Bikemaster battery caution

[earlfor]

I replaced the battery in my Bandit on August 10 with a Bikemaster AGM battery. I came out this morning and the battery was dead as a door nail. It registered 12.7 volts with a multimeter, but a load test showed no amperage capability at all, just instantly went to zero. The Bandit has an automotive alternator and it monitors and charges very accurately, so it was not do to an overcharging system and the system is very easy on batteries. I usually get 3 to 4 years from a battery.
The Bikemaster lasted 6 months before becoming a door stop. I will not be buying another one.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Interstate is my go to for batteries.

 

[Guest]

Of the various brands of batteries I?ve had in recent years, the worst results were with the BikeMaster TruGel.

 

[Guest]

I replaced the battery in my Bandit on August 10 with a Bikemaster AGM battery. I came out this morning and the battery was dead as a door nail. It registered 12.7 volts with a multimeter, but a load test showed no amperage capability at all, just instantly went to zero. The Bandit has an automotive alternator and it monitors and charges very accurately, so it was not do to an overcharging system and the system is very easy on batteries. I usually get 3 to 4 years from a battery.
The Bikemaster lasted 6 months before becoming a door stop. I will not be buying another one.

I curious as to where you bought your battery? Did you get it from as store that had it on their shelf already activated or was it one you filled yourself. The reason I ask is I've seen batteries on shelves at auto parts stores that have been there for almost a year.

 

[earlfor]

I curious as to where you bought your battery? Did you get it from as store that had it on their shelf already activated or was it one you filled yourself. The reason I ask is I've seen batteries on shelves at auto parts stores that have been there for almost a year.

The battery was AGM, a sealed battery. I bought it at the local powersports dealership Honda/Suzuki, Kawasaki/CanAm.

Come to remember, I bought a Bikemaster chain a few years ago and it was seizing links and stretched beyond pitch in a couple of thousand miles also. Never bought another of their chains either. Bike master is bottom of the barrel and not worth much from my experiences.

 

[earlfor]

Interstate is my go to for batteries.

The best batteries I have found, I bought online from West Coast Battery. Those AGM's have all still been going strong at 3+ years. I don't know how long they could ultimately last because around 3 1/2 to 4 years, I've replaced they as normal preventive maintenance. They aren't cheap though. heh

 

[bobgroger]

Interstate is my go to for batteries.

Interstate is just a remarketer that sells batteries from Exide and Johnson Controls. Same stuff you get at the corner auto parts in a green case. Johnson makes about 100 battery brands including Diehard and Optima. http://jgdarden.com/batteryfaq/batbrand.htm#J

I have had good luck with the East Penn brand batteries (Deka, Big Crank, Duralast Gold) http://jgdarden.com/batteryfaq/batbrand.htm#e

 

[alke46]

I replaced an AGM battery last summer that was installed in the bike in 2005. 12 years and it was still cranking just fine. It just showed weakness when put under a load test.

 

[Guest]

The battery was AGM, a sealed battery. I bought it at the local powersports dealership Honda/Suzuki, Kawasaki/CanAm.

Come to remember, I bought a Bikemaster chain a few years ago and it was seizing links and stretched beyond pitch in a couple of thousand miles also. Never bought another of their chains either. Bike master is bottom of the barrel and not worth much from my experiences.

Earl, AGM batteries still get filled. I do it all the time at work. Once it's filled you let it breath for about an hour just like regular lead acid batteries, but once you seal it, that's all she wrote. It actually already has built a charge while absorbing the acid, but it is still recommended to pre-charge it fully before use. You can get them on ebay and it comes with a acid pack. That's the only way I do batteries now. I know when the fill date is and wont be purchasing one that has part of it's life already gone.

 

[80GS850GBob]

The battery was AGM, a sealed battery. I bought it at the local powersports dealership Honda/Suzuki, Kawasaki/CanAm.

Come to remember, I bought a Bikemaster chain a few years ago and it was seizing links and stretched beyond pitch in a couple of thousand miles also. Never bought another of their chains either. Bike master is bottom of the barrel and not worth much from my experiences.

My duracell AGM is still good...will be truly confirmed come spring[lol].
What was the chain tensile strength that you got?...I've always went well over oem tensile specs and they've lasted a decent time.

 

[earlfor]

My duracell AGM is still good...will be truly confirmed come spring[lol].
What was the chain tensile strength that you got?...I've always went well over oem tensile specs and they've lasted a decent time.

It has been a few years and I don't remember the rating on that specific chain, but I don't put any chain on the Bandit with less than 10k pound tensile rating, so it would have been in that range for me to buy it. I normally use EK-ZVX2 chains http://www.moto-chains.com/site/898528/product/ek530zvx and get 35K + miles from one, but they ain't cheap. heh

 

[solarae]

I've I used and abused the Trugels in my XTs for several years now and they are still fine.

 

[Guest]

My Duracell AGM is going on 4 years old, not a single day's problem. Oh and Yusua makes the Duracell.

 

[GRAND ROUGE]

Coming up on 7 years .......... Motobatt.