in your opion and experience-what is the best make and type of battery?

[Papa Lazarou]

Winter is on its way and I just know that the puny Yuasa I have fitted will die...I'm thinking of something pricier but stronger, like a Motbatt sealed gel type.

Recommendations, thoughts, jibes and what not to buy...please

[kevin_stevens]

[zer0netgain]

IMHO, a battery is a battery is a battery.

The sealed types were supposed to be "no maintenance."  For people incapable of doing basic service and testing, this proves true, but it's not difficult to check fluid levels and add pure water to prolong battery life.

The gel batteries can produce more power in a smaller package.  They are supposed to be less susceptible to "fluid loss" from heat like lead/acid batteries are subject to.  They are also better for mounting in non-standard positions.

For all of that, if you do your own maintenance, I don't find one type to really be all that much better than another.

That leaves an issue of quality.  A Wal-Mart battery might last you as long as a brand-name battery will....depends on if you maintain it and the QC imposed from the manufacturer who made it.  I've had Wal-Mart batteries in my truck since I had to replace the OEM battery.  No complaints.  I was using Wal-Mart batteries in my bikes with no complaints I can't attribute (in part) to lack of use and maintenance on my part.  I tried a brand-name battery this time around, and I'll see if it makes that much of a difference or not.

[RRdvark]

I have heard that gel batteries require a stronger charger than your typical 1ish amp battery tender - something to keep in mind.

I have had the same standard Yuasa in my CBR since the spring of 2005.  If the bike is sitting for more than a week or so unused it get hooked to the battery tender, other than that I have never touched it since it was installed.

[tomek]

IMHO, a battery is a battery is a battery.

For all of that, if you do your own maintenance, I don't find one type to really be all that much better than another.

That leaves an issue of quality.  A Wal-Mart battery might last you as long as a brand-name battery will....depends on if you maintain it and the QC imposed from the manufacturer who made it.  

Do you realize you contradict yourself ?  

Anyhow , stay away from walmart motorcycle batteries , IIRC I`ve purchased 3 N`ever starts from wally world , the first 2 before I knew any better .
The third one , well the battery ( from walmart ) decided to die overnight ( with no previous warnings whatsoever ) in the middle of nowhere ( thanks to hilly terrain I was able to bumpstart the bike )  , guess where I was able to find  replacement  .  

 

[coho]

Gel and Absorbed Glass Mat batteries tend to be more resistant to cold than water-acid batteries.

They also cost a bit more.  It's worth it to you or it's not.  Yuasa makes a good battery, you may be fine.

[maddjack]

Winter is on its way and I just know that the puny Yuasa I have fitted will die...I'm thinking of something pricier but stronger, like a Motbatt sealed gel type.

Recommendations, thoughts, jibes and what not to buy...please

Optima

[Jesse]

Odyssey, AGM.

I haven't moved my VX in two years and the Odyssey was still showing a 12.4V when I checked it a few weeks ago. It's over four years old and hasn't been hooked up to a battery tender.  I was impressed but not totally surprised - it always fired the bike right up even in the dead of winter when the bike might sit a month or more between rides.

[Papa Lazarou]

Bit pricey-but I've just googled them and found they last 8 years +. Might be worth a punt.

[zer0netgain]

Do you realize you contradict yourself ?  

Yes.  I am a study in contradictions.  

Every truck battery from Wal-Mart has held up fine.

Until lately, every m/c battery from Wal-Mart held up fine.  Never had one die on me for no apparent reason, but the last one died way too soon (only got 1.5 years out of it).  That's when I decided to try a brand name (Big Crank, IIRC).

Generic name batteries are generally made by brand-name suppliers to the same standards of quality.  With Wal-Mart, they push the supplier to low-ball on the price, and I've found items made just for Wal-Mart, in the last few years, have dropped in quality, but I don't poo poo generic labels just because of what Wal-Mart might do.

[Mydlyfkryzis]

I replaced my old Yuasa Conventional lead acid battery (Older than 7 years old - the date code is older than Yuasa has records, so may be 8 or 9 years old) in 2007. I have a Yuasa AGM battery now. Going on 5 years old, stil has 12.6 Volts sitting.

I always keep my batteries on a Battery Tender.

In the "old days", on my CB360, I replaced the battery every year. The vibration and weak charging system on the old bikes just tore up batteries.

Keep the thing charged, and topped off with distilled water (if not a sealed battery) and you should get a few years out of it.

[paul13131313]

My stock Yuasa YTZ7S AGM is being exchanged for a Shorai LFX14L2-BS12 at the end of it's life! Two to three years usable lifespan per manual.(Five months away from three years!)

[caddydaddy]

My stock Yuasa YTZ7S AGM is being exchanged for a Shorai LFX14L2-BS12 at the end of it's life! Two to three years usable lifespan per manual.(Five months away from three years!)

