Topic: AGM batteries?

[Don R]

 I always used the Advance Auto, store brand AGM, I've have three of them that are 5 and 6 years old, I never really had one go bad.  Yet.
 Anyway, I'm about to buy a couple of the Die Hard AGM's since I sold a bike with one in it and have another bike now running. Has anyone had good or bad luck with these? I hear they are the same as Yuasa. 
 Advance's web site shows T4XL, T5XL and T7XL, as options.  I did finally find the YTX14AHL which I believe is correct. $109.99 with core.

[dusterdude]

I have a diehard agm in my truck,seems to be ok

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[Alan F.]

I've only used Scorpion brand from www.batterystuff.com There is the possibility that these are all made in the same factory and separated only by tighter quality control.

[Don R]

 The old Advance Auto Autocraft batteries were made by Clarios, formerly a part of Johnson controls. They make many of the brand name batteries we see available.  According to google it appears they make Interstate, Exide, AC Delco, Autocraft, Yuasa and Diehard. So with any luck, my new diehard will be as good as my old Autocraft's are. 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

It should provided you keep it hooked up to a maintainer

[Don R]

  I usually do a round of battery maintaining a couple times every winter. It seems to work well.

[madmtnmotors]

My most recent DieHard AGM motorcycle battery from AA failed at three months and one day. One day after the 90 day warranty expired. The Motobatt batteries I have used have performed well and are my goto from now on. Kick starting the racebike at the track is rough on my old knees.

[Maltboy]

My CB750 has a Diehard AGM from AA. It's about 18 months old and going strong. You are correct that it's a re-badged Yuasa.

[Deltarider]

The conventional Yuasa anytime and here's why:
1. OEM, designed for our models, so a direct fit, meaning: no risk of error connecting, no need of adapters.
2. No need for a new charger
3. Comes with new bolts and nuts (in the right alloy), a lovely tube you can use for a variety of things and in some countries two nice hard plastic containers you can use as a resonance chamber for dampened readings when syncing carbs.
4. Forgiving towards voltage spikes.
5. No yellow colour that blinds you from even behind the side panel.
6. Maintenance is futile.
7. Lives 6-7 years easily.
8. No worries about how long battery was on the shelf. It does not begin its lifespan before you fill it.
9. Proven quality, not having to guess > peace of mind.
10. Cheap, because no costly advertisements you, customer pay for.

[C317414]

I like AGM batteries, because they will not leak battery acid if over-filled, over-charged, etc.  Over the years I've bought many old bikes, with corrosion around the swing arm, center stand, etc, due to battery acid.  Some of these had the battery overflow hose properly routed.

Motobatt AGM batteries are very good.  I get around the bright yellow color by using wide, black, adhesive tape on the case. 

[Stev-o]

  I get around the bright yellow color by using wide, black, adhesive tape on the case. 

Good tip. That is the only thing I do not like about the MotoBat!

[Johnie]

The longest AGM battery life I have ever had was in my 2000 Goldwing. I had an Interstate in there for a little over 9 years. It never died, but I changed it out as I didn't want to get stranded somewhere. I do use a Battery Tender when the bike is up for storage.

[ofreen]

The conventional Yuasa anytime and here's why:
1. OEM, designed for our models, so a direct fit, meaning: no risk of error connecting, no need of adapters. 
2. No need for a new charger
3. Comes with new bolts and nuts (in the right alloy), a lovely tube you can use for a variety of things and in some countries two nice hard plastic containers you can use as a resonance chamber for dampened readings when syncing carbs.
4. Forgiving towards voltage spikes.
5. No yellow colour that blinds you from even behind the side panel.
6. Maintenance is futile.
7. Lives 6-7 years easily.
8. No worries about how long battery was on the shelf. It does not begin its lifespan before you fill it.
9. Proven quality, not having to guess > peace of mind.
10. Cheap, because no costly advertisements you, customer pay for.

I remember back in 2000 when I first put a Westco AGM battery in the 750 I received a lot of push back on the forum about them.  But the bike's charging system was fine with the battery, even in the airhead with its notoriously weak charging system.  As batteries failed, I put them in my other bikes, with complete success.  I wouldn't try to change anyone's opinion, but if there is anyone who might be swayed away from AGMs by the above who has never used one, here is my experience.

