Which Battery should I buy?

[terry]

G'Day Guys, it looks like after only a year or so the "El-Cheapo" battery I bought for my 1981 (8 valve) GS1000S has already turned up it's toes, which is disappointing considering I got 5 good years outta my Yuasa?

Now I don't ride this bike as much as I should anymore, (lots of bikes, and a company car) so the bike will sit dormant for weeks at a time, and so I'm thinking maybe a "gel cell" battery might be better than another conventional lead-acid battery?

What's the concensus? Thanks in advance, Cheers, Terry.

[SqDancerLynn1]

I'm thinking you need a battery tender. I don't know if a gel battery will last any longer but you can buy two batteries for the price of one gel battery

[sharpy]

Battery

Hey boof head ive just used a $50 elcheapo and its running fine. My mate at the Suzuki shop that ive known for 20 odd years told me dont buy Yuasa as there too dear. He has a el-cheapo in his RC 30 which he starts once a mth or so and its great.

[svahnm]

I have heard that gel battery would discharge less while not in use. Also less sensitive to damage if it goes empty. They claimed also it lasts more times to charge.

Still I bought traditional battery for 1/2 price, because on 30 years old bike has anyway occasionally electric problems and then it is rather cheap to renew the battery to be sure of that.. In case of gel one I would hesitate to spend another 60 euros (instead of 30 euros) after 2-3 years to change it.

Just my opinion..

[ScottMc1100L]

found this one while using the search feature...

one of many battery threads

BOL M8!

[terry]

Thanks mate, this one looks promising! Cheers, Terry.

http://www.motorcyclebatteriesusa.com/battery-details.asp?battery=270

[terry]

Hey boof head ive just used a $50 elcheapo and its running fine. My mate at the Suzuki shop that ive known for 20 odd years told me dont buy Yuasa as there too dear. He has a el-cheapo in his RC 30 which he starts once a mth or so and its great.

Yeah mate, the guy at the Suzy shop here said those cheapies were ok for old worn out engines with little or no compression like yours, but for bikes with engines in good nick, they just don't have the cranking amps? Ha ha, get a mullet up ya! Cheers, Terry.

[ScottMc1100L]

Thanks mate, this one looks promising! Cheers, Terry.

http://www.motorcyclebatteriesusa.co...sp?battery=270

Top shelf...nice one 8-)

[terry]

Well I'm not having much luck finding the Yuasa YTX14AHL, but the Yuasa dealer in Melbourne can do the YB14L-A2 no worries.

He first offered me a "Top Lite" (El Cheapo) battery, so I asked him what the difference was, apart from the cost, (The Yuasa is 15 bucks dearer) and we were both surprised when he read the specs that the Yuasa has approx 30% more CCA (cold cranking amps) than the "Top Lite"! (The Yuasa produces 190CCA opposed to 140 for the "Top Lite")

This probably is why I've assumed that the El Cheapo battery I bought last year is buggared. (it still holds a charge, but when the bike is dead cold it's only good for a couple of starting attempts before it gives up the ghost)

I'll keep it, but I'll probably just put it in either my '79 GS750E or one of my Honda CB750's, as they've got kick starters, (wonderful devices!) so it's weak cranking ability won't be an issue. I guess this is a classic case of "You gets what you pays for". Cheers, Terry.

[rkubik]

top ups

whatever you buy (unless it's a gel type) needs to be topped up with distilled water once a month or so.

Even a good one left to dry out will not last, and will also cause the regulator/rectifier to overheat.

[terry]

Thanks for that Rick, I've never had a problem with loss of electrolyte except on a bike with a bad regulator years ago (another GS1000) but I do keep an eye on the electrolyte level and top it up if necessary with distilled water.

had a frustrating day yesterday, every shop I tried for a Yuasa "could get me one in a couple of days" (I work on an army base about 60 miles from the city, so had to rely on the dealers in the small country town that supports the base) but no-one had one in stock, and the Melbourne dealer I spoke to originally didn't have one in stock either?

Oh well, because I want to ride my bike right away, I bought another "El Cheapo" from a local bike shop. The dealer assured me that he'd had no problems with them and gave me a 12 month warranty on it, but it didn't improve my mood any. I really wanted all those extra CCA's!

Anyway, I got home and filled it with acid and trickle charged it overnight, so when I get home from work today I'll install it and take it for a ride. (it's just a tad shy of 90 degrees F here today, heading towards a warmish summer, ha ha!) Interestingly enough the "El Cheapo" battery that I bought last year is apparently not the right battery for my bike, my new battery is a 14 AH battery, whereas the other one is only 11 AH? That might have been half the problem, I must go and have a chat to the dealer who sold it to me............. Cheers, Terry.

[terry]

Well I raced home and installed the new battery, and "Varoom", it fired up before the crank had done a full rotation, brilliant!

It was still around 90 degrees F at 5:30 PM, so I threw my helmet on and did about two hours "scratching" on deserted country roads, and apart from the peppering I was getting from a brazillion suicidal bugs (must remember to wear my full face Shoei next time) splattering themselves all over my face and neck, it was GS heaven!

I'll try it again tonight when I get home just to make sure the alternator is still working, and if it runs as well as it did last night, it'll be very happy indeed! Cheers, Terry.