2014 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero ABS Owners Manual - Page 190

MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT 189 The battery installed in this motorcycle is a sealed type, so it is not necessary to check the battery electrolyte level or add distilled water. The sealing strip should not be pulled off once the specified electrolyte has been installed in the battery for initial service. However, in order to maximize battery life and ensure that it will provide the power needed to start the motorcycle you must properly maintain the battery's charge. When used regularly, the charging system in the motorcycle helps keep the battery fully charged. If your motorcycle is only used occasionally or for short periods of time, the battery is more likely to discharge. Battery Due to their internal composition, batteries continually self discharge. The discharge rate depends on the type of battery and ambient temperature. As temperatures rise, so does the discharge rate. Every 15°C (59°F) doubles the rate. Electrical accessories, such as digital clocks and computer memory, also draw current from the battery even when the key is switched off. Due to a combination of such "key-off" draws with hot temperature, a battery can go from fully charged to completely discharged in a matter of days.