1.  Direct fit AGMs are available for the 750s.
2.  Conventional chargers work fine with AGMs.
3.  Every one I've bought had all the necessary hardware.
4.  Voltage spikes?  Who gets a lot of those?  No reason why an AGM should be any more susceptible to that than any other,
5.  Most AGMs I see are black, probably some white ones out there.
6.  Maintenance is futile?  Probably not what was meant, since conventional wet cell batteries do need maintenance.  Fluid levels need to be maintained, especially in hot weather.  They don't like sitting at low charge levels, so regular charging is needed when sitting idle for extended periods, (like winter).  You can let an AGM sit for 3 months with very little loss in voltage.
7.  AGM longevity is equivalent or better to conventional, assuming equal quality.  Personally, I believe they are better, due to their very slow self discharge rate when sitting idle.  I've never gotten less than 8 years out of one, and never had one fail instantly like most of the conventional wet cell batteries did over the years.  They just get noticeably weaker, giving plenty of warning.
8.  Most batteries have a date sticker on them that I've seen.  Many AGMs come with a electrolyte pack to fill the cells these days, too.
9.  AGMs are well proven by now.  Sure is nice not to have to deal with the vent hose and its issues as someone else pointed out.
10.  Looks like prices for comparable quality are equivalent.

[Don R]

 Thanks for the polite discussion. I had an optima car battery last at least 13 years, it rode on the rear axle on our dragster, spent some time as the house battery in the enclosed trailer, a few years in my 40 chevy. It finally died when the key was left on. Another one died a couple months after purchase.

[beemerbum]

Without any exceptions, every vintage motorcycle I have worked on or restored has had massive corrosion damage in the battery area. This seems the case even when the overflow tube is in place

[grcamna2]

I like standard lead/acid refillable batteries:the Yuasa Made in Japan Yumicron brand is great  .
I also like Yuasa AGM Made in Japan batteries because they use good quality,fresh lead to manufacture them and for all the reasons for AGM's stated above.
Does anyone know if it's still at all possible to purchase a true Yuasa Made in Japan brand AGM battery??
I was still able to,back in the late 90's but I know that all the best brand names have been bought out by Chinese manufacturers now. I really miss Yuasa Made in Japan brand AGM batteries. 

I remember installing a Made in Japan Yuasa AGM equivalent to the ever popular CB750K4  #12N14-3A.
The battery came in it's own special tan colored factory cardboard package with the electrolyte pack in the same box..
The battery cost me $90+ wholesale from my tire & battery supplier at the time but Well Worth it;I love the quality of a true Yuasa brand.
The upgrade from a conventional/fillable Yuasa 12N14-3A to a Made in Japan Yuasa brand Yumicron #YB14L-A2 is a big improvement in CCA,etc. and is worth it,if you don't mind installing a vent tube.. 

I've saved a couple old catalogs from my repair business.
They called it the Yuasa GRT (MF series)sealed version.
Yuasa still makes sealed batteries of even better quality than back in the time I was a dealer for them:now they have even more models of Better quality$;they come in many different Powersports machines,check charts for new applications.
I would install one into my bikes;I would need to slightly modify(lengthen it about 1/2")my battery box and the $ for the original purchase. 
I would even install one of more capacity as the extra cranking amps won't hurt anything;it requires a solid functioning charging system. This book has measurements,if you want to know about an older model Yuasa battery.
A motorcycle dealer who's also a Yuasa battery dealer will sell you a sealed Yuasa's AGM quality battery(after you've researched the size difference,ask for a battery for the other OEM model machine)but it will be for a different Powersports OEM machine and the size will be a little different;there's a way to modify & squeeze one into one of our sohc's battery box,if you so desire.

YUASA MADE IN JAPAN BATTERIES MANUFACTURE THEIR NEW BATTERIES WITH 100% NEW LEAD PLATES,which is much better for reliable power in All circumstances than the other brand batteries with them all using recycled lead to manufacture their plates. I could buy a battery from an aftermarket manufacturer that might have been made from a Great batch of lead or.. I might get that same brand battery where a poor batch was used for the plates and it won't give good performance. I see that as sort of a 'crap shoot'. 

[Stev-o]

I have both Scorpion and MotoBatt AGM's and no one could persuade me to not buy another.

