AGM battery suggestion

Mofosheee · Saturday at 7:21 AM

For various reasons I'm not a fan of LiPo's. I'm looking for an AGM battery to fit my 73 commando (with out electric start)
Is there someone out here that can vouch for a particular brand and size that they've had success with?

Thanks!

milfordite · Saturday at 7:47 AM

Motobat seems to make a good battery for the price. Yuasa is probably the best, or something not made in China.

htown16 · Saturday at 12:00 PM

I've always used the Motobatt. Good value for the price. W/o electric start use the 9 amp

MotoBatt MB9U Battery

MotoBatt MB9U battery comes with a two year warranty and free shipping included with each order. MotoBatt MB9U with Quadflex technology allows for a high CCA battery and zero acid maintenance for performance power sport applications.

www.techbatterysolutions.com

Matchless · Saturday at 12:14 PM

I got ten years out of a Westco AGM from Paul Goff.

marshg246 · Saturday at 12:24 PM

I was using the cheapest AGM batteries on Amazon - PowerStar. However, about 25% of them were crap. The rest have been working well for a long time. I recently started using "Might Max" and so far, I've have had no problems. https://a.co/d/fszNNhK

They are a US company, but I have no idea where the batteries are made. It is nice that they have online warranty registration - most of the inexpensive batteries have none of that, not even a date code on the battery.

I've had customer bikes with MotoBlatt batteries, and they have always been good so I would consider them as well.

possm · Saturday at 3:53 PM

I have just googled Motobatt they are made in China.

daveforty · Saturday at 3:57 PM

The MB9U works well in my Commando (and in my T140).

ilikevelos · Sunday at 8:08 PM

I have had terrible luck with motobat batteries. If the sit without a trickle charge they sulfate easier than other batteries I have used. I use Yuasa as a preference as I think they stand more abuse. I am not particularly fastidious with my battery care.

Madnorton · Monday at 2:35 AM

Yuasa, 6 years now on the MK3.

concours · Monday at 2:46 AM

ilikevelos said:
I have had terrible luck with motobat batteries. If the sit without a trickle charge they sulfate easier than other batteries I have used. I use Yuasa as a preference as I think they stand more abuse. I am not particularly fastidious with my battery care.

Yup. I have had several. China made sketchy quality.

In 2004, I discovered the Deka Sports Power line of AGM batteries.

Top quality, Made in USA batteries that last 7-9 years.

In the Norton I use the ETX9

East Penn Manufacturing | Power sports batteries

Learn more about East Penn’s complete line of Power Sports batteries - delivering a performance and quality unmatched by competing designs.

www.eastpennmanufacturing.com

I have them in all my bikes, ATV's, snowmobiles, tractor. (Except a couple odd size Japanese bikes with tiny batteries.

SteveBorland · Monday at 2:57 AM

I've always used the cheap AGM batteries from our local pushers (Biltema.dk), usually with good results. The last ones I bought died early so I decided to try a Yuasa. That died in less than 9 months, so I'm back to the cheap brands.
The batteries are always stored on a dry warm shelf over the winter, and I use my Optimate charger every month or two to keep them topped up. This usually results in a life of 5+ years, the Yuasa so far has the record for the shortest life (and highest cost!)

ludwig · Monday at 4:00 AM

I believe they are almost all made in China now.
I recently 'upgraded' my Commando from a generic 1.3 ah AGM to 2.8 ah.
No need for anything bigger on a kickstart bike.
The 1.3 ah lasted 10 years, and is still not dead.

kommando · Monday at 4:12 AM

ludwig said:
I believe they are almost all made in China now.
I recently 'upgraded' my Commando from a generic 1.3 ah AGM to 2.8 ah.
No need for anything bigger on a kickstart bike.
The 1.3 ah lasted 10 years, and is still not dead.

I use the same alarm batteries, will last years but if you read the Yuasa spec they go on about vibration being an issue but in real life its never been an issue on a B44, B25 or 850 Commando.

concours · Monday at 7:41 AM

ludwig said:
I believe they are almost all made in China now.
I recently 'upgraded' my Commando from a generic 1.3 ah AGM to 2.8 ah.
No need for anything bigger on a kickstart bike.
The 1.3 ah lasted 10 years, and is still not dead.

Deka Sports Power are made in Lyons Station, PA USA

East Penn Manufacturing |Awards and global certifications

East Penn’s commitment to quality, workplace and environmental standards has helped achieve many globally-recognized awards and certifications. See the list.

www.eastpennmanufacturing.com

Mofosheee · Monday at 10:50 AM

ludwig said:
I believe they are almost all made in China now.
I recently 'upgraded' my Commando from a generic 1.3 ah AGM to 2.8 ah.
No need for anything bigger on a kickstart bike.
The 1.3 ah lasted 10 years, and is still not dead.

I agree

ludwig said:
I believe they are almost all made in China now.
I recently 'upgraded' my Commando from a generic 1.3 ah AGM to 2.8 ah.
No need for anything bigger on a kickstart bike.
The 1.3 ah lasted 10 years, and is still not dead.

I agree.... "for a kickstart bike...."

ilikevelos · Monday at 6:46 PM

ludwig said:
I believe they are almost all made in China now.
I recently 'upgraded' my Commando from a generic 1.3 ah AGM to 2.8 ah.
No need for anything bigger on a kickstart bike.
The 1.3 ah lasted 10 years, and is still not dead.

ilikevelos · Monday at 6:58 PM

Is that really an agm or a gel cell? Gel batteries are good for lower current applications but not for high current(e.g. electric start). I thin the line is being crossed with hybrids of the two types. As I understand it they are both lead acid but there is a glass mat absorbing the acid and maintaining the distance between the plates in an AGM while the gel cells thicken the acid into gel. I think some batteries now use a gel with a glass mat.

In the US the Yuasa batteries are made in different places. At least for a while East Penn was making at least some Yuasa batteries in the US. The cost of batteries are heavily weighted by shipping due to the weight so many battery brands will be made locally to save the shipping cost. I have had some only fair yuasa batteries in the last few years. A big difference from the reliability of Yuasa in the 70s where many would last 10 yrs.

AGM battery suggestion

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