Battery Recomendations

[Wess]

Getting ready to replace the batt before winter how about some suggetions pleasse. Once again thanx for your input. Respectfully Yours! Wess Heavner COG #8010 CDA #0239

 

[ghabel]

Wess, I run the Odessey sealed AGM battery. No maintenance and built well. http://www.odysseybatteries.com/ Greg H from Mass, Connie Droppers Anonymous Awards Dude COG# 7010,a Tracey CDA 120 99 Connie "Herrin Christabelle", 05 Ninja 250

 

[smithr]

I got an Odessey used and even though it is the smaller one it has still worked fine for me the last three years. It might be 4-5 years old now. Nothing wrong with the OEM type battery just requires more time to check water every month or two and replace a bit more often. There are other maint. free that are good also. I think even Yusa has one. ---------------------------------- I will answer any question. It is up to you to figure out if I should have.

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[slybonesjesse]

I think the Oddessey batteries are one of the best around. But I think any AGM maintenance free battery is adequate and generally 1/2 the price of a Oddessey. I would not get a regular wet cell lead acid battery. Min I would do is an AGM maint free Battery. I have an Oddessy PC680.

 

[Gregm]

Slybones and others, I'm sure that I've known the answer to my own question here, from reading a number of battery threads, over the last couple years... But I forget. So, What's the difference between an AGM maintenance free battery, and a regular maintenance free battery? (Cause, I didn't think they were the same thing.) Thanks all -

 

[ghabel]

From http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html#2 Wet Cell (flooded), Gel Cell, and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) are various versions of the lead acid battery. The wet cell comes in 2 styles; serviceable, and maintenance free. Both are filled with electrolyte and I prefer one that I can add water to and check the specific gravity of the electrolyte with a hydrometer. The Gel Cell and the AGM batteries are specialty batteries that typically cost twice as much as a premium wet cell. However they store very well and do not tend to sulfate or degrade as easily or as easily as wet cell. There is little chance of a hydrogen gas explosion or corrosion when using these batteries; these are the safest lead acid batteries you can use. Gel Cell and some AGM batteries may require a special charging rate....... In most cases AGM batteries will give greater life span and greater cycle life than a wet cell battery. Me... Regular maintenance-free batteries are sealed wet cell batteries (flooded). You can get them in either deep cycle (long cranking), OR high output. AGM are good at both deep cycle (long cranking), and high output. Supposed to last longer and are safer; but more expensive. Greg H from Mass, Connie Droppers Anonymous Awards Dude COG# 7010,a Tracey CDA 120 99 Connie "Herrin Christabelle", 05 Ninja 250

 

[Yuma]

Last month when my OEM started to show signs of impending death I shopped around and then bought a Wally-mart Everstart AGM battery. The price was $73 and it fits with just a little shimming. I had to add the acid and charge it first but that's a no brainier, The local dealers wanted $110~160 for regular to gell cells. As for the AGM part it is a Glass Mat that is between the plates and they hold the acid better and it is maintenance free.... (But I'll still open it next summer and check the fluid level) As for service life?.... I'll let you know in a few years.. ;p Yuma, Summer in Yuma is not hell, but hell is a local call 2006 Connie http://community.webshots.com/user/Lateck?vhost=community

 

[slybonesjesse]

Last month when my OEM started to show signs of impending death I shopped around and then bought a Wally-mart Everstart AGM battery. The price was $73 and it fits with just a little shimming. I had to add the acid and charge it first but that's a no brainier,

Maybe someone can explain to me why you need to add the acid to an AGM battery. -- My understanding is Absorbed Glass Mat batteries are where the acid is absorted into a fiberglass mat, and then the absorbed glass mat is sandwiched between the plates ( versus a wet cell where its just liquid acid between the plates ). -- AND how do you add the acid if its maintenance free? Somehow I always thought maint free meant that it had no openings/ports/whatever you want to call it, were fluid would be added. That is asked because one of the benefits of AGM is that if you punched a whole in the battery it would not leak, because all the acid is absorted into the fiberglass mat. There is no liquid to spill. So there should be no issue with shipping the battery wet, and requiring the end user to fill it. To be honest it would like that Wally-Mart Everstart AGM battery was not really an AGM battery. Unless of course you are all going to explain something to me as part of the answers to my questions. -- But it does sound strange as hell to me that a MFG would produce a dry AGM battery and send you the acid expecting you to pour it in and have the fiberglass mat absorb it after.

