Triumph Tiger 900 GT, Owner'S Handbook Manual

Page: 161 / 204

Maintenance
161
Battery Discharge
Caution
The charge level in the battery must
be maintained to maximise battery life.
Failure to maintain the battery charge
level could cause serious internal
damage to the battery.
Under normal conditions, the motorcycle
charging system will keep the
battery fully charged. However, if the
motorcycle is unused, the battery will
gradually discharge due to a normal
process called self discharge; the clock,
Engine Control Module (ECM) memory,
high ambient temperatures, or the
addition of electrical security systems
or other electrical accessories will all
increase this rate of battery discharge.
Disconnecting the battery from the
motorcycle during storage will reduce
the rate of discharge.
Battery Discharge During Storage
and Infrequent Use of the
Motorcycle
During storage or infrequent use of the
motorcycle, inspect the battery voltage
weekly using a multimeter. Follow the
manufacturer’s instructions supplied
with the meter.
Should the battery voltage fall below
12.7 Volts, the battery should be
charged.
Allowing a battery to discharge or
leaving it discharged for even a short
period of time causes sulphation of
the lead plates. Sulphation is a normal
part of the chemical reaction inside
the battery, however over time the
sulphate can crystallise on the plates
making recovery difficult or impossible.
This permanent damage is not covered
by the motorcycle warranty, as it is not
due to a manufacturing defect.
Keeping the battery fully charged
reduces the likelihood of it freezing
in cold conditions. Allowing a battery
to freeze will cause serious internal
damage to the battery.