AGM batteries: not worth it?

solemnwarning · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 23 Jun 2012 Karma :

Went to start my GS500 this morning, couldn't turn over fast enough to catch, wound up jump starting off my car. Its been getting noticably harder to start over the past few days.

Battery is an AGM battery made by Motobatt, bought last October for £51.70, been used most days since its my commuter.

Should I just get the cheapest conventional battery I can find? Are they likely to last much less time?

Thanks

RhynoCZ · Super Spammer Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Karma :

Get a Yuasa for reliability. On the other hand my friend runs a Motobatt (yellow 12v) in his 919RR and it's been 5 years since he put it there.

So you might just have been unlucky. Is your charging system working properly?

Are you in the EU? 24 months warranty.

*Not sure about UK and warranty, Embarassed

EDIT II: The internet Thinking

solemnwarning · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 23 Jun 2012 Karma :

I'll check the charging system tonight. Lights flicker noticeably at tickover and stabilise as the engine spins up, its always done that, I put it down to budget alternator/regulator.

Battery came from an eBay distributor (still new in box), would I be able to claim the warranty direct from Motobatt? Without a receipt?

RhynoCZ · Super Spammer Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Karma :

BTTD · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

solemnwarning · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 23 Jun 2012 Karma :

Borrowed a voltmeter and checked it in the car park, charging system is working fine.

Now to try and find a local Motobatt dealer...

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

I've used motobatts for years they usually give me at least 5 years service.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Courier265 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2017 Karma :

I've never heard anything bad about Motobatt's most likely this battery was a dud.

I always use Yuasa batteries and I've had a couple of dud one's over the decades.

Buy another motobatt Razz

arry · Super Spammer Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Karma :

solemnwarning · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 23 Jun 2012 Karma :

Having trouble finding information on Motobatt (local battery place had never heard of them). Tried the seller I got it from and "unfortunately" they only offer a one year warranty.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Can you quantify how fine the charging system is?
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Courier265 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2017 Karma :

MCN · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :

I've had a Mottobat in my 1300 for about three years. No issues. I connect to a Ctek when the bike is in the garage.

But Yuasa is a very reliable battery too.

And your heading lacks depth of tech.

'Conventional' Lead acid batteries and shite compared to a good AGM for many many reasons I am not prepared to list. Smile

Look at the specs and decide.

Batteries are bit of a living thing and do need to be treated with some respect throughout their life.
The AGM will take more abuse than the 'normal' type but they are broken if pushed too hard.
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solemnwarning · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 23 Jun 2012 Karma :

ZebraDriver · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Feb 2011 Karma :

I've got a Nazi Tractor as well. I've used Motobatt batteries before but the one I fitted last year expired after three months use. The ebay seller easily provided a replacement all I had to send them back was the "lid" of the battery (I assume this was so that they could claim their own refund from their supplier)

ZD

solemnwarning · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 23 Jun 2012 Karma :

Never actually had a charging system fault before, so broke out the Haynes manual and worked through the checks...

The book says the resistance between each phase of the alternator should be zero, I read 1ohm between each. The book also says there should be at least 75v between each phase at 5,000RPM, I read 62.5v between each phase.

Within acceptable limits or pooched? Seems odd that each phase would have exactly the same amount of wrongness.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Ooo-er, above my karma grade.

Maybe Tef can help?

Whistle

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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
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MCN · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :

RhynoCZ · Super Spammer Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Karma :

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

[quote="RhynoCZ"]
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RhynoCZ · Super Spammer Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Karma :

solemnwarning · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 23 Jun 2012 Karma :

In my haste to report my findings on the stator, I hadn't seen the table of expected resistances between pins of the regulator/rectifier.

Mine don't line up with what the manual says they should, each pin combination is either infinite resistance or brief continuity (too brief to read on my cheap meter) followed by infinite resistance. Assuming the readings I see are some internal capacitors charging up.

Worrisome?

RhynoCZ · Super Spammer Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Karma :