What brand of AGM battery is best?

[WingAdmin]

I found these pages describing a set of torture tests performed on various AGM motorcycle batteries:

Texas Toast Battery Cookoff
Texas Toast Battery Cookoff Part 2

Without question, by a far margin, the clear winner is the "MotoBatt" battery. I haven't heard of this brand before, but I'm pretty sure the Motobatt MBTX24U AGM battery will be the next battery I buy for my GL1500.

[vtxcandyred]

Without even looking at the tests. My son is a mechanic and said the Deka was one of the top batteries. I put them in both the wing and the VTX my son now has. No problem so far. You can always get a bad one no matter what type you buy. Good luck.

[thrasherg]

But the Motobatt just looked so much better than the rest (in terms of charge storage and stability over time). I will definitely be looking at one when I have to replace my wing battery.

Thanks for posting the link WingAdmin.

Gary

[ka4yqi]

Well my oddessy battery is giving up the ghost. I have gotten me a Interstate that I add the acid to. After taking it thru it's steps aand getting charged and in line, nniw I have a battery with some serious power. Put it in the gl1500 wing and hit reverse button and it like to have jumped ontop of the crown vicky. I am happy with it so far. My buddy is a dealer so we well see what it does.

[detdrbuzzard]

Well my oddessy battery is giving up the ghost. I have gotten me a Interstate that I add the acid to. After taking it thru it's steps aand getting charged and in line, nniw I have a battery with some serious power. Put it in the gl1500 wing and hit reverse button and it like to have jumped ontop of the crown vicky. I am happy with it so far. My buddy is a dealer so we well see what it does.

how old was your odyssey battery

[ka4yqi]

how old was your odyssey battery

it was just over 3 years old.

[wingpilot08]

My $.02 is for Big Crank Batteries...
http://www.batterymart.com/p-Big-Crank- ... ng-battery

[Right Winger]

Iv'e had pretty good luck with the SVR made by Westco . It lasted 8 yrs and was still going strong . I change it just because. However I did replace it with another SVR . And I also have a Odessey in my other wing it is three yrs old. it was in the bike all winter till this spring . Started right up

[littlebeaver]

I found these pages describing a set of torture tests performed on various AGM motorcycle batteries:

Texas Toast Battery Cookoff
Texas Toast Battery Cookoff Part 2

Without question, by a far margin, the clear winner is the "MotoBatt" battery. I haven't heard of this brand before, but I'm pretty sure it will be the next battery I buy for my bike.

Wingman, thanks for the information man, I had bought a Xtreme AGM battery from Batteries Plus in March because I didn't know any better, it's fine but this is good to know for the next one much later..

[maxlbrown]

Ive recently had to replace my Exide battery after a mere 12 months then dead. Exide are only 12 month warranty typical. I replaced it with the Motobat. First one was faulty and wouldnt hold charge. Seconfd one is faultless and remember you get four terminals on the motorbat so really convenient for extra add on circuits and charge leads etc.

So far despite the initial hiccup my motobat 24 cost me £56 new and has been faultless since fitted.

It was recommended by my Spares dealer. It is cheaper and better than the the bigger makes.

Really good cranking power.

[Dogsled]

I buy alot of stuff online. But I try to buy batteries local, I've gotten bad batteries local and just took them back for a new one. Seems a little inconvenient to be riding, have your battery fail. Then have to ship it back and wait for another one.

So if a battery proves bad, how long are you usually down between shipping old battery back and getting a new one.

Like VTXcandyred said, no matter what battery you buy you can get a bad one. I know from experience my last battery ran perfect for a week then just stopped taking a charge.

[redial]

Has anyone tried the LiFePO batteries? They do not have acid, have a long storage life when charged, and are a lot lighter. They also provide alternative terminal configurations to suit all. Go to Wikipedia and see what it says about this type of battery.

[johnfliesagain]

Has anyone tried the LiFePO batteries? They do not have acid, have a long storage life when charged, and are a lot lighter. They also provide alternative terminal configurations to suit all. Go to Wikipedia and see what it says about this type of battery.

I put a Battery Tender Jr Brand of one of these in my 79 Yamaha xs750 triple. Light weight, half the size. Doesn't like the cold though.

I added a winch electric quick disconnect to it; I bring it in below 40*F to keep it warm. I can slip it in my coat pocket! The battery is under the hinged seat so it is an easy in/out.

This would be a bit harder in the wing. Do you ride in the cold? or park in a non heated garage?

[bntyhntr6975]

Without even looking at the tests. My son is a mechanic and said the Deka was one of the top batteries. I put them in both the wing and the VTX my son now has. No problem so far. You can always get a bad one no matter what type you buy. Good luck.

I've heard that the AGMs at O'Reileys are re-branded Deka batteries, but cannot confirm that.

[Solina Dave]

I found these pages describing a set of torture tests performed on various AGM motorcycle batteries:

Texas Toast Battery Cookoff
Texas Toast Battery Cookoff Part 2

Without question, by a far margin, the clear winner is the "MotoBatt" battery. I haven't heard of this brand before, but I'm pretty sure the Motobatt MBTX24U AGM battery will be the next battery I buy for my GL1500.

