Modern Vespa

Hi guys, first time posting. I have a 2007 gtv 250 and the battery started going dead quite recently. It charges up in about 45 minutes and lasts about 2 weeks but goes flat again. Anyone know what is the cause?

How old is the battery?

Lead batteries lose some charge every week. Once they go down below 50% charge, they get heavily damaged and then they never go back up to full charge.

If you're not using the scooter very often, consider having a battery tender to maintain the battery, or look at lithium battery options.

Hi again and thanks for the quick reply. I have the bike 2 years and the battery wasn't new as far as I know. Its a nano gel battery, dynavolt mg12-bs-c

Sounds like it might be time for a hew battery. Can you check voltage and track a few days? What is voltage when running and a few minutes after shut down?

Given that you've had it for two years and prior usage was unknown, I'd replace it and keep it on a battery tender. Do some research and get the best battery you can. I like the Yuasa (traditional) and Odyssey (for AGM) and the new lithium iron batteries have advantages for many.

welcome to MV. Might be time for a new battery. I also recommend a battery tender. There is a chance of a non normal electrical draw somewhere in the wiring. An amp meter can detect and help find where any draw may be. Auto parts stores in the USA often will load test a battery for free, perhaps they do so near you.

I have my battery tender hard wired to my battery and sitting in the pet holder via a hole drilled in the pet holder so very easy to access when I need to attach it to the electric socket. I live in AZ so in the summer it gets very hot and that does reduce the battery life.

When you can ride year round and actually ride your scooters, they don't need battery tenders.

I have never used one and get good battery life out of all five of mine.

They each get ridden regularly with the least used one getting a good ride in at least every three weeks.

None of them has ever seen a tender.

Bill

I hear the new age light weight batteries are less forgiving than the old standard when you let them discharge.

Personally I would never own cars or motorbikes that my family and I couldn't run a tank of gas through per month.

I would recommend getting an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery. They are a bit pricier than traditional wet cell batteries, but their construction makes them less prone to impact shock damage and they hold a charge longer. They also have lower internal resistance, meaning you can get more cranking amps out of them.

Motobatt makes very good AGM batteries, but I've also had good luck with AGM models from Batteries Plus. The last one I bought lasted 7 years, and was going strong when I totaled that GTS. I do keep mine on a charger during colder non-riding months though. Another plus for AGM - you can use traditional trickle chargers/tenders with AGM as well, not the case with Lithium batteries.