I will add that you should get the biggest Shorai that you can fit.  They are all small and the extra CCA can make a difference when it's cold.  I have the LFX18A1-BS12 in my Triumph Sprint.

[ConPilot1]

Papa take a look at one of these new lithium ion batteries. I had one in my grubby mitts yesterday.

tell you what the damn thing weighed no more than 2 or three pounds, max.  Supposedly TONS of cranking power and long life. Pricey though.

I have a gel-mat maintenence free in the Concours. It's been great. I'll never go back to lead-acid again.

[mugwump58]

I took a quick peek on Google for these batteries. A lithium had a note about not a good idea be low 0⁰ C

Here's where the note about temprature was

We've started using Hawker AGM on vehicles at work. They can be brought back from the dead. What isn't clear is if a "regular" battery charger will work or not. According to the salesman no, according to others yes,I don't know.

[ConPilot1]

I havn't had any issue with the AGM battery with a trickle charger/battery tender. I'm going on two years with the battery and the bike unfortunately is stored in the cold.

[veefer800canuck]

I've been getting great life from my Yuasa AGM battery in the viffer.

It had a YTX-12bs and I swapped it for a YTZ-14s which is the AGM and it has more CCA.

I keep it on a tender throughout the winter, but not during riding season.

[garry]

I will be replacing the wimpy Yuasa YTX5L-BS in my KTM 530 with a Shorai LFX15L2-BS12. That should provide a huge increase in cranking power and also save 3 pounds.

The Yuasa YTZ14S battery in my KTM 950 seems fine after four seasons, but I might replace it too (just because). I'm thinking about putting a Shorai  LFX18A1-BS12 in there given the good reviews and it saves more like 5 pounds over the stocker.

Bottom Line: I've had good luck with Yuasa AGM batteries (bikes sit in a cool garage, not outside, on a tender for the winter), but I'm going lithium for the next round since they crank harder, weigh less, and supposedly last longer. We'll see...

[Baz]

I read once that the real killer of acid lead batteries is actually vibration & jarring that knocks the cells loose. (Freezing is #2) I always tender mine while its in storage.

I have had the origional Yuasa in my FJR for 6 years now. I will buy another when this one goes.

[Justin]

Papa take a look at one of these new lithium ion batteries. I had one in my grubby mitts yesterday.

tell you what the damn thing weighed no more than 2 or three pounds, max.  Supposedly TONS of cranking power and long life. Pricey though.

Here's a question about Lithium Ion batteries. I know Acid, Absorbed Matt and Gel batteries need more voltage to charge at colder temps. Are LI batteries any better in cold conditions?

[snake]

Here's a question about Lithium Ion batteries. I know Acid, Absorbed Matt and Gel batteries need more voltage to charge at colder temps. Are LI batteries any better in cold conditions?

From what ive been reading all over the net Li batteries are not good in the cold period

[black hills]

Yuasa's have been good to me. the one in my VFR lasted 8 years, CBR is on 7 years, althought the one in the '86 Reflex is shot..

[Pat S.]

 I've had really good luck with OEM Yuasa batteries over the years---not so good with the cheaper ones. As others have stated here distilled water, and keeping it properly charged (not overcharged) will go a long way in extending the years of service. If I didn't do that or the battery was a pain to access I'd go with a gel battery, that's what I plan on when my KLR battery gets bad.


                                                                                                        Pat

[Jetpilot5]

Remember if you decide to go with an AGM battery that while a standard Battery Tender will not hurt it, it will not achieve a full charge.  I purchased a Battery Tender Plus when I had my BMW that had the AGM battery as standard equipment.  From the Battery Tender FAQ section.....

OVERVIEW and COMPARISON: The Battery Tender and Battery Tender Plus battery chargers are both designed to provide a quick, economical means to recharge motorcycle and engine start batteries used in other power sports equipment. Typically, power sports engine start batteries are in the 12 Ah to 20 Ah capacity ranges. Both chargers are constant voltage type with precisely regulated output current limits. Both chargers have a regulated, nearly constant 1.25-ampere output charge current during the bulk charge phase. Physically, there is virtually no difference between these 2 chargers. Both the Battery Tender and the Battery Tender Plus operate in 3 charge modes, bulk charge, absorption charge, and float charge.

RECHARGING AGM BATTERIES: The primary difference between these 2 chargers is that the Battery Tender Plus was specifically designed to accommodate the charging requirements of the new, Absorbed Glass Matte (AGM) style batteries. To achieve that goal, it was necessary to modify the absorption charge mode in the following way. The Battery Tender switches to float mode when the charge current drops to 0.5 amps. The Battery Tender Plus switches to float mode when the charge current drops to 0.1 amps. The result is that for an extended period of time, not to exceed 8 hours, the Battery Tender Plus output voltage will be held at a constant voltage that is significantly higher than the float voltage.