I'm in the market for a new battery and came across your impression of the MotoBatt battery based on "Toast Battery Cookoff results. You also said you would highly consider it as your next battery. I just wondered if you did ever go that route, and what now is your opinion of that battery.

Thanks Dave

[WingAdmin]

I found these pages describing a set of torture tests performed on various AGM motorcycle batteries:

Texas Toast Battery Cookoff
Texas Toast Battery Cookoff Part 2

Without question, by a far margin, the clear winner is the "MotoBatt" battery. I haven't heard of this brand before, but I'm pretty sure the Motobatt MBTX24U AGM battery will be the next battery I buy for my GL1500.

I'm in the market for a new battery and came across your impression of the MotoBatt battery based on "Toast Battery Cookoff results. You also said you would highly consider it as your next battery. I just wondered if you did ever go that route, and what now is your opinion of that battery.

Thanks Dave

That battery has been in my bike now for over two years, and still works like brand new. You can read about it here: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=36953

[detdrbuzzard]

how old was your odyssey battery

it was just over 3 years old.

last year my odyssey was ten years old, I took it out of my wing and put it in my lawn tractor. the wing got a new odyssey

[Solina Dave]

I'm so confused!!!..............I read so many conflicting reports on battery performance. One person has a battery that lasted for 10 years or more. Another person has the same battery that lasted 2 or 3 years. This seems to be the trend. I've used a Yuasa AGM battery for years because I read they can't be beat. Mine generally last 4 years, give or take, and that's with the battery on a smart maintenance charger 24/7 all winter, but not on a daily basis during the riding months. I've got no power in my storage shed. However during the riding months, I'm riding regularly, so I figure that's enough to keep it healthy. I think!
I'm getting to the point, in all of this, where I'm beginning to think I may as well just buy the cheapest battery I can get, and hope for the best.

Who knows for sure?........................Dave

[AZgl1800]

My last battery was the MotoBat and it performs very well.

I suspicion it came off the same assembly line as the others.
just has a different label on the side of it.

[detdrbuzzard]

I'm so confused!!!..............I read so many conflicting reports on battery performance. One person has a battery that lasted for 10 years or more. Another person has the same battery that lasted 2 or 3 years. This seems to be the trend. I've used a Yuasa AGM battery for years because I read they can't be beat. Mine generally last 4 years, give or take, and that's with the battery on a smart maintenance charger 24/7 all winter, but not on a daily basis during the riding months. I've got no power in my storage shed. However during the riding months, I'm riding regularly, so I figure that's enough to keep it healthy. I think!
I'm getting to the point, in all of this, where I'm beginning to think I may as well just buy the cheapest battery I can get, and hope for the best.

Who knows for sure?........................Dave

I gave my niece my 1200 wing that also had an odyssey battery in it (mi put an odyssey in each wing just a few months apart ) that one lasted eight years

[89 1500]

I've been using the cheaper AGM offering from batteries plus. Got 5 years out of my first one. Only had a battery tender on it for 2 of those 5. For $103 out the door with the online purchase discount it's hard to beat, then head to the store and pick it up. They put it on a charge before emailing to say it's ready. I used to go through lead acid batteries every 2 years at $60 a pop. I'll keep my new one on a tender and see if I can get past 5 years. Only bought one battery from H-D when I had my Ultra before I got rid of it. Dealer price was closer to $200 and they wouldn't make 3 years.

[dirtwinger]

My only battery change on my 2012 GL1800 (bought new late 2011) was last October 2018, and was a Duracell brand from Batteries Plus, where a discount is available by ordering online. I had a choice of two Duracells...one, the gray case one, is made in the USA, whereas the other is foreign made. I chose the USA one and have been quite happy with its performance thus far. I had two initial gripes with my Duracell. One...it was not fully charged as advertised, as it needed a couple of hours on my 2 amp smart charger to bring it to its max. And two, the battery's posts did not line up with my GL's terminals, which necessitated enlargement of the bike's terminals holes to make them work. I expect years of good usage from my Duracell AGM battery.

[RockportDave]

When I bought my Wing in March of 2018 the PO had put a new Intersate AGM on it. It has performed flawlessly in over a year. I don’t use a trickle charger on it and it cranks every time, but we rarely see temps below 40°F.
Last July when the alternator went out, while waiting for my rescue trailer, it was getting dark and after sitting about 15 minutes I was able to crank the bike and drive about 3 miles to a convenience store before I lost power again. After replacing the alternator, I charged it for about an hour and had full power again. The bike has sat without a charger on it up to a month and it will crank right up. I have a 90 amp alternator and it shows about 14 volts at idle always.
The Interstate AGM has been a good battery so far.
Dave

[Dane]

I'm not saying it's "The Best" but I have a AGM battery from Interstate Battery (FAYTX24HL) that has been in the GL1500 for nine years and is still going strong. Not too shabby!

[wing rider 2012]

My last battery was the MotoBat and it performs very well.

I suspicion it came off the same assembly line as the others.
just has a different label on the side of it.

AZ, your going to have to admit you bought the Motobatt because it matches the color of the bike and trailer, Right! I use the Motobatt in my GL1800 also, no problems so far, it's been about 2 years now.