Brand New 2022 550 ABSi - Battery Keeps Dying

[omacoder]

When I bought the brand new scooter, it wouldn't start at the dealership. So they made me wait while they replaced the battery.
I drove it home and let it sit a couple of days.
The next time, it wouldn't start.
I pulled off the windshield and took off the front panel to get to the battery and jumped it to get it going again.

I then realized there are two "power off" options on the power dial. It seems I should never use the power off on the right side, but should always turn the dial to the Power Off on the left side.

I thought the issue was resolved.

The other day I got ready to take it out again. I first wanted to set up the Kymco app on my phone and connect it to the bike. This took a bit of time trying to find the app, download, register, and then trying to figure out how to pair it with the bike. I had to go grab the user manual in the middle of this. I get the app paired and then I have to download a map in the app to use the GPS. I get the map downloaded and turn by turn directions now displaying on the bike dashboard. Woo hoo!

However, it doesn't have enough juice again to turn over. I presume the amount of battery used to get this bike paired to my phone, and to use the bluetooth connection, it drained enough of the battery. Now I'm afraid to use the bluetooth app at all in fear that there won't be enough battery to start it.

Is something wrong? I read in other postings that this used to be a bigger issue but it seems like everyone thinks this has been resolved in the newer models. Now I don't trust this thing one minute, and to get to the battery is an absolute headache. I will have to bring my tool bag and battery jump starter pack with me every time I ride.

Is there an option to upgrading to a better battery than what comes from the manufacturer that won't have this problem?

[NorWeWa]

I would have returned to the dealer with the not starting after sitting 2 days.

Art 

[rjs987]

You can search this forum for several threads I posted on some of these issues and other details using Noodoe and operating the control knob. They can be found in this General sub forum as well as the Technical sub forum and maybe the Roadcraft sub forum.

How long between times that you tried to start the bike? Several days? or Next day? or Hours?
If next day or just hours then there is something not right with the battery or charging system. There are batteries that can be used in place of the OEM battery. The important part is the voltage is the same and the physical size of the battery is the same. CCA can be anything equal or more than OEM. Stick with AGM type batteries since those do best in a motorcycle in spite of what some say about using Lithium or Gel batteries. Lithium doesn't do well with short term discharge to start an engine and recharge while the engine is running, they do best at long term deep discharge like in an EV. AGM shines doing that kind of start/charge/start/charge cycle.

I did find that the AK 550 battery would run down faster than other older bikes I've owned but those other bikes didn't have any of the fancy electronics that were always on like the AK does. But still I am able to let my AK park at a campground for a few days and then start up with no issues... but I'm not fiddling with Noodoe settings while it's parked. I normally keep it plugged into a Battery Tender Jr. when it is parked in my garage and I take that BT Jr with me when I go camping just in case. I still have the OEM battery but I have found that most motorcycle OEM batteries are not as good as aftermarket batteries of the very same battery brand or model for some reason. I always ended up with better performance after I replaced an OEM battery with a new aftermarket one. Yuasa makes the OEM battery but a Yuasa battery of the same model but not an OEM battery is somehow better. Yuasa is a very good brand to go with. It's like the ink cartridges that come with an inkjet printer only  last a hundred pages or so but when you buy new ink, even of the same brand and part number, they last for 1000s of pages.

You are right that the right OFF position does not really shut the bike entirely off. It is only for shutting off the engine and dash lights for refueling since the fuel door release is in that direction of the knob. The bike is still technically "ON" but just the engine and lights are off. This position also allows to open the seat and I use that position on the knob when I stop for just a minute or two to snap a photo and also when I park but want to get into the storage box before I turn the bike completely OFF. Then I can just turn the knob back to "ON" and I'm off again. The left "OFF" position does turn the bike as off as it can be turned off. But it still needs to be run every few days to keep the battery charged enough to start it reliably.

There are a few electrical gadgets on the bike that are "ON" all the time just the same as is on most modern bikes and automobiles. There is a Welcome feature that I didn't see was needed that is always on but I turned that off in the Noodoe setup on the phone app, which updates to the bike next time you turn it on.

BTW- I have 2 cars, a Rav4 and a Legacy. One or the other usually is left parked in the garage and not used for over a week at a time since my wife uses on car and I ride. When that happens the car that sits won't start after a week and a half ending up with a dead battery. So I put that car on another Battery Tender any time it is parked in the garage for a few days or more... which happens a lot. So this issue is not unique to the AK 550. It's just that most people don't leave a car sit for very long between times using it. I asked a Subaru mechanic about this and he told me this is normal for modern cars.

