what makes you think the battery is anything but fine? 3 years is nothing, i've had mine for 9 years and it still works.

 

Unless you're made of money, keep using your battery tender, and ride it until it no longer cranks or holds a charge.

 

Personally, I'd rather not wait until I'm stuck on the side of the road. I use the battery tender about once a month and it typically only takes about 10-15 minutes before the light is solid green. I also ride the bike once a week at least, usually 2-3 times a week all year long.

I'll see what the voltage is tonight after my ride home and measure it with the lights on but engine not running as well.

 

Back in the bad ol' days when men were men and motorcycles came with wet cell batteries, 3 years was about the expected lifetime. The sealed battery in your SV should give 5 years of service easily, and more like 7 to 10 years typically (if well cared for).

 

If you have a tender on it that battery will last for many years to come. So long as it cranks and isn't punctured, keep it.

 

Original battery is still in my k3...

Now that i say that, i'm going to have to replace it...

 

Original battery in my K6.

Genuine Battery Tender FTW!!!!

 

Original battery in my K6.

Genuine Battery Tender FTW!!!!

I use this one by Deltran. The $25 one you can buy at any motorcycle store.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/60/950/ITEM/Battery-Tender-Junior-Charger.aspx

 

5 years 50,000km, still the 1st battery...

I don't think it's a big problem.

 

A weak battery can start the bike yet die mid-ride. It happened on my DRZsm like this: Sat in the garage for about a month, no tender. Took a few tries to start. 4 miles and a few lights down the surface street came upon a road closure due to an accident, sat thru a couple light cycles with the brake on. At the next intersection signaled to turn (no brake as I remembered), and the bike died mid-turn. Cranked weakly initially but would not started. Eventually my wife came and gave me a jump from the car. The bike started right up and has had no problem since. I think idling at the light with the brake light on drained the weak battery too much. When I signaled to turn one block later it drained the battery below the threshold.

I have no battery tender. If I ride a bike once every 2 weeks I don't worry about its battery. When it sits for 4 weeks I start worrying about the battery.

BTW my '07 SV w/ 13k mi is still on its original battery.

 

Eleven years and I'm on my second battery.

 

Update: I checked the battery tonight and it read 12.8 volts at rest and 12.08 with the ignition turned on but the bike not running. I think I'm good...no need to replace the battery at this time.

 

21k on my 05 and I was thinking I had to replace the battery before this season. Checked it several times before the season and I should be ok. PO and myself have kept it on a tender when not in use pretty well, so its held up.

Maybe next winter.