another battery thread

[quawk]

Before starting a thread I try to read any related posts so I'm not covering the same ground as others already have. I am in the market for a new battery. Bought a new conventional flooded battery when I purchased my bike a few years ago. It got very little use after purchase because I had to put working on the bike on hold until recently. Although it got minimal use, it has died. When reading the other battery related posts, it seems there is no one definitive best choice on a replacement battery. It seems many like the Motobatt but some don't think they're much better than others. I have also read of the concern about the stock voltage regulator possibly overcharging and killing AGM type batteries because of their sensitivity to overcharging. Anyway, after a lot of research I am considering a Deka EXT30L which looks like Deka's replacement number for the bike. It's made in the U.S.A. and is rated at 400cca. It's also cheaper than the Motobatt which is made in china. I can't remember if I read it on this board or somewhere else, but someone had mentioned using a Big Crank battery with good results. Research indicates the Big Crank is made by Deka and relabeled. Just wondering if others have used these batteries and what kind of results they had. I realize that if one person has good luck with a brand of battery doesn't mean the next person will. Have also considered going the lawn mower battery route. Would like to hear any response, advice, and recommendations.

[wayne]

I bought a Deka for a friend's RE5 which was being revived. I don't recall the longevity exactly but it wasn't very long. We serviced the bike, got it running, did a test ride. It was on trickle charge about a year and then it was in transit and off charge for about 2 months after which it was dead. Very disappointing.

And over here the Deka is not cheap.

As you say though, you can't judge (especially electronics) on one person's experience.

As far as AGM in RE5's, about 25 years ago I bought an early AGM as they were much better for storage than regular batteries. I would start the bike every few months and run it for awhile. After about 6 months the plastic case on the battery cracked and the gel (or whatever it is) leaked out damaging the battery box and frame. Perhaps that was to do with this overcharging thing you've read about.

Since about 2009 I've had 2 AGM's in the bike with no problems. The latest, a Motobatt, now 6 years old and going strong. The one before these two lasted around 10 years but can't recall the brand.

[timpa136]

From Wayne,
Since about 2009 I've had 2 AGM's in the bike with no problems. The latest, a Motobatt, now 6 years old and going strong. The one before these two lasted around 10 years but can't recall the brand.

Excellent life from those batteries. I recently installed my first glass mat battery and other than a minor twist to the positive cable, it fits and functions just fine so far. No more conventional batteries anytime soon for now.

[Framitron]

I have used the Yuasa YIX-30L AGM battery and liked its performance. My current battery was installed in 2017 and it is still working great.

I never leave any battery continuously on a battery tender as many years ago I had a few flooded cell batteries get boiled off after a few months on "maintenance" charge. I never figured out why that happened but nowdays I just put my AGM on the charger every few months to make sure its topped off. I use a Deltran Battery Tender.

Dont buy a cheap lawn tractor battery. I learned the hard way when I got an off-brand flooded cell battery on Ebay. It leaked acid and made a mess of my battery cables and tray.

[multistrada1]

I'm using an AGM battery. It has much a much higher CCA rating.

One thing everyone should check is the connections to the voltage regulator and rectifier. The
connectors often get hot and melt.

[didge]

I’ve had a motobatt in mine for years, it’s been a great battery.

[zebulon]

I'm a huge fan of Lithium batteries (JMT) and use them in different bikes for years, not in the RE5 yet, as the predecessor put a new AGM one in before he sold it to me.

There is always s lot of debating if these new type of batteries can cope with the old regulators or vice versa, therefore I bought a datalogger.

This is a chart from my CB1 while driving.

[Framitron]

Hi Zebulon. Thank you for this data. I recently received a Shorai Lithium battery and was debating this exact concern before experimenting with it in my 76 RE5. (The Shorai weighs about 5 lbs compared with 22 lbs of the YUASA AGM)
I assume that your CBX1000 has a mechanical regulator energizing the alternators field coil? What sort of onboard datalogger are you using?

[zebulon]

Yes, I am using this logger

[Framitron]

Thank you Zebulon for that link! (Conrad is such a great store.)