Where to buy a battery?

Right, went out to go to work on the bike this evening, turned it over and it reset the clocks again.

I'd had it on the Optimate all day as well. But the battery is over two years old so I guess its time to grab another one. Even after its been on the Optimate, recently its been a bit of a lottery whether it starts first time or resets the dash.

Changed all the clocks back to mph etc and switched off then back on, tried starting again.

This time there was a helluva metal sounding "clunk" and it died once more. I shat ma'self in case it was the sprag clutch getting humped, so gave up after that second go.

Now when I press the starter button, it tries to turn over very slowly but wont start.

The last time I got a battery it was a Yuasa YTX14 and I picked one up locally in Halfords.

Could really do without having to mail order one and wait for it to arrive, is there anywhere on the "high street" I can get a battery from?.

Looked at Halfrauds website and it's looking like they don't do batteries for bikes now as far as I can tell.

Anywhere else?. I know the local Aprilia dealers are probably gonna charge a bloody fortune for one.:rant

Got one from local Aprilia dealer.

YTX14BS, £50.

Needs an initial charge though, says between 5 and 8 hours so I've got it on the Optimate now.

Still worried as I can't check if the bike will start till the new 'un is charged.

I was going to hook it up to the car and jump start it but lo and behold, like everything bloody well else in my house, I can't find the bloody jump leads and I've just got back from town with the new battery, can't be arsed driving all the way back in for a set of leads.

Won't know till tomorrow if the bike is ok as I'm on duty tonight till tomorrow morning.

So it'll either start or there will be a 2000 year red RSV in the "For Sale" section soon, broken up for spares. :rant

Never heard of a YTZ battery. :confused

Academic now as the YTX14BS is sat downstairs in the kitchen with the acid poured into it, on trickle charge. :dowhat

I've got a 12v car charger but I'm reluctant to use that as the charging rate is higher than for a bike battery and I'll knacker it.

The little instruction leaflet that was in the box said to use a battery tender to charge it for approx 8 hours or a manual trickle charger for approx 5 hours.

The Optimate is still showing "Charge" on it and it's been hooked up since about 11:45.

Will do m8. :thumbup

As I said, I'm nightshift on duty tonight, so I'll get the missus to switch off the Optimate later tonight before she goes to her kip.

Then, with fingers crossed, connect it up tomorrow morning and see what the score is. :dowhat

Well, am I one happy bunny. :thumbup

Told the missus to let the battery charge overnight.

Cycled home me 18 miles this morning probably faster than I have ever done as I couldn't wait to see if the battery would do the trick or if I had shagged the sprag.

Fitted battery this morning and tried starting her up.

First time, seriously rapid and instant start as soon as I thumbed the button.

Volts on dash are showing 13.2 when ignition is turned on and bike not started, once started that climbs to just under the 14.0 mark.

Thank the lord I didn't knacker the sprag!!!.

Not used the bike for weeks, it's a nice day so I think I'll go out for a blat. :biggrin