Basic battery question

[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.

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.

.

[alke46]

I looked yesterday at a battery branded as "Duracell". Now I know that Duracell makes good batteries in general but has anyone here tried their motorcycle battery?
I believe the one I looked at had a 2 year warranty and 220 cca which seemed pretty good and it was priced at $109. Right in the same price range as the motobatt and the Interstate brand.

[Gorminrider]

sigh..You have to be so careful...fakes abound and even the "good names" get bought and pasted onto trash... first, I'd goto duracell.com and see if they actually sell motorcycle batteries ...

[alke46]

Thanks, I will do just that.

[Grimly]

sigh..You have to be so careful...fakes abound and even the "good names" get bought and pasted onto trash... first, I'd goto duracell.com and see if they actually sell motorcycle batteries ...

They do, indeed. News to me, too.

https://www.driveduracell.com/power-sport

[rphillips]

Are you sure, East Penn is a huge mfg. of batts. with the Duracell name on them. Just wondering, does it really matter who makes them?

[salty_monk]

I've used the East Penn batteries before. Labelled Deka or Big Crank. In my experience the Motobatt is slightly better and longer lasting (and the extra terminals are very useful) but the Deka is very slightly cheaper....

I've used these guys a couple of times if it helps anyone... Motobatt seems to get its best pricing on Amazon or Ebay. http://www.etx15l.com/

[Gorminrider]

Are you sure, East Penn is a huge mfg. of batts. with the Duracell name on them. Just wondering, does it really matter who makes them?

It's so hard to tell. It's good you tracked it down. I look at the country of origin for clues...IE: Yuasa is a big manufacturer..I suppose they make the Walmart (Canada) batteries in their Viet Nam factory...it doesn't speak to how good they are ("OK" in my experience) but "Brand Names" aren't what they used to be. They get licensed out or sold. I can buy a Sunbeam toaster or a GE dryer today but it's a crapshoot now compared to the ones that were still working after 25 years...and longer!

[Rob S.]

I...GE...still working after 25 years...and longer!

My old house (the whole block) was built in 1968. I know some original owners who are still using the original GE kitchen appliances.

They're not building them like that anymore.

[mrbill5491]

sigh..You have to be so careful...fakes abound and even the "good names" get bought and pasted onto trash... first, I'd goto duracell.com and see if they actually sell motorcycle batteries ...

I have a Duracell AGM in my bike, got it through Batteries & Bulbs store. The battery is actually made by Yuasa for Duracell. Very good battery, been in my bike now for 6 years.

[Spyder]

I have an Interstate Gel battery in my GS. Been in there for over 8 years. Bike hasn't RUN in 3 years, and the battery STILL has a charge on it. Couldn't tell you if it's really an Interstate battery, don't really care. It works good. If/when I need one for any other bike, I'll buy another Interstate. It was a bit pricey when I bought it, but worth EVERY cent IMO.