AGM batteries

Off to Walmart to seek an AGL battery: 14 amp/hr proper size: EverStart Premium Power Sport Battery, Group Size ES-TX14AH
When at WM, check the production date which is tagged on top. I saw one the other day dtd 02/2020. As I need to 'do some work' before trying to start a '72 xs after 20 yrs....I can wait for the next shipment and check dates or buy one not activated but it was 10 amp/hr. Hard to find made in USA types. Take Interstate. West of Louisiana to California, they distribute batteries from their plant in Mexico (marked by law: Mexico) otherwise made in USA in US. >> https://www.interstatebatteries.com/powersports/factory-activated-agm-batteries. $100+ retail..eek. I just switched to AGM on my very heavy big BMW (car) battery from Walmart made by Johnson Controls in US and is really good at $149 vs $250 elsewhere. Talking apples/oranges applications. You need a smart charger for AGM. Don't let it go < 50% charge. Lol, I go to Johnson Controls battery and a Chinese company pops up now. I really don't see an 'early' XS battery spec. anywhere but remember reading somewhere the bike's electrical system doesn't like too much AH. I go to the company headlining "made in USA that started this tread and found in small print most of their batteries can be made in plants out side of the USA. Not even going to say what the dtd is on the Champion labeled P5110293.JPG battery I'm pulling out...
 
have found not a good idea to leave a battery on a tender to long ,generally put one on for a couple of days every 2-3 weeks and thats using a m/c tender , as far as battery life goes the ones here in oz normally just get you over the warrenty period and not much more
 
I used to replace the XS650 battery often. Seems the bike would rattle them to death. The first AGM battery I put in it lasted 9 years! My XS1100 has AGM in it as well. I don't buy imported batteries if it is avoidable. Both bikes have Deka batteries made in Pennsylvania. They no longer cover the XS11, so the next one will be Yuasa, also made in Pennsylvania. I'll pay double for a battery I believe to be of good quality. I never charge my AGM batteries. I live in the south, so I just ride the bikes.
 
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I run AGM on all of my bikes. I make sure the charging system is operating properly and not overcharging. During winter storage I may hook up each battery once and remove the charger once fully charged. Usually only an hour or so to bring it up the full charge. My XS2 has the same AGM I bought 9 years ago from Mikes and my Z1battery was changed after 10 years just because. I like the fact you don't have to worry much about it leaking all over the $1800 dollars in chrome on the nice restoration. I have used the batteries from Batteries Plus with good results otherwise from the local fleet store.
 
We replace tons of powersports batteries.
Seems like they are more sensitive to vibration than car batteries.

I have personally had mixed luck just like some of you but do have 2 things to share.

1. If it's the kind of battery that you fill with electrolyte yourself because it was purchased dry, make sure you wait an hour or more after you fill it with electrolyte before you put it on the charger for the first time so that the bubbles can stop sticking to the plates. I have a suspicion that when there's a lot of bubbles fresh on the plates after you pour the electrolyte in it causes some oxidation or something that prevents the battery from every living up to its full potential.

2. the people that never have problems with batteries at work are the people that ride their motorcycle or ATV every single day.

If it's not possible to ride every single day, there is a line of battery chargers from a brand called genius that have a smart maintenance mode so you can just leave them hooked up all the time.
 
I used to use lead acid batteries..until one day one boiled over sending batery acid down the frame and onto the stainless steel muffles and ...stained them ofc... That was on my '82 XJ1100 maxim..after that AGM batteries are all i will use..PLUS and this is a biggie for me,,,,I plain suck at battery maintnence..and I always forget to check and maintain electrolytes in it...AGM..plug and pray...
My first dayride on the XS650 at the VYR last year..i rode to the first break/stop. Turned off the bike and discovered that it would not restart..20 mins from the lodge...dead as a doornail.. Previous owner said the AGM was fairly new...but bam in 1 min it went from working fine to dead..No warning of course..
I too like Deka batteries.....:agree:
 
bikefreakjon said:
We replace tons of powersports batteries.
Seems like they are more sensitive to vibration than car batteries.

I have personally had mixed luck just like some of you but do have 2 things to share.

1. If it's the kind of battery that you fill with electrolyte yourself because it was purchased dry, make sure you wait an hour or more after you fill it with electrolyte before you put it on the charger for the first time so that the bubbles can stop sticking to the plates. I have a suspicion that when there's a lot of bubbles fresh on the plates after you pour the electrolyte in it causes some oxidation or something that prevents the battery from every living up to its full potential.

2. the people that never have problems with batteries at work are the people that ride their motorcycle or ATV every single day.

