Basic battery question

[red1100]

Anyone tested the difference if any in longevity between a wet cell and sealed of the same amperage/hour battery? I can go with either so just asking.

 

[Steve]

A wet cell can last almost as long, but you have to ensure that it ALWAYS has enough electrolyte in it.

A sealed battery merely ensures that the electrolyte does not escape.

Or, you can go one step better and get an AGM battery. That is a construction style (absorbed glass mat), not a brand name. Not only is it sealed, the plates are thinner, so more of them can be put into the available space. Thinner plates are a bit more fragile, so there is a fiberglass insulator mat placed between the plates to keep them from moving around, shorting that cell. Because there are more plates, there is a bit more capacity for the same physical size battery.

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[bwringer]

Your bike (and maybe you) will last a lot longer with an AGM battery that can't puke battery acid onto the frame, chain, etc.

To put it bluntly, there's absolutely no excuse nowadays for installing a "wet" battery in any motorcycle.

AGM batteries last a lot longer, usually have a little more capacity, and they won't puke battery acid and acid vapors onto your bike. This one's a no-brainer.

Cheap wet batteries are the absolute fakest of all false economies.

 

[Baatfam]

Cheap wet batteries are the absolute fakest of all false economies.

Ah...That could explain this: https://www.thegsresources.com/_for...on-maintenance-free-car-batteries-in-new-cars

 

[Steve]

Ah...That could explain this: https://www.thegsresources.com/_for...on-maintenance-free-car-batteries-in-new-cars

Face it, Bob, that is evidently not a "cheap wet battery". :-\\\

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[Gorminrider]

I still consider a wet battery is a little more rugged if your R/R fails and you catch the water-loss in time....I haven't had this happen with my single AGM but it's a possibility...They seem a little more finicky especially in smaller sizes. AND, for what it's worth to people here, the manufacturer's catalogue entry for our bikes will usually offer a wet cell.

A new-to-me bike doesn't get a fancy battery until I am sure I love it a lot ...and, the wet-cell in my cars? hardly ever look at them..twice a year maybe and a decent one lasts for year and years...

 

[Big T]

An extra $20 is not what I consider fancy

Car batteries do not have anywhere near the physical stresses that motorcycle batteries have to endure

 

[rphillips]

My decision comes from access to batt. 3 of my bikes, the batt is very easily accessible, wet is cheeeper, with no other problems so usually, they get wet cell. Other 3 bikes, batt. is an aggravation & a lot harder to get to, they always get the AGM. Haven't kept records, but have not noticed any difference in longevity

 

[Rob S.]

To put it bluntly, there's absolutely no excuse nowadays for installing a "wet" battery in any motorcycle.

Seconded...!

 

[Gorminrider]

An extra $20 is not what I consider fancy

Car batteries do not have anywhere near the physical stresses that motorcycle batteries have to endure

How do you figure that? dirt bikes being dumped- sure...but there's little operational "stress" on either except starting if the charging system works...batterries are sized to turn the engine over.

$20? you must mean Walmart. The $20 towards a better wet cell would be a better buy, IMO.

 

[alke46]

My GS 1000 needs a new battery this year and I was considering the difference between a Interstate vs the Motobatt brand.
I think I saw a picture of the Interstate brand and it showed the terminals reversed from what I need.

Isn't it true that the Motobatt has the terminals in the center so it can be installed with the proper orientation?

 

[fastbysuzuki]

My GS 1000 needs a new battery this year and I was considering the difference between a Interstate vs the Motobatt brand.
I think I saw a picture of the Interstate brand and it showed the terminals reversed from what I need.

Isn't it true that the Motobatt has the terminals in the center so it can be installed with the proper orientation?

The Motobatt has 4 terminals

 

[1978GS750E]

Larry,

I put an Interstate AGM battery in mine. #YTX14AH(L)-BS if that helps. Are the 78 and 79 models different?

 

[Rob S.]

Well, I think it's safe to say that no owner of an '82 or '83 11E will want a wet battery. I mean, even if you have pods, displacing the tank and removing a frame submember just to access the battery?!?

I'm old enough to remember the days when you opened the seat with two fingers and bam! There was the battery.

 

[Cipher]

https://fortnine.ca/en/antigravity-re-start-heavy-duty-lithium-ion-battery-ag-atx12-hd-rs

 

[rphillips]

Bought an Interstate for my CB1100f, as I got a big discount thru my employer. Thought I'd get a little better than usual. Opened the Interstate box & pulled out a YUSA battery, & an Interstate sticker, that I could put on, if I wanted an Interstate. Is there a reason to not get a batt. that fits properly?

 

[alke46]

Larry,

I put an Interstate AGM battery in mine. #YTX14AH(L)-BS if that helps. Are the 78 and 79 models different?

Hi Ron. Don't know of any difference but my + cable is closest to the tank and - is towards the tail. Pictures I saw of the Interstate brand showed just the opposite.

 

[rphillips]

The "L" is the difference. looking at the front of the batt. YTX14AH, pos is on the left, YTX14AHL, pos is on the right.

 

[alke46]

The "L" is the difference. looking at the front of the batt. YTX14AH, pos is on the left, YTX14AHL, pos is on the right.

Aha!, Thanks for that. When I get back home next week, I will take 5 minutes and order one.

 

[Steve]

Any of the GSes that I have seen that have the battery where it's accessible have had the + terminal toward the rear. :-k

Have only worked on one or two 750/1100s that had them below the airbox, and the battery was not my area of concern at the time, so I paid no attention to it. My son had a 450 for a while, I remember it was 'different', but don't remember where it was or what was different.

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