Need a new battery

Discuss all things 1970 & later Airheads right here.
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SteveD
Posts: 4840
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:29 am
Location: Melbourne, Oz.

Re: Need a new battery

Post by SteveD »

I've got one of these. http://etx16l.com/

They're from here.. http://www.bohannonbattery.com/

It fits with plenty of space in the stock carrier and has been excellent.

At US$89 and free post...not bad.
Cheers, Steve
Victoria, S.E.Oz.


1982 R100RSR100RS supergallery. https://boxerboy81.smugmug.com/R100RS
2006 K1200R.
1994 R1100GS.
CVA-42
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2010 8:28 am

Re: Need a new battery

Post by CVA-42 »

Here's my failure experience with wet cell, gell, and AGM batteries. I've had two wet cell BMW brand batteries die dead as doornails and leave me stranded. Admittedly, both incidents were about thirty years ago - - perhaps back in the era of inferior BMW batteries as Duane mentions. I've had one Odyssey battery quit after 2.5 years. It didn't die suddenly but lost starting power over a few weeks until the bike just wouldn't crank. Another Odyssey lasted five years. It was still fine when I replaced it but I was getting nervous. I've never had a problem with a Westco AGM in airheads or oilheads. Aren't battery threads great?
Jean
Posts: 1100
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:43 am

Battery failures

Post by Jean »

I sprung for a couple of WESCO fancy-ass batterys a while back. Up until them had always used lead-acid (that you can stick a hygrometer in and check the electrolite) that were relatively cheap but only lasted 3 or 4 years.
One of them failed quite suddenly after 3 years...no way to "check it" but wouldn't take a charge. The other one is still going OK I guess as it's bike is down for repairs, but I keep charging it regularly.
So, back to Yuasa for the "small" size one in the /5 and lawn-mower bats in the R100s and RS. The LM bats are going good for 3+ years, and with care are good for longer. (Around $30 each)

Other postings say the AGM bats want a higher charging voltage than is normal for an airhead regulator, so keep that in mind when changing battery types.
Clemson, SC
R100s, R75/5
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