[leomagnus]

I concur with rjs987,

I always keep my AK550 on a battery tender when not in use. I also shut the power off on the right handle bar switch. I have had my bike in my garage all winter and it started up fine a few weeks ago. I don't update the Noodoe often, only use it when i change picture settings.

[rjs987]

BTW- that right handle bar switch is not a power shutoff but the engine kill switch. I know that many MSF courses teach to use that the turn off the engine on a bike but few riders that I know do that. Some do, but most don't that I know of. You would still need to shut off power on the bike by turning the keyless knob to the left OFF position or to the left handlebar lock position (which is also OFF)

[omacoder]

Thank you! All of this information was very helpful. I really appreciate it. I live in an apartment with no electric hookups to run a tender.

I purchased "SCOSCHE PBJQC PowerUp QuickConnect PowerSport Battery Jumper Leads Cable" on Amazon and will permanently hook this up to the battery and keep my scosche battery pack with me at all times to easily jump when needed.

You can search this forum for several threads I posted on some of these issues and other details using Noodoe and operating the control knob. They can be found in this General sub forum as well as the Technical sub forum and maybe the Roadcraft sub forum.

How long between times that you tried to start the bike? Several days? or Next day? or Hours?
If next day or just hours then there is something not right with the battery or charging system. There are batteries that can be used in place of the OEM battery. The important part is the voltage is the same and the physical size of the battery is the same. CCA can be anything equal or more than OEM. Stick with AGM type batteries since those do best in a motorcycle in spite of what some say about using Lithium or Gel batteries. Lithium doesn't do well with short term discharge to start an engine and recharge while the engine is running, they do best at long term deep discharge like in an EV. AGM shines doing that kind of start/charge/start/charge cycle.

I did find that the AK 550 battery would run down faster than other older bikes I've owned but those other bikes didn't have any of the fancy electronics that were always on like the AK does. But still I am able to let my AK park at a campground for a few days and then start up with no issues... but I'm not fiddling with Noodoe settings while it's parked. I normally keep it plugged into a Battery Tender Jr. when it is parked in my garage and I take that BT Jr with me when I go camping just in case. I still have the OEM battery but I have found that most motorcycle OEM batteries are not as good as aftermarket batteries of the very same battery brand or model for some reason. I always ended up with better performance after I replaced an OEM battery with a new aftermarket one. Yuasa makes the OEM battery but a Yuasa battery of the same model but not an OEM battery is somehow better. Yuasa is a very good brand to go with. It's like the ink cartridges that come with an inkjet printer only  last a hundred pages or so but when you buy new ink, even of the same brand and part number, they last for 1000s of pages.

You are right that the right OFF position does not really shut the bike entirely off. It is only for shutting off the engine and dash lights for refueling since the fuel door release is in that direction of the knob. The bike is still technically "ON" but just the engine and lights are off. This position also allows to open the seat and I use that position on the knob when I stop for just a minute or two to snap a photo and also when I park but want to get into the storage box before I turn the bike completely OFF. Then I can just turn the knob back to "ON" and I'm off again. The left "OFF" position does turn the bike as off as it can be turned off. But it still needs to be run every few days to keep the battery charged enough to start it reliably.

There are a few electrical gadgets on the bike that are "ON" all the time just the same as is on most modern bikes and automobiles. There is a Welcome feature that I didn't see was needed that is always on but I turned that off in the Noodoe setup on the phone app, which updates to the bike next time you turn it on.

BTW- I have 2 cars, a Rav4 and a Legacy. One or the other usually is left parked in the garage and not used for over a week at a time since my wife uses on car and I ride. When that happens the car that sits won't start after a week and a half ending up with a dead battery. So I put that car on another Battery Tender any time it is parked in the garage for a few days or more... which happens a lot. So this issue is not unique to the AK 550. It's just that most people don't leave a car sit for very long between times using it. I asked a Subaru mechanic about this and he told me this is normal for modern cars.

[leomagnus]

The key battery just died on my remote. It seems that both of these keys lasted a year before the key battery is dead. You can start the bike by placing the key on the right side of the bike on top of the glove compartment. This is probably my biggest complaint on this bike...would have preferred a regular key. Nonetheless the battery was easily replaced, but i didnt replace the spare key battery to let it run down and waste a battery. I got a Duracell CR 2450 Lithium battery as a replacement.