battery choices

[exvalvesetdabbler]

Thinking forward to next spring and a new battery.

Can I run an AGM battery alongside the OEM regulator ?

My gut feeling is no because of the slightly higher voltage needed for full charge.

What are other folk using, good or bad?

My current Yuasa battery has only lasted 3 years despite being hooked up to an optimate charger.
I bought the charger soon after the battery because I thought it might extend the battery life.  Prior to this the battery was always removed over winter and charged on the bench regularly with a power supply, at constant voltage of 14 v and 1 amp current limit until it gassed out. Got 5 years out of a no name battery with Chinese writing on it.

Also - the yellow brick batteries, do they hook up ok to existing cables that have the rubber boot on the +ve.

Regards
Dave.

[Athame57]

I got one of these Vertex maintenance free batteries ages ago from DSS, I'm well impressed with it. 
https://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB400F-SUPER-SPORT-FOUR/part_333450

[Bryanj]

Agm ok lion not, i have been very happy with Tanya batteries

[exvalvesetdabbler]

I was looking at Tanya last night after scanning previous posts, spoilt for choice so that's why I thought it a good idea to canvas opinions on what's currently available.

One half of me is thinking get a cheap one and expect to bin it after a couple of years, the other half is saying buy something decent and hope it lasts.

Yasua was always  the go to battery for bikes which influenced my choice last time.  Though this wasn't straight forward.  Ordered it from Halfords, got it home and the cells were half full. Took it straight back for a refund.  Ordered another from a local KTM dealer and they had to get it in from a warehouse in Belgium and assured me that they added the acid two days before I picked it up.  Getting flooded batteries with an acid pack  is not so easy these days.

Regards
Dave

[Laverda Dave]

I always go for Mottabatt's (the yellow brick).  The one in my 400/4 has been in there over six years now, no problems at all 10/10. I had two Yuasa's on my old Triumph Sprint ST1050, both died with no warning at all.

[Nurse Julie]

In the great scheme of things, batteries are so very cheap these days.
We always buy them from Tayna (I can't tell you which type without looking and I'm away at the moment). I think Graham buys new batteries for our bikes every 4 years at the latest, regardless of the health of the battery. We never use trickle chargers either.

[Mikep328]

There's a Motobatt (yellow) in my 400, which was there when I bought the bike two years ago.  It seems to be fine but when a new batt is needed I'd probably just buy one from DSS!

FWIW, my wife's 2019 NC750x original battery just gave out.  It was fine riding all day; She shut it off outside the garage and when she went to move it in a few minutes later, all she got was a chattering solenoid.  SO... the idea of periodically replacing a batt regardless of its apparent condition is not a bad idea.

[Jan B]

Motobatt here for 5 plus years without any issue. During winter on a ctek tricklecharger.

[Johnny4428]

Yellow bricks for me too, trickle charges and optimisers in the winter lay up months. Last for years.

[Bradders]

I also have a yellow brick battery on my 400/4. It was put on by the previous owner and I’ve had the bike over 6 years with no problem with the battery.

[SeanFD]

I've been using Motobatt AGM for the last 7-8 years, with no problems. For reasons beyond my control, one of them took some abuse, was recovered and lasted for quite a while thereafter.

I get them from Tanya though you have to search for them specifically on the website.

[Laverda Dave]

Mootobatt's were originally designed for snowmobiles and the harsh weather they endure so having one on a motorbike gives them an easy life 😊. I've got four in total on my bikes and never had a failure apart from when the regulator failed in my VFR and cooked it (it was so buckled and swollen it was a job to get it out of the tray!).

[exvalvesetdabbler]

Thanks all.  I shall persist with the manual starting method for the rest of this season and keep an eye out for any 'special offers'.  I always use the kick start for a cold start anyway, just an inconvenience when cold and  it stalls at the top of our road and there's someone getting impatient behind me.

Going to lash up a mini voltmeter just to keep an eye on things before a new battery goes on. Taking it through the rev range on the stand with a voltmeter clipped on the battery looks ok but no desire to go down the road with a Fluke multimeter bungied to the bars.

Regards
Dave

[Bryanj]

You have no sense of adventure!, you could use a small multimeterconnected inside the shell and taped to top yoke

[exvalvesetdabbler]

Did similar with hand held gps once and nearly lost it in lane 2 of the dual carriageway while checking the speedometer.

Just got a miniature voltmeter from AliExpress and that was the plan now I have a switched live in the shell fused down to 3A.

Regards
Dave