I was pricing some batteries at a Honda dealership and found a basic one for $45. The guy there told me that he didn't recommend that I use the battery for riding, and said I should go with one that was $30 more. I've had bad experiences with expensive batteries so I don't think I have anything to lose in buying this battery. I found the battery here:
http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/catalog_item_detail.asp?catalog=6581&levelcode=46620&product=1026786&cattype=&ProductCategoryCode=
Think this would be an OK battery? That's really all I need.
Parts Unlimited batteries are fine. Sealed batteries hold up to vibration better and don't leak acidic water when charged.
I would ask the dealer why they think it's not for riding?
If you're willing to wait a few days, you can get a scorpion sealed battery for 55 bucks shipped from batterystuff. I just ordered one last sunday and got it wednesday. From what I gather those are about the gnarliest batteries you can get.
It is very nice. Works well and cranks "forever".
Quote from: rock_rebel on May 14, 2011, 12:29:08 PM
I was pricing some batteries at a Honda dealership and found a basic one for $45. The guy there told me that he didn't recommend that I use the battery for riding, and said I should go with one that was $30 more. I've had bad experiences with expensive batteries so I don't think I have anything to lose in buying this battery. I found the battery here:
http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/catalog_item_detail.asp?catalog=6581&levelcode=46620&product=1026786&cattype=&ProductCategoryCode=
Think this would be an OK battery? That's really all I need.
The guy at the Honda stealership LIED TO YOU. There is NOTHING WRONG with traditional lead-acid batteries.
Sealed units are maintenance-free but they cost more, and battery maintenance is very easy. My friend Lenny is still using the original wet battery in his 8-year-old XT250. (I have never had such good luck) Sealed wet batteries and AGM's are a nice convenience, but they are not a leap forward in battery technology as far as I'm concerned. They are not remarkably better than wet batteries with caps. Some will probably jump-in here and show us an AGM has 30% more cold cranking amps than a wet battery of the same size, but my bikes don't seem to care. In fact I put a Scorpion AGM battery in my 750 last year and it cranks the bike LESS than the traditional battery I had before. (before it went South, that is) I think I just got a bad one, but you get the point. They're not magic batteries. I also recently had to replace the traditional battery in my dirt bike. The date on the old battery was October 2008. I have noticed over the years that motorcycle batteries of all types have a substantial defect rate. Sometimes they only last three years or less. Usually they last 4 or 5 years. Sometimes they'll go even longer. My GS at present has a 5-year-old traditional battery and it still cranks like it's plugged into the wall, even in freezing cold weather. It is the same battery you're looking at.
There is a reason we call them "stealerships". I do try to sport local businesses, so I went to our local honda dealer to get a Battery Tender. He didn't have any, but instead of just saying, "I don't carry them, but we do have the Yuasa brand." He said, "You really want the Yuasa, 'cause that's what all the Goldwing guys are using."
Quote from: justinmc84 on May 14, 2011, 02:50:57 PM
If you're willing to wait a few days, you can get a scorpion sealed battery for 55 bucks shipped from batterystuff. I just ordered one last sunday and got it wednesday. From what I gather those are about the gnarliest batteries you can get.
What is the number on the battery that you purchased?
YT10L-A2 12v High Performance AGM Powersport Motorcycle Battery
sYT10L-A2
Pasted that right from my order confirm email.
Thanks.Just order mine.
The problem with batterystuff is that it's an American company, and I live in Canada. The shipping cost would be a lot higher and might make the battery more expensive than what it's worth. I'll probably just get the cheap battery and see how long it lasts. I have a battery tender so I'm going to try to take extra care of the battery this year. Last year I left it in a basement on cold cement and something happened to it which caused it to leak acid everywhere. I brought it back to the battery shop and they told me it was due to overcharging, but I had it hooked to the tender all winter so I'm not sure what happened, unless the tender is faulty.