I bought my GS500F nearly five years ago, and since then I have replaced the battery twice: once after two years and again this spring. When I winterize the bike I remove the battery and store in in the basement, so hopefully freezing isn't an issue. The battery experts have told me that two years is not untypical for motorcycle batteries.

This spring when I went to get the new battery I was given a choice: either an expensive ($90) Yuasa battery or a cheap replica for about half that price. I chose the more expensive one and got that one, but now I'm wondering if that was the better choice. Does anyopne have any experience of using cheaper batteries to share?

Thanks.

I put a AGM type in mine. Since then it's sat in the shed with no rego for 2 years..  no tender.. no charging... still fires up every time... which is every couple months just to stir the oil up....

Leave the lead/acid in last century where it belongs!

Riding year around here in NE Ohio for 30 years and over 400k miles I've replaced batteries every 2-3 years.  Never bought a pricey Yuasa battery, used good name brand conventional batters that cost about $40 each replacing every 2-3 years until the last 3 which were AGM batteries that cost about $50-55 each that lasted a little longer and never required removing to check water level and started a little easier in freezing weather, wouldn't use anything else now if I was still riding.   

Bike master has an agm for about 45 to 55 bucks don't they?  That's what I'm going to do.  Confirmed my current one is dead the other day.

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Built a new one from lithium-ion cells. Still going strong. Got the cells from dead batteries. Free batteries for the win.

Quote from: Mbrantang on June 28, 2016, 11:06:51 AM
Built a new one from lithium-ion cells. Still going strong. Got the cells from dead batteries. Free batteries for the win.

Neat!  Do you have pictures or a write-up on how you did this?

Also how do you manage the charging?  I heard you have to do it in a certain way or the batteries will get ruined.

Thanks guys. It sounds like the more expensive batteries aren't really any better and that the AGM type are the better option.

Appreciate all the comments.

It's all about finding quality products with the best value.  That does not always mean the most expensive option is the best choice

Or spend a little more and get a lithium iron battery like a Shorai. They are much harder to kill and much lighter. Only downside is they don't like the cold and need to be warmed up in the dead of winter (turn on headlight for a minute before cranking).

You can get one for $50 at a O Reilly Auto Part. That's what I got.

The issue is that it's manually-filled, meaning you have to go, squeeze out the acid, wait for it to settle, top it off, then do an initial charge from 0v.

And I believe it has a 1 year warranty from them? Or was it 6 months?

Honestly, the sealed batteries sound much more convenient.

http://www.motobattbatteries.com/review/product/list/id/17/category/17666/

Here's what you want...mid priced.....great battery...

Don't mess around with lead acid batteries that you have to fill with acid and charge when you buy them...and then you have to make sure they are full and top up with distilled water..

Also lead acid batteries have the stupid vent hose...and they give off corrosive fumes all the time...gonna rot away your frame and battery box...

Go AGM...go Motobatt...

It's yellow!  It has to be good!



Cookie

I ordered the Bike Master sealed battery, platinum off Amazon.com should be here soon hopefully.   Sprayed the tray with a couple coats of rustoleum and will snag a new bolt that goes to the rear fender.  Be able to start putting this thing back together.  Grabbed a new ground wire off eBay for 6 bucks that came off a 500 mile bike.  Already ran it down, put the bolt back in which was a pain to get to and zip tied it back at the left side of the frame.

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