after a long 800 mile weekend.

I replaced it with a Toyo battery, and use a Battery Tender now. Going on season four of the Toyo battery this year.

[greenwald]

Thanks for all the feedback. I live in a high rise, so there is no good access to electricity in the garage period.

I liked the comment ' I just use it how I need it, and deal with the issues that come up.' That is what I am going to do!

SH

Hope that logic doesn't apply to the oil as well.

[samuelh]

Just checked it today.

[amiles]

Just checked it today.

I don't think that is what Greenwald was getting at.

Forgive me if I err Greenwald

Continual short trips place you into the "severe duty" classification on vehicle maintenance schedules. due to the engine never getting fully warmed up and running for a goodly period of time. Dilution by moisture that never boils out and other factors cause this rapid deterioration of your oil and it's additive package.

Checking the level of the oil will not reveal this.

[greenwald]

i don't think that is what greenwald was getting at.

Forgive me if i err greenwald

continual short trips place you into the "severe duty" classification on vehicle maintenance schedules. Due to the engine never getting fully warmed up and running for a goodly period of time. Dilution by moisture that never boils out and other factors cause this rapid deterioration of your oil and it's additive package.

Checking the level of the oil will not reveal this.

+1

[samuelh]

How many miles would you go between changes in this situation?

[greenwald]

How many miles would you go between changes in this situation?

That's the kind of question that's going to garner multiple answers, but if this was my bike, under these conditions,.............

.......I would be changing out my dino oil (don't waste money on synthetic if you have a frequent-changing interval due to circumstances) every 2,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first.

Keep in mind that under your scenario, the amount of time that your low temp, high moisture oil sits in the sump is as much a factor as miles.

Ride safe, but arguably, ride longer.

[Zygmund]

Leave early and get to work with a smile
Take the long way home and end the day with a job well done!

[bikerfish1100]

Ride a bicycle to work, and take the m/c out for long rides on the weekend. 2 miles x 2 times/day is doing nothing good for your bike; nothing good at all.

[themayer]

Ride a bicycle to work, and take the m/c out for long rides on the weekend. 2 miles x 2 times/day is doing nothing good for your bike; nothing good at all.

Maybe not, but it makes ME happy.

[jimabmw]

Just ride it don't worry about and fix it when it breaks

[Firenailer]

Before I retired I used to ride to the Firehouse quite often, a ride of less than 5 miles. I just started up the bike and let it warm up while I geared up. I did plug it in more often than not to a BMW charger overnight. I only just changed the battery (after 6 years) more for my peace of mind than any other reason as it still cranked fine and never gave me trouble even when travelling for a few days. I did change my oil 3 times a year and so far so good.
This is just MHO, I'm no mechanic but it has worked for me.

I'd say just ride and enjoy your commute.

Bob

[ANDYVH]

"I did plug it in more often than not to a BMW charger overnight."

That itself is probably the main reason your battery lasted six seasons if you did a lot of short commutes on your bike in town. I'd bet if you didn't keep it on the charger regularly the battery may have lasted three seasons tops.

When I lived in a small town, at least 1/2 hour of highway riding to work, friends, family, fiance', no matter where I rode I had a 1/2 of highway riding minimum, the original Mareg battery lasted eight seasons. Back then I rarely put it on a charger. Now I work from my home in a much larger city. I keep the bike plugged in to a Battery Tender when I am not ridinr, even in the summer.

[GlobalRider]

I work about 2 miles from my house, and it takes about 10 minutes (downtown) to get there. Is doing this twice a day 5 days a week and only doing long rides on the weekend bad for the battery?

Install a voltmeter that reads directly off the battery.

Then you'll know what is really going on.