revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Pirahna wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 11:06 am Just got home, it fired up first press on the button.

That's how slightly wonky batteries work though mate. Some days they're golden, some days not... You don't want it to be a not day on a day you really need it.

weeksy wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 11:07 am

Pirahna wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 11:06 am Just got home, it fired up first press on the button.

That's how slightly wonky batteries work though mate. Some days they're golden, some days not... You don't want it to be a not day on a day you really need it.

I know, I've got some trips planned for this year and I won't want the battery being a bit flakey. I'll be at the dealers next week, I'll have a chat with him then.

Would a dealer replace a battery under warranty? I thought it would be classed as a consumable?
Either way,one of the first things I do with any bike irrespective of age is fit a charger lead.From what I've read the bike's charging system isn't designed to charge a battery,more to keep it charged & using the bike to charge the battery causes premature wear/failure on the charging system.

I've got some trips planned for this year so the Power Parts panniers seemed like a good idea.

Pirahna wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 8:50 am I've been expecting it, the bike was fucking about this morning. It started but cut out when I went to pull away and that was it. The battery voltage is shown on the display and it's a couple of points down on normal. Looks like I'll be buying an Optimate.

Optimates aren't up to the job... They charge at around 0.8-1.0A and they're not as "smart" as they claim to be...

Buy a decent charger like the CTEK MXS 5.0... RRP is £99 but I got mine for under £80 with Halfords trade card... Not cheap, but still a lot cheaper than a single new battery!

In the 4yrs I've owned it now, it has recovered many motorbike and car batteries, and saved me many times its purchase price!

My old Optimate plugged in to my 1290SA overnight would often not charge it enough to fire it up... They are trash, but they have a marketable name so have become de rigeur for cheap battery chargers...

weeksy wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 8:57 am

Pirahna wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 8:55 am

weeksy wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 8:52 am

Wouldn't you go back to KTM and ask for a new battery first ?

Good idea, I'll be at the dealer later in the week, I'll ask.

If it was 3-4 years old then yeah i'd be going Optimate or getting the wallet out myself, but that really should be covered by them.

BIG KTM's need CONSTANT charging... From a decent charger!

Even on a new bike, leave it a couple of weeks in the garage, and even minimal parasitic losses will stop the battery from turning the bike over...

Remember... This is 2 huge 650cc pistons banging up and down at 13:1 compression ratio, but powered by a measly 230CCA battery... The back pressure is incredible, and the battery just isn't up to it! You would have less back pressure on your typical family car, which inevitable has a 600CCA+ battery fitted... Even my old MX5 had a 450CCA battery, and less cranking pressure than my 1290 with half the battery capacity...

It's a VERY common question in the KTM groups and forums... I've stickied it on the 1290SA facebook groups... Basically, just buy a DECENT (CTEK or the like, NOT a a cheap Optimate) that is capable of proper recovery cycles, desulfation, and can deliver a decent 4A current when required, and it will be worth its weight in gold!

Pirahna wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 11:10 am

weeksy wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 11:07 am

Pirahna wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 11:06 am Just got home, it fired up first press on the button.

That's how slightly wonky batteries work though mate. Some days they're golden, some days not... You don't want it to be a not day on a day you really need it.

I know, I've got some trips planned for this year and I won't want the battery being a bit flakey. I'll be at the dealers next week, I'll have a chat with him then.

I guarantee they'll tell you what I just told you...

If you're using your bike every day, then you won't have any issues starting it the next morning by the way... These bikes (and batteries) don't like being sat for long, but use them every day and your battery will outlast the bike!

I've got the original optimate, had it for years and always looked after my bike batteries, 1290 and 1200 gs included. I'd always give it a charge the day before if not used for a while though.

Mate of mine whos a KTM fanboy takes the batteries out and puts them in his house.

Scotsrich wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 12:12 pm Mate of mine whos a KTM fanboy takes the batteries out and puts them in his house.

That's where my batteries live over winter in all my bikes as the garage is a looong way from the house with no power. Fecker can't be drained when it's not in the bike and I trickle charge it every few weeks.