With the Battery Tender, the switchover at 0.5 amp results in an absorption charge mode length of approximately 1 hour. During this 1-hour period, the battery charge voltage is held constant at a value of approximately 14.3 volts. Because of the slightly higher voltage recharge requirements of AGM batteries, and because AGM batteries require a longer period of constant voltage absorption, the Battery Tender Plus controls the output voltage at 14.4 volts while it waits for either the charge current to decrease to 0.1 amp or for the absorption charge mode control timer to expire. The end result is that the Battery Tender Plus absorption period is longer and at a slightly higher voltage than that for the Battery Tender.

[Papa Lazarou]

Thanks. i think I understood part of that-and yes-I'll be buying an AGM type.

[X1Glider]

All of my PbH2SO4 battery issues have been related to heat and vibration.  Dirt bikes and stroker cruisers are the worst environments for lead acid battries.  The plates come loose and short out.

My BMWs all came with gel batteries.  They were a lot more resistant to heat and vibration.  I got 7 years out of the stock batteries before they gave out.  I'm a believer in them.  I had a special BMW branded Battery Tender strictly for the gel battery.  I think it uses intermittent pulses of varying voltages/amps or something.  I was told by many long tome Beemer people that a regular battery tender would damage a gel battery or simply accelerate degradation.

Even better are the AGM batteries.  I've had the same AGM in my CRF450X for almost 3 years.  I think enduro riding is worse on a battery than anything...less heat but the jarring is extreme.

I haven't tried the Shoreis.  Been a while, but last time I checked, they hadn't gotten around to releasing a dedicated charger.  I got the impression somewhere that it was less than ideal to use any of the other battery tender type chargers.

The way gel and AGM (very similar types) are constructed makes them extremely resistant to harsh environments and abuse.  Can't go wrong with either and over the lifespans I've experienced, I've saved money in the long run by not having to buy yearly or bi-yearly replacements.  Peace of mind on long trips too.

[coho]

Papa get battery yet?
What Papa get?

[Papa Lazarou]

Papa get battery yet?
What Papa get?

Just ordered a MotoBatt MBTX14AU.

Many thanks to all STN EOEs.

[R Doug]

I will be replacing the wimpy Yuasa YTX5L-BS in my KTM 530 with a Shorai LFX15L2-BS12. That should provide a huge increase in cranking power and also save 3 pounds.

The Yuasa YTZ14S battery in my KTM 950 seems fine after four seasons, but I might replace it too (just because). I'm thinking about putting a Shorai  LFX18A1-BS12 in there given the good reviews and it saves more like 5 pounds over the stocker.

Bottom Line: I've had good luck with Yuasa AGM batteries (bikes sit in a cool garage, not outside, on a tender for the winter), but I'm going lithium for the next round since they crank harder, weigh less, and supposedly last longer. We'll see...

The battery in my Adventure died yesterday.  I found a replacement AGM with a Part Unlimited label at a local Honda dealership for $98!  That's much better than the $200 price on the YTZ14S.  

Let me know how the lithium goes for you.  If I didn't need one so soon, I was tempted to order one.  The interesting thing I read about lithium batteries is they may require a "warm up" period for cold day starts.  The suggestion is to run your headlight for 3-5 minutes to warm up the battery first.  That sounds counterintuitive.  But, what do I know about batteries?  

[FJRmgm]

From what ive been reading all over the net Li batteries are not good in the cold period

experience on the FJR forum is that lithium is NOT good when the temp gets below 40 degrees.  

Much lighter for sure but CCA are not good.

[tomttt]

About a year ago the stock lead acid battery was getting weak on cold starts. I replaced it with a "maintenance free" battery from Battery Source, not sure of the construction ( not a gel) but higher cca and have had no issues even  if it may sit for 2-3 weeks with no charge. It was about $55.00 vs. $90 for a gel. I have gel in my wave runners and they r great, but the maintenance free has been great in my cbr 1000f for less money.
 

[HanksXXX]

Take a look at the specs on this battery...
Bikemaster Tru-Gel   YTX12-BS
2 year warranty
12V
12 ah rating
230 cca
Best I've found yet for about $90.00 list in a small package...

[CanadianBird]

Motobatt which I bought from www.pashnit.com

[02Tac]

Earlier this year I replace my regular lead acid (AGm style) battery with a Ballistic EVO 2 LiFe battery. Works great. They are a bit more cold sensitive, but you just to know how to work them.  Seeing as the bandit does not require teh kind of power a high compression V-Twin does ( see video link ) I just turn the high beam on for 30 seconds or so to get the battery moving and then hit the started button.

Cold start video -  http://www.ballisticparts.com/downloads/video/video2.php