 

[Yuma]

Slybones I am sorry to disappoint you. The Wal-Mart battery IS a AGM battery that is built by Johnson Controls and then labeled for Walley mart. Here is some information for you: Yuasa Batteries Technical Manual http://www.yuasabatteries.com/pdfs/TechMan.pdf Look in section 5 Also Webbikeworld has a lot of information http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-battery/ Also on Johnson Controls http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/publish/us/en/products/power_solutions/Applications/Motorcycles.html As for not spilling if you put a hole in it, Well I think that even a Gel cell would leak something...... As for shipping a AGM dry... It allows for a longer shelf life. I hope this helps Yuma, Summer in Yuma is not hell, but hell is a local call 2006 Connie http://community.webshots.com/user/Lateck?vhost=community

 

[smithr]

My guess is that a maintenance free AGM that has to be filled is possible. The mat is in there as it is built. You add the acid and it flows around the mat material. Then when filled you plug the holes with none removable plugs. Not my idea of a GOOD battery though. ---------------------------------- I will answer any question. It is up to you to figure out if I should have.

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[Yuma]

Bob and Sly what battery would you recommend? Please note: Where I live I have never seen a battery (Car or motorcycle) that has lasted more than four years due to the heat. (A battery that is used daily and is out in the sun). I have read that the Odyssey IS A GREAT battery and they recommend the Metal jacket for higher temps but at $140~185 I can go through two of the "dry" AGMs. I did research this quite a bit through this site and the other one. Yuma, Summer in Yuma is not hell, but hell is a local call 2006 Connie http://community.webshots.com/user/Lateck?vhost=community

 

[slybonesjesse]

Yuma, I gave my recommendations above. Personally I dont really see anything wrong with an AGM Maint Free battery you fill when you get home and plug with non removeable plugs. My follow on response about your Walmart special was because myself I guess I have never seen a Maint Free AGM that I filled myself when I got home. My follow on post was as much / more of a question than a statement. I am not disappointed at all. I learned something from this thread. Except for the deep cycle ones on my travel trailer ( which will get better batteries when these ones crap out ), I have AGM batteries on all my vehicles. The ones I have on my cars/trucks I did not have to fill, and the Odessey I have on the Connie I did not have to fill. -- I have done some reading about batteries and realize some of the advantages about gell cell and AGM being advertised by the MFG's is the no leak/spill. They also advertise wet cell batteries as coming in two flavors, serviceable and main free. They do not advertise AGM or gell cells as coming in two flavors. They only come maint free. Putting that all together its not too far a stretch to be initially caught off guard by the concept of a Maint Free Battery you have to perform initial service on. My recommendations are not to get a wet cell battery. Get at least a maint free AGM battery. With the Oddessey being one of ( but not the only ) top models. And you right on the price. I noted that above also. When I got my Oddessey it was $90.

 

[2linby]

I've had a AGM for the past four years. Off brand but the bike starts every time. About $70.00 at the time AKA "2linby" That's 2-lin-by folks! Northwest Area Director COG #5539 AMA #927779 IBA #15034 TEAM OREGON MC Instructor http://community.webshots.com/user/2linby http://tinyurl.com/njas8 (IBA BunBurner Gold Trip) http://tinyurl.com/lwelx (Alaska trip)

 

[zorlac]

Maybe save a little scratch? http://tinyurl.com/4un4lv I've used the Panasonic version for 53K over the last 3.4yrs.