The yellow brick battery

[nairb]

These yellow brick batteries.  The name begins with a "M".  I always thought they were longer lasting than some other/cheaper brands and worked well with the basic charging systems on the older bikes.

I have had 2 of these batteries start to fail or not deliver the full power.  They are both about 2 years old.  Maybe there is an issue on the bikes they are on.  Maybe......

Has anybody else noticed any change in the quality of these batteries.  I am needing one for the re5m and at 130+ quid it's not the cheap option.

ta
nairb

[SteveW]

Motobatt, they are ok if you keep them connected to a trickle charger.
If you don’t and they go flat they never seem to recover.

I’ve had 3, I wouldn’t have another one.

[taysidedragon]

I've got a Motobatt on my 400f. I just trickle charge it occasionally during the winter and never had a problem with it. It's now 6 years old and going strong.
Make sure you buy them from a reliable supplier, there are fake copies out there.

[Johnwebley]

I use the Yellow brick

But completely opposite to Steve


They seem to thrive on neglect,

Fully charge every 2 months, don't leave them on a trickle charge



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[ST1100]

I always thought they were longer lasting than some other/cheaper brands...

They are both about 2 years old.

And that's about what you'll get out of current avail batteries... any brand/MFG... two seasons... maximum... if you're lucky...

I always picked the OEM Yuasa (YTX14-BS, AGM) for my mounts... always...
Back in the 90ies you'd get 5~6 years out of them... always...
During the turn of the millennium something happened... what was that again... ah!... the RoHS Directive...
After that everything went down... I started to get max 2 years on them... (the very same is happening on car batteries BTW...)
A more "modern" gel type?... pfffff... so much internal resistance under load, my GF's V-twin (NT700VA) would barely turn over TDC...

Switched to LiFePO4 (NOCO)... wow!... massive punch; the starter never purred so happily... stable voltage -> clean spark -> instant firing...
And if it really goes flat over the winter/long grounding time: the designated charger gets it back to full within 45 minutes (not 'charge over night' like an AGM...)

I know, it ain't the 'purist' way, but I got sick of throwing > € 160,- on new AGM cells...

[Sesman]

Moto at for me. My YTX 14 gave up the ghost in less than 18months.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Low use kills all wet batteries due to sulphination so it's important to not allow the voltage to drop below 12.1 or so volts.
AGM technology results in a slower voltage drop over time compared to normal lead/acid of Gell types.
My battery brand of choice in Cars & bikes has been Yuassa for over 10 years now.

I have a Motobatt in my 400, the voltage reads 12.80 volts this morning, last charged in early December. I connect my Smart charger every 8-10 weeks to keep the voltage up.

I had an unbranded lead/acid battery last 12 years in a car, a cheap Hankook AGM unit failed at 4 years.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I always thought they were longer lasting than some other/cheaper brands...

They are both about 2 years old.

And that's about what you'll get out of current avail batteries... any brand/MFG... two seasons... maximum... if you're lucky...

I always picked the OEM Yuasa (YTX14-BS, AGM) for my mounts... always...
Back in the 90ies you'd get 5~6 years out of them... always...
During the turn of the millennium something happened... what was that again... ah!... the RoHS Directive...
After that everything went down... I started to get max 2 years on them... (the very same is happening on car batteries BTW...)
A more "modern" gel type?... pfffff... so much internal resistance under load, my GF's V-twin (NT700VA) would barely turn over TDC...

Switched to LiFePO4 (NOCO)... wow!... massive punch; the starter never purred so happily... stable voltage -> clean spark -> instant firing...
And if it really goes flat over the winter/long grounding time: the designated charger gets it back to full within 45 minutes (not 'charge over night' like an AGM...)

I know, it ain't the 'purist' way, but I got sick of throwing > € 160,- on new AGM cells...

Presumably you are talking Lithium type battery, do these work on an old bike without modification?

[Johnny4428]

I’ve had good results from motobatt battery’s. I have one on the Pan which this time of year is on a battery tender. And the other ones I remove and have them on the bench so I can stick a charger on them now and again. The only time I have had one fail when actually it was the battery tender that failed, the result being flat battery with no coming back. These are guaranteed for 5 years if you register when new.

[K2-K6]

I use the Yellow brick

But completely opposite to Steve


They seem to thrive on neglect,

Fully charge every 2 months, don't leave them on a trickle charge



Sent from my SM-A546E using Tapatalk

Similar experience here with AGM as they do seem a bit curmudgeonly  at times.

Finding that if one appears to be going towards failure, then as above in giving it a 24hr charge to get it going at normal pace.

I've found if you "soak charge" it like that, then leave it to think about what its done for at least 3 days, then repeat, all without using it for load, then recovery can be had.

Admittedly, patience is required but they do come back.

I'm charging with a "no intelligence" simple plug charger with two leads coming out of it ... an ancient Gunson brand of about 40yrs .... that measures nothing. 

Through multiple charges you can see the battery at end of charge period, that the voltage is higher in accepted charge @ approx 14.3 v which it doesn't do initially. 

Eventually to give static float between 12.9 ~ 12.6v when left alone.

If the vehicle charge system can't supply likt this over sustained period a 24hr supplementary charge seems to keep hem at reasonable health an prolong lifing.

[ST1100]

Presumably you are talking Lithium type battery, do these work on an old bike without modification?

AFAIK no issues, the onboard battery management system should take care of balancing the cells, prevent over- and deep discharge...
(quite popular in the café and racing scene due their low weight and small dimensions; i.e. hiding them in the tail-cone...)
For me ending the 'buy a new one each spring' and the short charging times made the difference...
(also that NOCO supplies their cells with solid plastic spacers, and not the foam crap included with most others...)
Have a look: https://no.co/products/lithium/powersport

[Laverda Dave]

I've used a Mottabatt for at least 8 years now in the Viffer and it has been brilliant even when it was run to flat when the regulator failed. A full charge and it was back to normal and that was three years ago.

[magpie114]

Motobatt on my VFR as well for quite a few years with no problems at all.


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[K2-K6]

If the detail is of any interest regarding charger, its this one and still available it seems

https://www.sparkplugs.co.uk/gunson-battery-charger-model-1

Only one switch 6v or 12v that’s it. Many years of service on car and bike batteries.

[Bradders]

Have had a Motobatt on my 400/4 since I got it in 2019 with no problems ( touch wood). Just charge it up once a month in the winter and it seems fine.