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Basic battery question

R

red1100

Forum Mentor
Anyone tested the difference if any in longevity between a wet cell and sealed of the same amperage/hour battery? I can go with either so just asking.
 
A wet cell can last almost as long, but you have to ensure that it ALWAYS has enough electrolyte in it.

A sealed battery merely ensures that the electrolyte does not escape.

Or, you can go one step better and get an AGM battery. That is a construction style (absorbed glass mat), not a brand name. Not only is it sealed, the plates are thinner, so more of them can be put into the available space. Thinner plates are a bit more fragile, so there is a fiberglass insulator mat placed between the plates to keep them from moving around, shorting that cell. Because there are more plates, there is a bit more capacity for the same physical size battery.

.
 
Your bike (and maybe you) will last a lot longer with an AGM battery that can't puke battery acid onto the frame, chain, etc.

To put it bluntly, there's absolutely no excuse nowadays for installing a "wet" battery in any motorcycle.

AGM batteries last a lot longer, usually have a little more capacity, and they won't puke battery acid and acid vapors onto your bike. This one's a no-brainer.

Cheap wet batteries are the absolute fakest of all false economies.
 
I still consider a wet battery is a little more rugged if your R/R fails and you catch the water-loss in time....I haven't had this happen with my single AGM but it's a possibility...They seem a little more finicky especially in smaller sizes. AND, for what it's worth to people here, the manufacturer's catalogue entry for our bikes will usually offer a wet cell.

A new-to-me bike doesn't get a fancy battery until I am sure I love it a lot ...and, the wet-cell in my cars? hardly ever look at them..twice a year maybe and a decent one lasts for year and years...
 
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An extra $20 is not what I consider fancy

Car batteries do not have anywhere near the physical stresses that motorcycle batteries have to endure
 
My decision comes from access to batt. 3 of my bikes, the batt is very easily accessible, wet is cheeeper, with no other problems so usually, they get wet cell. Other 3 bikes, batt. is an aggravation & a lot harder to get to, they always get the AGM. Haven't kept records, but have not noticed any difference in longevity
 
Big T said:
An extra $20 is not what I consider fancy

Car batteries do not have anywhere near the physical stresses that motorcycle batteries have to endure
Click to expand...

How do you figure that? dirt bikes being dumped- sure...but there's little operational "stress" on either except starting if the charging system works...batterries are sized to turn the engine over.

$20? you must mean Walmart. The $20 towards a better wet cell would be a better buy, IMO.
 
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My GS 1000 needs a new battery this year and I was considering the difference between a Interstate vs the Motobatt brand.
I think I saw a picture of the Interstate brand and it showed the terminals reversed from what I need.

Isn't it true that the Motobatt has the terminals in the center so it can be installed with the proper orientation?
 
alke46 said:
My GS 1000 needs a new battery this year and I was considering the difference between a Interstate vs the Motobatt brand.
I think I saw a picture of the Interstate brand and it showed the terminals reversed from what I need.

Isn't it true that the Motobatt has the terminals in the center so it can be installed with the proper orientation?
Click to expand...

The Motobatt has 4 terminals
 
Larry,

I put an Interstate AGM battery in mine. #YTX14AH(L)-BS if that helps. Are the 78 and 79 models different?
 
Well, I think it's safe to say that no owner of an '82 or '83 11E will want a wet battery. I mean, even if you have pods, displacing the tank and removing a frame submember just to access the battery?!?

I'm old enough to remember the days when you opened the seat with two fingers and bam! There was the battery.
 
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?
 
1978GS750E said:
Larry,

I put an Interstate AGM battery in mine. #YTX14AH(L)-BS if that helps. Are the 78 and 79 models different?
Click to expand...
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.
 
The "L" is the difference. looking at the front of the batt. YTX14AH, pos is on the left, YTX14AHL, pos is on the right.
 
rphillips said:
The "L" is the difference. looking at the front of the batt. YTX14AH, pos is on the left, YTX14AHL, pos is on the right.
Click to expand...

Aha!, Thanks for that. When I get back home next week, I will take 5 minutes and order one.
 
Any of the GSes that I have seen that have the battery where it's accessible have had the + terminal toward the rear. :-k

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.

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