Can someone please recommend a good motorbike battery?

CloudchaserSakonige · 01-04-2013, 05:49 AM

My Kymco GV 250 takes a 12-BS battery. About three years ago, the battery it came with went bad and had to be replaced. I got an Autocraft battery. When that battery went bad two years ago, I replaced it with another Autocraft. When that one went bad a year ago, I replaced it with another Autocraft and made a habit of putting it on my Schumacher SE-1-12S 1.5 Amp Slow Charge/Maintainer once a month until the "charged" light comes on to make sure it stayed charged.

Usually, the "charged" light comes on almost right away and stays on, indicating that the bike's system is doing a good job of keeping the battery charged. This time, the "charged" light was coming on for 5 seconds, out for one second, repeat. I left the charger on for several hours. No change. To rule out a problem with the charger, I plugged the charger into my car (it also needs it once a month as it's only driven 2-3 times a month) to rule out a problem with the charger. Once that battery was fully charged, the "charged" light stayed on. I connected it to my bike and got the same on/off pattern as before.

The instructions that came with the charger say that the "charged" light being on means voltage is approximately 14 volts and charging has stopped. Off means battery voltage has dropped one volt and charging has resumed. That can only mean that my battery is going bad again.

Being as Autocraft has had such a poor record of going bad about once a year, I don't want to get that brand again. So I need to know what's a good brand that's not terribly expensive that can be had from my local Autozone or Advance Auto? I want to go ahead and get one and have it on hand for when the present battery does give out. Increase in quality being proportional to increase in price is important. For example, Autocraft costs me about $60, so if I were to pay $90 for a battery, I'd expect a life of at least 18 months, minimum.

GlassAnkles · 01-04-2013, 06:51 AM

Yuasa or nothing. cant you order from amazon?

local1 · 01-04-2013, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlassAnkles

Yuasa or nothing. cant you order from amazon?

this..big boar battery puts their sticker over them and sell them for a $100.00 mark up . great product

look up big boar products and see what they sell their batteries for..LOL they use yuasa

trailrider383 · 01-04-2013, 08:04 AM

Yuasa is the only motorcycle battery I will spend my money on. The original Yuasa battery in my wifes 2004 ATV is still going and it gets used very rarely.

timsgs · 01-04-2013, 02:59 PM

Try here..........http://www.batterystuff.com/batterie...FUxxQgod2lEANg

concours · 01-04-2013, 05:40 PM

VERY high quality AGM battery, US made, reasonably priced. http://www.dekabatteries.com/default.aspx?pageid=510

CloudchaserSakonige · 01-04-2013, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlassAnkles

Yuasa or nothing. cant you order from amazon?

Good idea, thanx for the suggestion! I was thinking buy from a local store to avoid shipping, but looking on Amazon, I found a Yuasa for a price plus shipping that's about what I'd pay buying locally.

Jazz62 · 01-05-2013, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloudchaserSakonige

Good idea, thanx for the suggestion! I was thinking buy from a local store to avoid shipping, but looking on Amazon, I found a Yuasa for a price plus shipping that's about what I'd pay buying locally.

If the price is the same, buy local. If you need added incentive just consider the hassle of returning the mail order battery if for any reason it fails during the warranty period.

CloudchaserSakonige · 01-05-2013, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz62

If the price is the same, buy local. If you need added incentive just consider the hassle of returning the mail order battery if for any reason it fails during the warranty period.

I thought of that too, but noplace in my area sells Yuasa.

vfxdog · 01-05-2013, 02:44 AM

Westco

www.westcobattery.com

Have several and they've been every bit as good as any Yuasa.

greer · 01-05-2013, 03:17 AM

Our local O'Reilly Auto Parts sells re-badged Deka batteries.

Sarah

anotherguy · 01-05-2013, 05:29 AM

Deka batteries are the only ones that I use to start big inch Harley engines consistently. When I say big I don't mean piddley little 103" C.I. things either.

CloudchaserSakonige · 01-05-2013, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anotherguy

Deka batteries are the only ones that I use to start big inch Harley engines consistently. When I say big I don't mean piddley little 103" C.I. things either.

Will keep that in mind, thanx!

