GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: CanRider on July 21, 2015, 09:20:32 AM

Title: Batteries / Motobatt experience?
Post by: CanRider on July 21, 2015, 09:20:32 AM
Hi all,

A few days.. or maybe a week ago, time flies when I am working, I posted regarding a fuel economy issue, I'm looking at taking care of the carbs (soon-ish), but in the mean time my battery has died.

I've measured voltage across the terminals, it reads 11.4V, my google-fu says this battery is some where between flat-dead, and just dead. I've tried to see if I can see the electrolyte level through the side of the case.. it isn't obvious at all. There is a good chance this battery has been in for 2 or more years (from the PO), it is a standard sort of Yuasa battery for a '91 GS500E.

I've been poking around new batteries. The big things here are finding something that ships to Canada, maybe something that is maint. free, and ideally doesn't come from Canada Tire (oh my god those reviews).

I've settle on a Motobatt MB10U, it looks like it should fit, it delivers more Ah than stock, but that from my understanding is neither here nor there, and slightly more CCA (better for cold starts?).

Amazon reviews are fairly positive, just wondering if the general opinion of the ridership of GStwin is in-line with the Amazon reviews..

:cheers:
Title: Re: Batteries / Motobatt experience?
Post by: Janx101 on July 21, 2015, 10:56:42 AM
Good battery!
Title: Re: Batteries / Motobatt experience?
Post by: AlexT on July 21, 2015, 11:36:08 AM
I have that battery sitting in my bike now and it's awesome. Since it's sealed, you never have to worry about the electrolyte levels here and it provides strong starts on cold days (30-40 fahrenheit for me). If you're a weekend rider like me, you won't need to worry about a weak charge after sitting for a week or two. The manufacturer states that it should hold it's charge for up to 6 months but I top it off 2-3 times over the winter.
Title: Re: Batteries / Motobatt experience?
Post by: twocool on July 21, 2015, 11:42:21 AM
I got one....I love it...It's got to be good...because it's YELLOW!


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Title: Re: Batteries / Motobatt experience?
Post by: CanRider on July 21, 2015, 11:51:02 AM
Quote from: AlexT on July 21, 2015, 11:36:08 AM
I have that battery sitting in my bike now and it's awesome. Since it's sealed, you never have to worry about the electrolyte levels here and it provides strong starts on cold days (30-40 fahrenheit for me). If you're a weekend rider like me, you won't need to worry about a weak charge after sitting for a week or two. The manufacturer states that it should hold it's charge for up to 6 months but I top it off 2-3 times over the winter.

Do you use a trickle charger, or just a regular charger for juicing it back up? Can you recommend a good brand for either?
Title: Re: Batteries / Motobatt experience?
Post by: anoopb on July 21, 2015, 12:36:28 PM
Quote from: twocool on July 21, 2015, 11:42:21 AM
I got one....I love it...It's got to be good...because it's YELLOW!


cookie

ditto.
Title: Re: Batteries / Motobatt experience?
Post by: AlexT on July 21, 2015, 12:51:25 PM
I use a trickle charger (http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SEM-1562A-CA-Charge-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B0009IBJAS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1437507647&sr=8-4&keywords=motorcycle+battery+charger (http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SEM-1562A-CA-Charge-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B0009IBJAS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1437507647&sr=8-4&keywords=motorcycle+battery+charger)). Not many pros and cons for these kinds of things... it gets the job done. A lot of people recommend the Battery Tender brand.
Title: Re: Batteries / Motobatt experience?
Post by: bombsquad83 on July 21, 2015, 01:33:26 PM
The MotoBatt has been great for me.  The only time I use a charger is over the winter when the bike sits for a few months.  A few weeks of sitting does not cause any problems with this battery as it has with batteries I've had in the past.
Title: Re: Batteries / Motobatt experience?
Post by: twocool on July 21, 2015, 04:13:47 PM
I have a battery tender junior...

It indicates when the battery is charging, almost full, and full charged...

I hooked it up twice during the Winter...both times it indicated the battery was almost full.  It indicated full charge in less than 1/2 hour.  So this battery doesn't loose much during the cold winter.  You can leave the battery tender hooked up all the time..it goes into trickle mode.  But I just throw it on until it shows full charge....and it holds charge for a month or more easily.

Riding even a couple times a week, and the battery stays charged..


Cookie
Title: Re: Batteries / Motobatt experience?
Post by: CanRider on July 21, 2015, 05:57:36 PM
Thanks all for the responses. Love this forum  :thumb:
Title: Re: Batteries / Motobatt experience?
Post by: anoopb on July 22, 2015, 06:17:37 AM
Quote from: twocool on July 21, 2015, 04:13:47 PM
I have a battery tender junior...

It indicates when the battery is charging, almost full, and full charged...

I hooked it up twice during the Winter...both times it indicated the battery was almost full.  It indicated full charge in less than 1/2 hour.  So this battery doesn't loose much during the cold winter.  You can leave the battery tender hooked up all the time..it goes into trickle mode.  But I just throw it on until it shows full charge....and it holds charge for a month or more easily.

Riding even a couple times a week, and the battery stays charged..


Cookie

got the yellow batt last year in the summer i think. Left it in my garage (heated) all winter long without a tender as a test.

This year it started up without issues at all.

it's a fantastic product!