Battery experiences please

[desmo2]

Hi , I need to get on with a new battery box for my isdt project . I'm looking at the Odyssey pc680 and alternatives from SVR and Yuasa . I'm sure you're all aware of Odyssey's claim of 680 cca for the first 5 seconds , which seems incredible to me , then 210 cca thereafter . No other battery offers the initial 5 sec. boost but all provide over 200 cca . The alternatives are better sized for me too . Having not owned a BM for over 25 years , I'd appreciate any comments as to whether I'm likely to run into starting problems with a more ' std. ' good quality battery ? Thanks in advance , Mike

 

[Paradiso]

I balked at the initial price of a Hawker Odyssey, but I've been very impressed with how it holds its charge despite being left for longer periods of 3 or 4 months (outside in cold weather). I haven't known another battery that was as good in this respect.

 

[Voyager]

I've got PC680s in my R100GS and my R1150GSA - I have found them to be excellent.

Bob.

 

[Redboots]

My PC680 has been on since 2006. Kept on an optimate when not in use... if I remember

Apart from it being a good battery, I like the compactness of it.

 

[Belper phil]

battery PC680

Like the sound of these myself - but!

When i went flat at the Belgian airhead do - beggars cant be choosers and i had to get the best available at the time.

Ended up with a Varta - 25a and been happy with it so far.

Cost in Belgium fitted was not much difference to buying in UK and postage etc.

 

[electric_monk]

When my Odessey went south I replaced it with a Westco having read Richie Moores article in TBM and think it is a stronger battery. Got it from tayna.co.uk

 

[desmo2]

Yes , there seems to be a bit of a merger going on with SVR and Westco . I'll probably go down that route as they claim the same cranking power as Odyssey but come in handier sizes for my needs . Thanks for the replies , I appreciate it . Mike

 

[fritz]

Golf Cart battery

I put a golf cart battery on, bit bigger and heavier, but cheap as chips compares to others and works a treat, cracking starting and no probs with resting up over winter (without charging).

Should be a thread on the site still regarding em

http://www.batterytrader.com/volt-17amp-golf-cart-battery-replacements-p-38275.html?currency=GBP something like this - need to check sizes and layout of poles - I had to make new leads, but saved a lot.

 

[how much]

got my 80g/s off Thunder with a brand new faulty odysey...

soon sorted and swapped under warranty at motorwerks

replacement still going strong after 3+ years.... which is outstanding when thinking back about the bikes "lay-ups" due to my riding health problems with my back

dont believe in leaving bike attached to trickle chargers etc.. so none of that

just use my smart charger every so often, the one i use for all my radio control plane/heli stuff (balance charges lipo's etc) it will not over charge any battery... ever!

hm

 

[cobbster]

When I first got the bike the original battery gave up the ghost, fitted an Odyssey. Still going strong after @ 3 years.

The best bit was the reduced size gave me some where to locate a compressor without taking any other space up on the bike ( with a little alloy and bungee)

 

[SJRoome]

Hi

I just checked my receipts. My Odessey is still going strong and I bought it in Feb 2002.

Steve

 

[ghiribizzo]

I'm now running 3 bikes on Motobatt units. Power as good as Odyssey without the price and without the terminal placement issues of the Odyssey in some bikes.

 

[JPR]

+1 for the Motobatt

 

[Padmei]

+1 for the Motobatt

me too. I dropped down in size by about 1/2 & still starts easily - we don't get those really cold winters tho here which may make a difference.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Please could anyone tell me the model of Motobatt they use?

My bike's an R100GS P-D and Haynes specify a 25Ah battery. However the Botobatt 25Ah unit appears to be physically larger than the battery tray can accommodate.

My existing battery is a snug fit at 180mm x 120mm - the Motobatt MBTX24U is 205mm x 87mm.

Cheers,

Paul G

 

[ghiribizzo]

MB-TX20U will go in.
Search on here you'll see pics too!

 

[Beemerboff]

The Motobatt --20-- works perfectly in my GS and 900 cc high comp /7 - remember that the 0em starter and cables cant handle and dont need any more than 220 amps so 680cca is a bit of a nonsense.

What is important is that the volts are kept up, and the Motobatt does this, with virtually no voltage drop at peak CCA.

Repeatability is also important, some high CCA batteries are good for around half a dozen starts, but the --16-- Motobatt was still going strong after starting a 7 litre V10 Dodge 60 times.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Thank you Ghiribizzo and Beemerboff, you've helped me make a decision.

Paul

 

[ChasF]

I'm currently sharing a battery between my 80G/S and 100GS. The battery is from the 80 (20AH) of no particular brand and somewhat on the downhill side of its lifespan but both bikes start really easily - minus 5 here this morning and probably no warmer in the barn. The 100 has a Bosch starter that could do with a service and cranks over really slowly ( barely turns) but the bike starts instantly. The 80 has a Valeo starter which spins more quickly and again fires instantly. Although I havn't measured the voltage drop I don't think the battery has much of a CCA rating and as Bemerboff says even if the starter needed 680amps the cables wouldn't be able to handle it and I suspect the voltage at the coil would be so low it wouldn't fire up.

Anyway, getting to the point, I'm fiddling around with the 80 at the moment and want to fit a Motobatt. I was just wondering if anyone has fitted a smaller battery than recommended. I thinking of the MTBX12U which is 14AH/200AmpsCCA.

 

[The Other PaulG]

I bought the Motobatt MB-TX20U - It arrived today so I'll fit it tonight, I'll let you know how I get on.