I'm curious, how big?

mouthfulloflake · 01-05-2013, 07:48 AM

Yes!

and they are available from Advance Auto as the "magna power" powersports batteries.

retailmenot.com for advance auto coupons even, usually gets $30 or so off the price

Quote:

Originally Posted by concours

VERY high quality AGM battery, US made, reasonably priced. http://www.dekabatteries.com/default.aspx?pageid=510

mouthfulloflake · 01-05-2013, 07:53 AM

I even did the cross reference work for you.

order an etx12L instead if you want the pos/neg terminals on opposite sides.

take a meter with you, make sure the battery is charged when purchased

01-04-2013, 05:49 AM	#1
CloudchaserSakonige ^OP Adventurer Joined: Feb 2011 Location: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States Oddometer: 54	Can someone please recommend a good motorbike battery? My Kymco GV 250 takes a 12-BS battery. About three years ago, the battery it came with went bad and had to be replaced. I got an Autocraft battery. When that battery went bad two years ago, I replaced it with another Autocraft. When that one went bad a year ago, I replaced it with another Autocraft and made a habit of putting it on my Schumacher SE-1-12S 1.5 Amp Slow Charge/Maintainer once a month until the "charged" light comes on to make sure it stayed charged. Usually, the "charged" light comes on almost right away and stays on, indicating that the bike's system is doing a good job of keeping the battery charged. This time, the "charged" light was coming on for 5 seconds, out for one second, repeat. I left the charger on for several hours. No change. To rule out a problem with the charger, I plugged the charger into my car (it also needs it once a month as it's only driven 2-3 times a month) to rule out a problem with the charger. Once that battery was fully charged, the "charged" light stayed on. I connected it to my bike and got the same on/off pattern as before. The instructions that came with the charger say that the "charged" light being on means voltage is approximately 14 volts and charging has stopped. Off means battery voltage has dropped one volt and charging has resumed. That can only mean that my battery is going bad again. Being as Autocraft has had such a poor record of going bad about once a year, I don't want to get that brand again. So I need to know what's a good brand that's not terribly expensive that can be had from my local Autozone or Advance Auto? I want to go ahead and get one and have it on hand for when the present battery does give out. Increase in quality being proportional to increase in price is important. For example, Autocraft costs me about $60, so if I were to pay $90 for a battery, I'd expect a life of at least 18 months, minimum. __________________ Photo taken at Mountain Motorsports Kodak on February 12 2013 http://tinyurl.com/cvgn4tc On the Dragon on April 13 2013 by killboy.com http://tinyurl.com/clnor2z My other ride is a Kymco Grand Vista 250 http://tinyurl.com/c9acaph

01-04-2013, 08:04 AM	#4
trailrider383 867-5309 Joined: Jan 2008 Location: NP, ID Oddometer: 2,570	Yuasa is the only motorcycle battery I will spend my money on. The original Yuasa battery in my wifes 2004 ATV is still going and it gets used very rarely. __________________ DO WHAT YOU LIKE - LIKE WHAT YOU DO Explain to me again why enjoying life when I retire is more important than enjoying life now?

01-04-2013, 02:59 PM	#5
timsgs Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Tidewater VA. Oddometer: 44	Try here..........http://www.batterystuff.com/batterie...FUxxQgod2lEANg __________________ 2007 DRZ400s, 1995 Nighthawk 750 Son, don't force that , get a bigger hammer....

01-04-2013, 05:40 PM	#6
concours WFO for 41 years Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Kensington, NH USA Oddometer: 4,021	VERY high quality AGM battery, US made, reasonably priced. http://www.dekabatteries.com/default.aspx?pageid=510 __________________ Too much is just barely enough..... 2007 Tiger 1050 2005 Royal Star Tour DeLuxe 1973 Yamaha TX750 1974 Norton 850 Commando Roadster

01-05-2013, 03:17 AM	#11
greer Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Glasgow, Kentucky Oddometer: 3,510	Our local O'Reilly Auto Parts sells re-badged Deka batteries. Sarah __________________ '08 DR650

01-04-2013, 06:51 AM	#2
GlassAnkles Chip to Queso Ratio Joined: Sep 2008 Location: KS Oddometer: 923	Yuasa or nothing. cant you order from amazon?

01-05-2013, 02:44 AM	#10
vfxdog Studly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Santa Monica or London, depending on work. Oddometer: 549	Westco www.westcobattery.com Have several and they've been every bit as good as any Yuasa.

01-05-2013, 05:29 AM	#12
anotherguy Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: in the foothills now.... Oddometer: 4,360	Deka batteries are the only ones that I use to start big inch Harley engines consistently. When I say big I don't mean piddley little 103" C.I. things either. __________________ When injustice becomes law,resistance becomes duty. Thomas Jefferson

01-05-2013, 07:53 AM	#15
mouthfulloflake Not afraid Joined: Aug 2008 Location: N.W. Arkansas Oddometer: 11,426	I even did the cross reference work for you. order an etx12L instead if you want the pos/neg terminals on opposite sides. take a meter with you, make sure the battery is charged when purchased __________________ "A little inaccuracy sometimes saves a ton of explanation." - H. H. Munro (Saki) (1870-1916)

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