New battery

[Bones]

The GS hasn't had a new battery for a couple of years. As the morning are getting cooler I am detecting a slightly less enthusiastic crank when I hit the button so want to get a replacement lined up before the battery lets me down. I have always been satisfied with Yausa but this Motobatt item is about the same price and claims greater cranking power. Has anyone here used one and what was your experience? Thanks


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTOBATT-...hash=item542a32ae67:m:mw4BEtpmJr74QCs4DCgTaaw

 

[DrFarkoff]

I have had to replace Motobatt on a few customers bikes after 2 or 3 years

Most Odyssey batteries are 4 to 5 years plus now and still going strong

I am going to replace my 1200 one with an Odyssey ASAP as its not just snappy enough starting and the electronics on these bikes do NOT like voltage spikes / Current surges!!

 

[Galactic Greyhound]

It is normal for a lead/acid battery to have reduced starting ability as the temperature drops, especially to near or below 0 deg C.

This does not necessarily mean that the battery is failing after only two years use.

Nowadays, any type of battery from a quality manufacturer should last at least 4 years if properly looked after i.e. not left in a discharged state for any length of time.

I have just replaced the Exide Gel battery on my R1100RT with a Motobatt AGM similar to the one shown by the OP.

My Gel batteries always lasted 4 years or more, only being replaced because the ABS lights kept tripping out on starting, NEVER because the battery would not crank over the engine.

There is a lot to be said for using the simple and much cheaper 'wet' lead/acid battery which can often last for up to 10 years, but, of course, it is not a 'fit and forget' Gel or AGM type and needs to be maintained.

 

[Delboy777]

This is what you need.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTOBATT-...888212?hash=item5d4de62a14:g:rcMAAOxydyxSOxKu

 

[moonhead911]

I have had to replace Motobatt on a few customers bikes after 2 or 3 years

Most Odyssey batteries are 4 to 5 years plus now and still going strong

I am going to replace my 1200 one with an Odyssey ASAP as its not just snappy enough starting and the electronics on these bikes do NOT like voltage spikes / Current surges!!

x2 my motobatt failed after 18 months witch i was expecting it to last at least double that £10 more gets you an odyssey well worth the money

 

[jwpzx9r]

I just recently replaced my battery. I used a Lithium one from JMT who it is said supply batteries to KTM ? Anyway time will of course tell but it comes with a two year warranty. I read a lot online about this type of battery, before I bought my one, and most of what I read pointed to the Lithium battery being a good option. It does seem to turn the motor over faster than the lead acid ever did and when it comes to weight... lets just say I thought the lead acid was bolted into the holder it was so heavy! When it comes to charging the battery it is said that a special charger is needed... this is not true. What is needed is a charger that will not deliver more than 15 V maximum, most modern chargers charge at about 14.7V max. This is important because some of the modern chargers have a de-sulphating mode and use two different strategies one being high current, which the Lithium battery is OK with, the other is high voltage which will fry the battery. Another thing they do not like is trickle charging. As I say though time will tell.

 

[wessie]

Have you put the current battery on to charge? Perhaps you have not done enough miles to charge it fully, especially if you run a lot of accessories?

I'd give the existing battery a top-up at least overnight to see if that compensates for the lower temperature.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I've had mny motobatt on for 4 years and about 50,000 miles. Bike lives outside and has never failed to start the old girl even after periods of very cold weather. I have never used a trickle charger either.

The bike also spends longish periods sitting in containers to and from trips and she just fires everyttime I hit the start button.

Great batteries in my opinion and when the time comes, it will be Motobatt again.

 

[younger06]

This is what you need.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTOBATT-...888212?hash=item5d4de62a14:g:rcMAAOxydyxSOxKu

I fitted one of these to mine yesterday, fits perfectly and has 20% more cranking amps.

Sent from a OnePlusX

 

[Delboy777]

I fitted one of these to mine yesterday, fits perfectly and has 20% more cranking amps.

Sent from a OnePlusX

Yup i did the same after buying a "standard" Motobatt and reading a post on here about this particular one. My one came in HD colours, but hey ho its out of sight lol.

 

[Bones]

This is what you need.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTOBATT-...888212?hash=item5d4de62a14:g:rcMAAOxydyxSOxKu

Ordered. I will stick it in my Mille which has a dead battery and if the GS battery lets me down I can swap over. The Mille is on a SORN now but I like to start it now and again to warm it up and dry any condensation out of the electrics. Because of the high compression it's a bastard if the battery isn't 100%. Thick winter oil doesn't help either

Thanks for all of the replies

 

[Delboy777]

I notice a huge difference in cranking speed in my bike with this battery.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

I notice a huge difference in cranking speed in my bike with this battery.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is it a straight swap or do you need to modify the clamp?

 

[Delboy777]

Is it a straight swap or do you need to modify the clamp?

Straight swap


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

Thanks

 

[younger06]

I did notice that my mechanic had to make an adjustment (if that's the right term) with the computer after fitting the brand new battery because it started like a bag of spanners after the swap. Some sort of a calibration.

Sent from a OnePlusX

 

[Bones]

Have you put the current battery on to charge? Perhaps you have not done enough miles to charge it fully, especially if you run a lot of accessories?

I'd give the existing battery a top-up at least overnight to see if that compensates for the lower temperature.

No accessories and most days the bike is used for an 80 mile round trip commute. Now the evening are dark I can tell when the battery is getting weaker when the lights dim when I touch the (servo) brakes

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

No accessories and most days the bike is used for an 80 mile round trip commute. Now the evening are dark I can tell when the battery is getting weaker when the lights dim when I touch the (servo) brakes

My old GS always dimmed the lights when the servo went on, from new. I thought they all did that? The original battery lasted 7 years then an Odyssey went in for the last 3 years before I sold it.

I've always sworn by Odyssey batteries in all my old Guzzis (very similar to a boxer, even use the same starter motor) and they have excellent cold cranking power.

Andres

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

My old GS always dimmed the lights when the servo went on, from new. I thought they all did that? The original battery lasted 7 years then an Odyssey went in for the last 3 years before I sold it.

I've always sworn by Odyssey batteries in all my old Guzzis (very similar to a boxer, even use the same starter motor) and they have excellent cold cranking power.

Andres

Have you upgraded the mighty Tomos as yet

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Have you upgraded the mighty Tomos as yet

Yup but the one you show would fry the electrics so I've gone for one of these.........

Andres