Gel battery

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  • ssco156
    Forum Apprentice
    • Mar 2015
    • 68

    #1

    Gel battery

    Can I replace the AGM battery with a Gel? The charging voltage on my bike is 14.5V to 15V. Thanks in advance.
    1981 GS450
  • rphillips
    Forum Guru
    Past Site Supporter
    Super Site Supporter
    • Jun 2005
    • 7679
    • Norene TN

    #2
    Weather lead acid (also called conventual or wet cell), AGM, Gel cell, or the new Lithium-ion, all would be fine.
    1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

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    • Rob S.
      Forum Guru
      Past Site Supporter
      • Dec 2013
      • 9475
      • New York City

      #3
      Originally posted by rphillips
      Weather lead acid (also called conventual or wet cell), AGM, Gel cell, or the new Lithium-ion, all would be fine.
      Except the Lithium-ion might not be...

      How's the whether down there, Phil?
      1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

      2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

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      • salty_monk
        Forum LongTimer
        GSResource Superstar
        Past Site Supporter
        Super Site Supporter
        • Oct 2006
        • 14012
        • London, UK to Redondo Beach, California

        #4
        I prefer AGM over Gel from personal experience. They are hardier. Li-ion is the least hardy of all of them so far in my experience. I think when the actual storage capacity nears that of an AGM (like the REALLY expensive big ones from Antigravity) for a reasonable price then it will be the way forward. Right now compactness & weight are the only reasons to have one..
        1980 GS1000G - Sold
        1978 GS1000E - Finished!
        1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
        1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
        2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
        1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
        2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

        www.parasiticsanalytics.com

        TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

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        • rphillips
          Forum Guru
          Past Site Supporter
          Super Site Supporter
          • Jun 2005
          • 7679
          • Norene TN

          #5
          Rob, about normal around here, terrible ice storm end of Jan. beautiful spring weather end of Feb. Personally I've had no problems... When I see that stuff from up your way on national news, Hoping everybody is getting along O.K.
          1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

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          • Rob S.
            Forum Guru
            Past Site Supporter
            • Dec 2013
            • 9475
            • New York City

            #6
            Originally posted by salty_monk
            I prefer AGM over Gel from personal experience. They are hardier. Li-ion is the least hardy of all of them so far in my experience. I think when the actual storage capacity nears that of an AGM (like the REALLY expensive big ones from Antigravity) for a reasonable price then it will be the way forward. Right now compactness & weight are the only reasons to have one..
            Don't some Lithium-ion mc batteries (placed in 80's motorcycles) perhaps, potentially, possibly encounter slight incompatibility issues with the original 80's charging system?
            1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

            2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

            Comment

            • bitzz
              Forum Mentor
              • Nov 2015
              • 101

              #7
              Lithium batteries have a higher charge threshold.
              If you throw 13.3v at a lead acid battery it will eventually charge, a lithium battery needs a jolt of about 15v to start to charge, then you drop the voltage. If you use a regular lead acid charger it will never charge as it will never reach that threshold..
              A AGM battery is "absorbent glass matt". It has a gauze that absorbs the acid.
              A GEL battery has acid in a gel.
              Both act like a regular lead acid battery, the gel and matt are to make less maintenance required (the acid doesn't evaporate as easily) but are the same technology
              ... so if you want to use a lithium battery you should replace the regulator to one that is compatible with lithium. The stator will charge it, it just need the higher threshold.

              The battery that is easiest to keep going is an old lead acid with caps... so you can top up the electrolyte (We spend a lot of time and money on "maintenance free")

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              • Rob S.
                Forum Guru
                Past Site Supporter
                • Dec 2013
                • 9475
                • New York City

                #8
                Originally posted by bitzz

                The battery that is easiest to keep going is an old lead acid with caps... so you can top up the electrolyte (We spend a lot of time and money on "maintenance free")
                You ever tried even seeing the top of the battery on a stock 82-83 11E?
                1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

                2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

                Comment

                • 1978GS750E
                  Forum Sage
                  Past Site Supporter
                  Super Site Supporter
                  • Apr 2016
                  • 1258
                  • Lexington, KY

                  #9

                  "The battery that is easiest to keep going is an old lead acid with caps... so you can top up the electrolyte (We spend a lot of time and money on "maintenance free")"

                  That's easier than installing an AGM and never having to touch it? I'm obviously confused? Or does "maintenance free" have a new meaning?
                  Ron
                  78 GS1000E, 79 GS850G, 82 GS1100E, 83 GS1100ES,
                  22 Triumph Tiger Sport 660

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                  • Rich82GS750TZ
                    Forum Guru
                    Past Site Supporter
                    Super Site Supporter
                    • Jun 2018
                    • 5628
                    • Mifflinburg, PA / Land of Tar & Chip

                    #10
                    I don’t get it either Ron, I haven’t had a sealed AGM battery drip any fluid on anything, like the old type with caps that you have to fill with electrolyte.
                    Links

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                    • alke46
                      Forum Sage
                      Past Site Supporter
                      Super Site Supporter
                      • Sep 2008
                      • 3221
                      • Harrison, Ar.

                      #11
                      Originally posted by ssco156
                      Can I replace the AGM battery with a Gel? The charging voltage on my bike is 14.5V to 15V. Thanks in advance.
                      Am I missing something here? If your bike is charging upwards of 15V, doesn't that indicate a problem with the reg/rectifier?
                      Larry

                      79 GS1000E 2019 Triumph 800 XRT

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                      • Rich82GS750TZ
                        Forum Guru
                        Past Site Supporter
                        Super Site Supporter
                        • Jun 2018
                        • 5628
                        • Mifflinburg, PA / Land of Tar & Chip

                        #12
                        Originally posted by alke46

                        Am I missing something here? If your bike is charging upwards of 15V, doesn't that indicate a problem with the reg/rectifier?
                        Was thinking the same. Fix the charging situation.
                        Links

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                        • rphillips
                          Forum Guru
                          Past Site Supporter
                          Super Site Supporter
                          • Jun 2005
                          • 7679
                          • Norene TN

                          #13
                          Thank goodness for the "AGM's", For me, adding any water to any motorcycle batt is always an aggravation , especially when you got a GS you got to remove the seat, tank, and air box just to see the battery. No more "old lead acid batteries with caps" for me. AGM's for me till they come up with something better at a reasonable price.
                          1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

                          Comment

                          • Rob S.
                            Forum Guru
                            Past Site Supporter
                            • Dec 2013
                            • 9475
                            • New York City

                            #14
                            Originally posted by rphillips
                            Thank goodness for the "AGM's", For me, adding any water to any motorcycle batt is always an aggravation , especially when you got a GS you got to remove the seat, tank, and air box just to see the battery. No more "old lead acid batteries with caps" for me. AGM's for me till they come up with something better at a reasonable price.
                            Here here! Couldn't agree more.
                            1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

                            2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

                            Comment

                            • Baatfam
                              Forum LongTimer
                              Past Site Supporter
                              Super Site Supporter
                              • Jul 2006
                              • 18801
                              • Knoxville, TN

                              #15
                              Thanks for the reminder, fellas. Need to check the battery in my sports car.
                              Original 9 year old battery that requires maintenance.

                              Bob T. ~~ Play the GSR weekly photo game: Pic of Week Game
                              '83 GS1100E ~ '24 Triumph Speed 400 ~ '01 TRIUMPH TT600 ~ '67 HONDA CUB

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