Which Battery?

[MattW]

OEM Exide gel, every time.

Why pay more for a battery that trades cranking current for capacity, doesn't fit the hole and requires you to faff around with the cables?

The biggest starting difference on my bike came when I changed the original ('94) starter motor for a German eBay replacement. Even though my original starter looked outwardly fine (magnets still firmly stuck, grease plate intact etc), the difference is amazing.

Previously I'd get ABS self test faults at least 75% of the time when starting and sluggish cranking. Now it spins up and starts much faster and I've not had a single ABS startup fault since making the change. All on a 5 year old Exide gel battery (plugged into a Ctek charger in the garage).

 

[Littledumptruck]

I had the same dilemma a few months back. Ended up going or std Exide replacement from a guy in Plymouth off eBay. Paid about £50 iirc. Well happy, bikes back to how it should be, starts even after a few weeks of non use, and clock stays on time

 

[helitrooper]

I got a Lucas heavy Duty AGM battery on mine intended for a golf cart £26 plus postage, it's very slightly smaller and is slightly higher capacity at 20ah - works fine the only downside is it's bright green !!!

 

[ahutcheon]

I got a Lucas heavy Duty AGM battery on mine intended for a golf cart £26 plus postage, it's very slightly smaller and is slightly higher capacity at 20ah - works fine the only downside is it's bright green !!!

That'll probably be a traction battery so designed for long duration moderate current drain down to a low charge level rather than the short high current demand placed on a starting battery (which in turn won't like being run a long way down and recharged all that often). But if it fits and works and the price is right...

 

[wessie]

That'll probably be a traction battery so designed for long duration moderate current drain down to a low charge level rather than the short high current demand placed on a starting battery (which in turn won't like being run a long way down and recharged all that often). But if it fits and works and the price is right...

That's exactly what AGM batteries were originally designed for, together with the valve system which means their contents don't spill everywhere if someone tips the vehicle over.

They just happen to work very well in other application like motorcycles, where their low auto-discharge rate and non-spill construction are notable benefits.

 

[ahutcheon]

That's exactly what AGM batteries were originally designed for, together with the valve system which means their contents don't spill everywhere if someone tips the vehicle over.

They just happen to work very well in other application like motorcycles, where their low auto-discharge rate and non-spill construction are notable benefits.

No arguments about how good AGM batteries are. A deep-cycle battery trades plate area for plate volume (and internal resistance for ability to withstand deep discharge) compared to a starting battery so has a lower peak current draw and duration. From memory, the 40AH sealed batteries on my solar electric fence are rated for 200A for 5s, while the sealed battery in my bike that is less than half the size is good for 650A or so.

 

[STUBBS]

I got a Lucas heavy Duty AGM battery on mine intended for a golf cart £26 plus postage, it's very slightly smaller and is slightly higher capacity at 20ah - works fine the only downside is it's bright green !!!

went the similar route a few years ago but went for a 21ah rather than the stated 19ah payed around £45 from a german ebay supplier

 

[spen]

The biggest thing i went for was a battery with a high CCR the rating for Cold Cranking or turning the bike over from cold .The Odyssey has a high CCR so should turn the bike over longer if needed to start it .A Yuasa replacement has a CCR of 100 the Odyssey has a CCR of over 500 .