And I've recently bought a couple automotive type DieHard batteries from Advance Auto. They are not AGM and not cheap, but they offer a 3 year warranty unlike most other batteries on the market. Worth the extra dollars to me...


 https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/diehard-gold-battery-34-group-size-800-cca-1000-ca-110-minute-reserve-capacity-maximum-starting-power-34ft-2/11017956-p?product_channel=local&store=6737&adtype=pla&product_channel=local&store_code=6737&gclid=CjwKCAjw_MqgBhAGEiwAnYOAeidUO7QYr0pfe-kI0zLAe3SuJqCILYNx6Ad6HVO6di5GB2fdtWVNFRoCyt4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[rotortiller]

The only really crap  battery I have had in the last 15 years is the MB5.5U Motobatt AGM which had a pooched cell and lasted but a couple of years. 5hitty terminals in the one I had so would not buy another Motobatt. All the other brands did very well including OEM brands. I know iMotobatt is made in China but I betya Motobatt was designed in Germany lol. A lantern battery would do better!! I typically get 8-10 years from bike, car and Jet Ski batteries.

[BenelliSEI]

I’ve bought 6-7 of these from a local site. They ship via regular post and I get them in a couple of days. Totally mess and maint. free, all lasted +5 years, so far. This price is Cdn.$!

Totally converted, will never buy a wet batt. again.

[newday777]

  I get around the bright yellow color by using wide, black, adhesive tape on the case. 

Good tip. That is the only thing I do not like about the MotoBat!

I like that tape idea. I have some 1.5" black tape for making sunshades on my helmet visors(track special)

[Deltarider]

A friend and I are in competition. He bought a Motobatt for his XS650, I have a conventional Yuasa ready to be filled, probably next spring when its predecessor is 6 years old. BTW, the battery that lived longest, also was the cheapest, a Saito (conventional) which had had a good test in the German mag Das Motorrad. It served 8 years. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against AGM. On the contrary: both batteries in my yacht are AGM by AMF and they're the best I ever had. Back to the Motobatt. I've learned this - and please correct me if I'm wrong: to get the most of it, you'd charge it with 14,7V. My charger offers that possibility, but if yours doesn't, you can either buy a new charger (extra costs), or use the old one and as a consequence, get not all of it. Same for the onboard charging. I'm too lazy to adjust the regulator which btw is not as simply as one would think. Moreover, I don't want to run my bike with a higher voltage than the 14,5 Honda designed. Higher than that, in theory means: a stressed alternator resulting in a, be it slightly, higher consumption of fuel and a slightly higher risk of a shorter lifespan of bulbs. Why would I choose to do that, to cure what problem? I don't have a problem. So an AGM on my bike would be charged at 14,4V. But... in that case I can't see the advantage over a conventional battery. Again, please correct me if I missed something, but my conclusion is: everything comes at a price.

[exponent]

My motobatt MB12U has served me well and I have kept it on a tender for a long time, but maybe the cold weather has been rough on it? It seems to have lost a bit of juice after 2 years

[HondaMan]

I've used many types of batteries in my 750, but the one that lasted the longest of all (and is not made anymore, naturally) was the Yuasa 'maintenance-free' replacement for the OEM version wet-cell. That thing lasted over 7 years, never was charged over Winter, never failed to start come Spring with a 1-hour boost from a 1-amp trickle charge just prior. They were discontinued just a month before the old one dropped suddenly to 11.2 volts one morning. I still rode to-from work that day, but had to kick-start it.

I currently have a Yuasa 'sealed wet-cell' version in it now, 3 years old and doing fine.

I have found the sealed wet-cell batteries work better in the 550 than the regular Yuasa wet-cell versions, too. They are not AGM, but are acid-filled, normal (and not cheap!) vented type.

[craz1]

I use only AGM batteries. I have purchased different brands and they all have lasted well beyond my expectation. Several over 10 years. I don't trickle charge. Only top off once during the winter and right before I start riding the bikes. Im with the crowd who has seen way too many frames with battery corrosion. Just not worth the problems associated with the flooded cell batteries.

[Deltarider]

Im with the crowd who has seen way too many frames with battery corrosion. Just not worth the problems associated with the flooded cell batteries.

You're not supposed to flood the cells ofcourse. Another thing: could it be these bikes have been on their sides for some time after been fallen over? That could well explain it. In my travels my bike has fallen over innumerous times, but I was always present to help it on its feet. I have no rust there and the original vent tube was over 40 years old, when I finally replaced it by a new one. The old one had gone a bit stiff, but still did what it was supposed to do.
All in all, there is enough info in this thread to decide what battery you will be happy with. Just stay away from gel. I might have bought an AGM myself, if it had been made by either Yuasa or VMF. On the other hand: six years ago I invested a hefty $ 0,39 in a liter of demineralised water and I'd hate to come to the conclusion that that investment has been made in vain.