Has battery tech evolved enough to change over?

[mf70]

Well, I killed my Yuasa YB10L-A2 by running it dry. In my defense, the GS250 makes it very hard to check fluid levels.

I'm getting tired of the two-year life of these floodies. Do the newer technologies, AGM, Ni-MH, or Li-xxx, have enough longer life to justify switching over?

Or shall I just continue to pay the $50 "oops tax" each time I fry one?

The form factor is: 7.3 x 6.2 x 3.9 inches

[posplayr]

Agm..............................

[tkent02]

Go with AGM, I wouldn't put any lead acid battery that spews acid into any vehicle I want to keep for a while. The fact that they are inexpensive, can stay charged all winter and last a decade is a bonus.

[bwringer]

Agreed. AGM. Worth every penny.

For the 10L-A2 there are very few choices, but Scorpion sells one.

Personally, I'm very partial to Motobatt, and they make one as well:

http://www.amazon.com/Motobatt-Motorcycle-Battery-Replaces-YB10L-A2/dp/B0058E23JE/ref=pd_sxp_redirect/184-0950695-0672113

The old acid dripping wet batteries will never go near my bikes.

The lithium batteries aren't there yet -- they're expensive as hell, there's a lot of dangerous no-name crap being sold, and they won't handle abuse, neglect, and marginal charging systems at all. Plus, the "sudden unquenchable fire" failure mode gives one pause. If you're worried about the battery weight, eat a few salads...

[Steve]

Yet another vote for AGM, for all the same reasons.

Another question about Lithium batteries is that some of them require special charging voltages and rates. Unless/until you replace your voltage regulator to a unit that is compatible with the battery, stick with a battery that is compatible with your current R/R.

.

[SVSooke]

Just changed over to AGM's here,never going back to an lead acid again.Wish the PO of my 83 GPz750 had gotten a AMG instead of a Walmart LA

[mf70]

I wouldn't touch lithium for any money. Between the cost, the exacting charge profiles, and that LEEETLE thing about bursting into flames... er, no.

SO: AGM, eh? A ten year life sounds good. I am getting ~three years on an AGM battery pack on my electric scooter; that includes being discharged to 50% capacity 100 times a year. I imagine the gentler charge-discharge demands of the motorcycle might in fact let it last ten years...

Thanks for the link. The 20AH batteries my scoot uses wouldn't have fit.

[Grimly]

. If you're worried about the battery weight, eat a few salads...

Ding!

All my bikes have experienced an equivalent horsepower gain of at least 20% in the past few years, as the pounds have dropped off.
Cheap tuning - and it lasts longer, too.

[mrbill5491]

Agm agm agm! And keep the battery tender off of it, maybe once a month for a couple hrs at the most if you aren't riding the bike very much.

[eil]

Before you throw in a new battery, replace your R/R or it will kill your shiny new AGM too. Lots of people run flooded cell batteries for more than two years and never have to add much (if any) water.

An AGM battery shouldn't need topping off more than once every three months or you've got a dud.

[tkent02]

And keep the battery tender off of it, maybe once a month for a couple hrs at the most if you aren't riding the bike very much.

It's just not required, an AGM sitting idle all winter will be over 99% charged in June. Hell I have let one sit four years with no charging at all and it was still reading 13 Volts.

[cowboyup3371]

An AGM battery shouldn't need topping off more than once every three months or you've got a dud.

AGM batteries don't need to be topped off at all

[alke46]

AGM batteries don't need to be topped off at all

My AGM doesn't even have provisions for topping off. Couldn't do it even if I wanted to.

[posplayr]

I think Eil's comment on topping off refers to charge state.

[alke46]

I think Eil's comment on topping off refers to charge state.

ooooopppps!!! my bad.~