Gel cells and standard Norton charging.

[Joe Schlaberdowski]

Are gel cell batteries just fine with the standard Norton charging? And with electronic ignitions?

 

[Matchless]

Both gel & AGM batteries are fine with standard Lucas setups & EI.

Martyn.

 

[comnoz]

Are gel cell batteries just fine with the standard Norton charging? And with electronic ignitions?

Yes

 

[Joe Schlaberdowski]

Thanks guys.

 

[DogT]

I would not use a gel cell. They may or may not stand up under vibration. The AGM batteries were developed for helo's so they will take the vibration. Go AGM. Look it up.

 

[maylar]

What's the biggest AGM that will fit on a pre-MKIII battery tray?
(74 MKII)

 

[Tornado]

Pretty big if you want to fill that cavity. I just run the same battery as in my modern bonne t100 which I believe is YTX-12-BS. 10Ah
I'm of the opinion it is overkill on the mkii commando as its not needed for engine cranking. But I like to have the option to swap between bikes if need arises.

It takes about half available space in the tray. Leaves plenty of room for accessing other things etc.

 

[batrider]

Deka or Big Crank ETX15L made by East Penn is 14ah. A little taller but it fits the battery box. I adapted a cheap Harley rubber strap that goes over the whole battery but before that I had the useless stock straps with the bar in the top finger holes.

 

[guest76]

Gel cells are totally fine with a standard charging system - think of them the same was as a standard lead acid battery, but not spillable or leaky.

I personally don’t like gel in a motorcycle application, as I don’t think they are suitable.

• Gel batteries lose power faster
• Gel batteries don’t tolerate lower temperatures at winter time
• Gel batteries do not recover as well from being fully flattened
• Gel is not the best composition for high charge and discharge rate

I think the slightly cheaper AGM battery is better suited to motorcycles.

 

[Joe Schlaberdowski]

Gel cells are totally fine with a standard charging system - think of them the same was as a standard lead acid battery, but not spillable or leaky.

I personally don’t like gel in a motorcycle application, as I don’t think they are suitable.

• Gel batteries lose power faster
• Gel batteries don’t tolerate lower temperatures at winter time
• Gel batteries do not recover as well from being fully flattened
• Gel is not the best composition for high charge and discharge rate

I think the slightly cheaper AGM battery is better suited to motorcycles.

Gel cells are totally fine with a standard charging system - think of them the same was as a standard lead acid battery, but not spillable or leaky.

I personally don’t like gel in a motorcycle application, as I don’t think they are suitable.

• Gel batteries lose power faster
• Gel batteries don’t tolerate lower temperatures at winter time
• Gel batteries do not recover as well from being fully flattened
• Gel is not the best composition for high charge and discharge rate

I think the slightly cheaper AGM battery is better suited to motorcycles.

I noticed a high discharge rate (but wasn't sure about that till I read your post. And just recently the battery was deeply discharged. After two days on the charger (settings: small battery, gel cell) it has finall charged back to 100%. How are the AGM batteries?

 

[Danno]

I like gel's better than AGMs. They seem to be sturdier than either AGM's or lead-acid batteries under motorcycle conditions (heat, vibration, road shock etc.)