new battery.. suggestions?

Lorenzo · Aug 4, 2011

dear All,
it is time for me to change the battery, it is completely flat!
then, I was wondering if anyone could give me a suggestion which could be the best choice/brand/model of battery for my Commando Roadster 750 year 1973..

(at this point, I was thinking on taking a gel battery type (or an AGM type) and I also heard about Deka might be a good brand.. what is your experiences with this? what would be the model I should take?)

Thank you!

DogT · Aug 4, 2011

Clubman has the AGM ones at a decent price, brand names too. Of course you can get cheaper ones.

Dave
69S

Lorenzo · Aug 4, 2011

DogT said:
Clubman has the AGM ones at a decent price, brand names too. Of course you can get cheaper ones.

Dave
69S

thank you Dave: what is the type/brand/model you would choose for my bike?

ILLF8ED · Aug 4, 2011

I had a closed cell battery that lasted maybe two years. Replaced it with a NAPA auto parts 12N9-4B acid type. For kick start Commandos, the battery isn't that important. Not like you need the electric start cranking power. Yuasa has very good quality.

DogT · Aug 4, 2011

I got the Yuasa 8 amp I think. Trouble is he doesn't send you a receipt. My bike will start easily with a 2 AH gel cell, but I understand the gel cells won't take the vibration, where the AGM do. Plus I ride with the pilot lights on in the headlamp and tail, I'm not sure a 2AH would last long doing that. Probably overkill, but I could afford it. I don't ride at night, so the battery is not a big issue with me. You might want to check the size, my bike has the battery behind the central oil tank, perpendicular to the panels, you most likely have it parallel to the panels, I don't know if it's a different size you need. I think Frank would steer you right if you call.

Dave
69S

Stuart SS · Aug 5, 2011

I have tried most but the BEST with out a doubt to date is the "yellow brick" Motobatt ~ a great new age fibre glass tech battery ~

AND they are good dollar value ~ 10/10ths in my book ~

Hobot · Aug 5, 2011

All of Ms Peel short 7000 mile life she had 1.2 ah 'alarm' type Yussa gel cell battery that got crashed and run rough off road no issues but better have a V meter in stop/go city traffic to stay ahead of the drain or would be a booger to start with analog Boyer. Nowadays they have the Li batteries that are light and said to last a long time. A battery bigger than 2.4 ah on kickstart is wasted expense and mass unless you like to idle below charging for more than a few minutes. Small battery allows extra storage space if that matters. You can start w/o a battery on black box Boyer but not very well by kicking speed as by push off.

Lorenzo · Aug 5, 2011

I have been suggested to take an AGM battery, in particular a Deka, a Desy or an Optimate. What do you think? Any idea of the number of Ampere I should take?

batrider · Aug 5, 2011

I just got an ETX-15L Big Crank battery from Batterymart.com. This is an AGM type - 14 amp-hour. Stock is 9AH. $71 with free shipping. This one is taller than stock but I dumped the hokey stock battery mounting contraption a few years ago. (One of the few stock things that really really suck and must go.) This is more battery than needed but I run a Lucas 3 phase alternator with halogen headlight and have (soon to be "had") a Boyer Mk3 ignition.

My previous battery was the same thing and it lasted 6 years!

Hungry J0e · Aug 5, 2011

Just got a new Shorai lithium battery off recommendations from other forum members. This thing is small, light, powerful, and very low self discharge! Comes with foam shims so you can 'grow it' to fit in larger spaces if needed.

Cheers,

- HJ

small-battery-needed-t10130.html

jeffdavison · Aug 5, 2011

isn't it a cute little thing? makes you want to tickle it and say coochy coochy.

JD

Hungry J0e said:
Just got a new Shorai lithium battery off recommendations from other forum members. This thing is small, light, powerful, and very low self discharge! Comes with foam shims so you can 'grow it' to fit in larger spaces if needed.

Cheers,

- HJ

small-battery-needed-t10130.html

Lorenzo · Aug 5, 2011

illf8ed said:
I had a closed cell battery that lasted maybe two years. Replaced it with a NAPA auto parts 12N9-4B acid type. For kick start Commandos, the battery isn't that important. Not like you need the electric start cranking power. Yuasa has very good quality.

thank you! Btw, I am just ending to looking for the original Yuasa one, but I am finding difficulties to reach in Ottawa, where I am. Any particular suggestion on where to buy it?

Torontonian · Aug 6, 2011

Drove my 70 around Ottawa for 20 or so years purchasing several Yuasa batterys at the local Crappy Tire store. Take it out of the bike and store it indoors before those -30 C. January winters kick in.

pete.v · Aug 6, 2011

XT14L-A2 or a X2-15L X2Power® AGM Battery are both fine. Just remember the life of these batteries are shortened due to the lack of use during off season. No matter what you pay, 2 years is all that should be expected.

A battery will last much longer if it gets cycles often just like your car. Keeping it trickled up is good but a little loan will keep its heart beating longer. If you spend more money on a battery, go the extra mile to keep the investment alive.

rvich · Aug 6, 2011

Stuart SS said:
I have tried most but the BEST with out a doubt to date is the "yellow brick" Motobatt ~ a great new age fibre glass tech battery ~

AND they are good dollar value ~ 10/10ths in my book ~

I am running the Motobatt as well. So far so good. One thing I did after installing the battery was to attach my digital Fluke meter to the battery with aligator clips and strapped the meter to the tank so I could see it while riding. I was able to see how many RPMs I needed to maintain with lights on to be running off the alternator and not the battery (high beam, low beam, turn indicators, etc). If your system is in good shape the battery will get little work out. But if you idle in traffic a lot or have extra goodies or high wattage bulbs then you might find you need a bigger battery to keep you going when you aren't at cruising speed. With a fairly stock set up on my bike I was charging well at anything above 2500 or so. But was marginal to flat below that.

Russ

BillT · Aug 6, 2011

I spent all of $33 for the wet battery in my '73. It's going on 3 years and about 12K miles with no issues. I just got the basic no-name at the local discount auto.

If it died tomorrow, the cost would run about $11/year. An AGM would need to last 7 years or more to match the cost/year.

My Speed Triple battery died about a year ago - 4+ years and 30K miles. The Yuasa AGM replacement was about $88. The Triumph has to have a gel battery because it lays on its side under the seat.

I personally see no advantage to a sealed battery, especially on a bike that requires regular maintenance.

DogT · Aug 6, 2011

I think I paid around $70 for the 8AH Yesau. I like the sealed ones because there is no worry about spilling acid. Big plus to me. I also bring it in off season and charge it once a month. This is the first year, so we'll see how long it lasts, I had a Panasonic AGM in my Miata and it lasted over 10 years.

Dave
69S

new battery.. suggestions?

Similar threads