Flat Battery - replace or charge?

Morning all

I just wanted to run something by you all and get a bit of advice.

I went out this morning, jumped on my 99 curvy and the battery was having none of it. I ride nearly 30 miles a day on my commute and it has generally been fine until now. I did flatten it a few months back when I left the keys in the ignition and the lights on for about 15 minutes when I was cleaning the bike, but I charged it and it was fine thereafter. It has been turning over a couple of times before the engine fires up this week but I thought that might just be the cold.

I don't have a garage so the bike is kept covered in my garden and is at the mercy of the elements. I commute 5 days a week and will continue to do so unless the weather becomes very wintery.

My question is should I buy a new battery that is more adept at coping with the elements (suggestions would be welcomed), or should I buy a trickle charger and take the battery in every now and then for a top up?

As always, thanks in advance for your help orgers.

WB

[fizzwheel]

How old is the battery ?

An Optimate would be a worth while investment anyway. If you could extend the leads and run it to your bike outise via a window even better.

I would also have a bet that your battery is knackered, so I would look at getting a new one.

I can't recommend a specific replacement, but I have always bought my batteries from

www.tayna.co.uk

Is the battery a sealed unit? i.e does it have caps you can take of to top the water up in the cells? If the water is not high enough in the cells (i think its meant to be just above the plate) it wont hold charge for long. If it is a sealed unit ant quite old it could prob do with replacing. Do you run heated grips/clothing?

@Fizzwheel: I have absolutely no idea. It was in the bike when I bought it in August and there's no clues as to when it was put in there.

@ SVMAT: the only thing the battery runs is the bike - no alarm, fancy gadgets or gizmos. Not sure whether it's sealed or not. I'll have a look over the weekend.

[andrewsmith]

sometimes there is a service life date on the batteries (where the manufacturer says the battery at its end).
OEM suzuki batteries have it just below the top one the opposite side to the connectors (i roughly remember).

[fizzwheel]

So you have a battery of potential dubious nature of an unknown age.

Cold Weather will finish off a battery near the end of its life. Especially if the bikes left out outside all day. Personally I'd be looking to fit a new battery, leaving your existing one plugged into a trickle charger all the time will only mask the problem if the battery is knackered...

IIRC the SV uses a sealed battery.

I was kinda thinking it's better to get a new battery rather than flog a dead horse.

Any recommendations? Is there anything specific about the curvy battery I should be looking for in terms of size and power?

[andrewsmith]

YX12BS is the battery size.

I've got a GS heavy duty and it seem to be holding up well, cost about £50

after that its gel and lithium batteries. Gels are about £80, liths about £400

Is it YXT12BS rather than YX12BS? Can't see YX anywhere.....