Motobatt - lifespan

[Santa-2512]

What would you consider the average lifespan of a Mottobat MBTX 12U?

I Purchased one for my Lc back in 2020 and used it up until March this year, when i swapped it our for an Odyssey battery i had sitting unused

I popped it in my 2011 1200TC hexhead , as that was on the original battery, so deffo long in the tooth

It spins the TC over in the mornings, but you do get the very long second, after pressing the button and the pistons starting to gain sufficient momentum

time for a new one?

 

[er-minio]

Depends on a fairly large number of factors.

Motorbike batteries are fairly inexpensive, so replace if it doesn’t seem to perform properly/don’t hold charge.

A battery load tester costs about 20 quid if one has multiple batteries and wants to keep an eye on them.

 

[botus]

on the odyssey - they run dry and stop functioning at 4.7 years - so you top it up and it goes as good as new for another 3 years, then you top it up again.... each time unclipping the lid

the motobat when you crack off the the yellow bit is the same design with 6 rubber bungs over each cell, but one I was given doesn't like the top up feature - it should - but I suspect the 4 years of dry abuse didn't help it

 

[bmstan]

The Odyssey on my R1100rs was fitted in 2005 and lasted for 15 years without any maintenance at all other than an occasional charge if I wasn't using the bike!

 

[er-minio]

Most Motobatts are sealed AGM batteries. There is no topping up.

 

[MWH]

I seem to recall the 12u isn't the correct battery for an air cooled, think it was a mistake in the catalogue for a while. It should've been the 14, I use a16 in mine and had it for a few years and still OK. First turn is usually quite slow but always starts. I did have the 12u in it before for a few years as well and it always started and had the first slow turn as well.

 

[Santa-2512]

Jeez i' m a plonker
Ive got a MBYZ16H fitted lol

thats the big puppy 16AH & 240A CCA

I put the Odyssey in the LC that was only 14AH 200A CCA

I might get a replacement in just in case

 

[botus]

Most Motobatts are sealed AGM batteries. There is no topping up.

the motobat when you crack off the the yellow bit is the same design with 6 rubber bungs over each cell,

ANY AGM should be able to recover when the matting is damp enough to have conductivity...

 

[Neil W]

In the past I have had 2 Motobatt batteries fail within 2 years or so of purchase ( both kept on the bike on an Optimate).

Final straw for me was the battery on the R1150GS I bought last November which was a Motobatt which the previous owner had only bought last summer ( receipt included in paperwork) and it was kept on a decent charger all winter but failed in May this year , the clock was resetting and a voltage drop test showed that when starting voltage dropped from 13 V down to 7.5 V , exactly the same as the previous two .

Plus Motobatt might give a 2 year warranty but only for the original purchaser , I put a decent Exide AGM battery on the bike and no issues so far

 

[er-minio]

ANY AGM should be able to recover when the matting is damp enough to have conductivity...

I try to keep them charged, take care to never leave any of the batteries discharged to avoid sulfation, and they all have lasted a more than reasonable amount of time (years).
I have had a couple of Motobatts, my impression (total gut feeling though) is that they are not very high quality batteries, but lasted enough.

I'd say you are really not supposed to "crack" open AGM batteries to re-fill/damp them with fluid, but to each their own.

 

[botus]

of course they want you to run them dry till they stop and you buy an other, and another - or you top them up

on a merc forum the old ones lasted 9 years and you top them up and still going at 15 years - when you buy the current one they die within 30 months - or you top the nearly empty from new one's at 18 months and expect 15 years like the old days

 

[er-minio]

of course they want you to run them dry till they stop and you buy an other, and another

"They" (the man) still sell regular batteries that have to be activated and can be topped up. Even AGMs (I think). There is no conspiracy here.
Again, not debating personal choices, to each their own.

 

[MWH]

Just found the receipt for my MBYZ16H. I got it in January 2018 so had it almost 5 1/2 years. Stills performs as it did when I first fitted it. It spends most of its time on a ctek charger and was in it solidly through lockdown. No signs of it dying yet. There, that's the kiss of death for it now!!

 

[Santa-2512]

Just found the receipt for my MBYZ16H. I got it in January 2018 so had it almost 5 1/2 years. Stills performs as it did when I first fitted it. It spends most of its time on a ctek charger and was in it solidly through lockdown. No signs of it dying yet. There, that's the kiss of death for it now!!

Thats the difference,
Mine spends the day on the bike - no chargers
So yours has prolly had a year of real use

 

[MWH]

If that these days!!