If it's not possible to ride every single day, there is a line of battery chargers from a brand called genius that have a smart maintenance mode so you can just leave them hooked up all the time.
Click to expand...
I have a couple of these they work fine..
https://www.batteryminders.com/batt...7-12v-1-33-amp-charger-maintainer-desulfator/
 
jetmechmarty said:
I used to replace the XS650 battery often. Seems the bike would rattle them to death. The first AGM battery I put in it lasted 9 years! My XS1100 has AGM in it as well. I don't buy imported batteries if it is avoidable. Both bikes have Deka batteries made in Pennsylvania. They no longer cover the XS11, so the next one will be Yuasa, also made in Pennsylvania. I'll pay double for a battery I believe to be of good quality. I never charge my AGM batteries. I live in the south, so I just ride the bikes.
Click to expand...

Hi marty,
my XS650 bike batteries, even the shakeproof ones, never survived through northern prairie winters.
After several "good" batteries died over winter despite my best attempts at nurturing them,
I'd just buy a new lead/acid el-cheapo battery in the spring and toss it in the fall.
The big ol' car battery in my sidecar rig survives far better.
Presumably a mix of remote rubber mounting and far bigger size adds to it's over-winter survival.
Coming up on it's 7th summer this year.
 
When I built my bobber I didn't want to give up e-start and didn't have room for full size battery. Paid up for this Shorai Lithium battery at link below. $149. When it arrived I said no way this would crank the 650, it weighed just over 2 lbs and almost fit in the palm of my hand. This battery is incredibly powerful at 210 CCA, light, small, and is about as maintenance free as it gets. Still going strong on year two.

https://www.batterystuff.com/batteries/lfx14l5-bs12.html
 
What are the recommended AGM battery models for this bike? When I go to Odyssey, Interstate they don’t offer.

Also if bike is kick-only are high cold-cranking amps critical? Reside in warm weather state.

Currently getting 12.5v on Yuasa conventional battery for several days after putting on Battery Tender and charging to 13.1v and then dropping by 10ths in an hour and stopping at 12.5v

Odd had an episode where riding it around town with LED high-beam on, lost headlight and when turning on directional it would kill motor. Got home and voltage was 9.9v. Has Boyer Branson and Hughs charging system.
 
The Standard said:
What are the recommended AGM battery models for this bike?
Click to expand...
I use whatever the OE size is. I've been using Deka batteries made in Pennsylvania as I get a lot of years out of them. If I can't get that, I get Yuasa, also made in Pennsylvania. With the stock charging system, a good strong battery is required. Otherwise, you're stranded.
 
I've had good luck with regular lead-acid batteries and leaving them connected to a tender over the winter. Perhaps my luck will run out - but the BMW is still running the same battery I bought with it in 2020 and the XS650 battery is at least 3-4 years old as is the battery from my Miata.

Pete
 
This is the battery I use. Click HERE
MaxPete said:
I've had good luck with regular lead-acid batteries and leaving them connected to a tender over the winter. Perhaps my luck will run out - but the BMW is still running the same battery I bought with it in 2020 and the XS650 battery is at least 3-4 years old as is the battery from my Miata.

Pete
Click to expand...
Maybe I'd have better luck if I tried it again since my bike is running near perfect. In the past, I seemed to shake them apart in a year or two. My first AGM battery lasted nine years! I got it from Mike's XS when it was still Mike Lalonde.
 
MaxPete said:
I've had good luck with regular lead-acid batteries and leaving them connected to a tender over the winter. Perhaps my luck will run out - but the BMW is still running the same battery I bought with it in 2020 and the XS650 battery is at least 3-4 years old as is the battery from my Miata.

Pete
Click to expand...
Hi Pete,
batteries will get real sick in unheated storage during the long northern Prairie winter despite one's best efforts to nurture them.
The smaller the battery, the sicker it'll get.
I found that while a stock size XS650 battery would be dead in the Spring if left outside it'd over-winter OK if kept on a battery tender in the basement.
OTOH the XS650 sidecar rig's full size car battery survived outdoor winter just fine and would start up the XS650 OK in the Spring if it was charged up beforehand.
 
As I said earlier I have had great success with all of my AGM's. However I was pushing my luck on the FJR. I was thinking of replacing it last year. Two weeks ago I was riding around Arizona stayed in Flagstaff and woke to 21 deg and the bike would not start. Turned over pretty good but would not catch. Voltage probably a bit low for the ignition. It did finally start just before you could tell it was just about out of juice. Replaced it anyway. It was the original from 2013.
 

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