finally got battery checked

[halcombrick]

Ive talked a lot about my bike maybe needing a starter when I got it for Christmas, well I had the battery tested on walmarts big machine and it came back bad. It showed 12.8 volts with a drop to 8.7 in 3 minutes with cold cranking amps at a max of 68 and after 3 mins a low of 28. So im hoping that my starter problems are all battery related, I have no idea how many cold cranking amps I should have but im sure its a lot more than 28-68. Anybody recommend a good reliable but cheap battery?

[redial]

Anybody recommend a good reliable but cheap battery?

I could, but if I do, you will be asking the same question again. There are as many batteries as there are members of the opposite gender. You should be looking at a reliable battery, not necessarily cheapest battery, as they are usually incompatible between reliable and cheap. Spend as much money as you need to, for the best battery you can reasonably afford. Skimping on a battery will only cause you heartache later on, but also, buying one of those gold plated ones can also be over the top.

It is probably a "truism", but spend your money wisely. Find a battery, and most people are using an AGM (Absorbed Glass Material - I think), these days, and that should get you some of the way towards a solution.

[halcombrick]

Thanks redial I was thinking about one of the sealed dry batteries I think they are called.

[redial]

That is an AGM. There are several brands that are goers, including Yuasa.

[harvey01]

Prior to buying any battery you might want to visit the Yuasa website at: http://www.yuasabatteries.com/

From there go to the Literature tab at the top and look up their powersports info. they have a couple of pamphlets that you can download or just open to read filled with a lot of great info on batteries. Yes they are trying to sell their brand but the info relates across the spectrum of all batteries. It also covers a little about what to do with a new battery prior to installation. Good reading especially if, like me, you are not an electrical wizard.

I would also like to echo the earlier comment about buying quality instead of the cheapest. You may pay more initially but over the long haul you will pay less. A well maintained battery can last for 3 to 5 years and beyond.

[f1xrupr]

This may not be vary popular info, but, you might do a study on "same battery, different label", and, different rectifier suggested for some types of non-stock batteries. A salesperson may not offer that information.

[bstig60]

I just installed an AGM battery from Chrome Batteries for about $70 delivered to my door. It fit where it was supposed to and started the bike in a snap out of the box. Others have used them here. I suspect they cannot be any worse than a Walmart special. That is what I just took out of my 88 1500. It died to the point it would not start the engine after about 2 years.

[redial]

When getting a new battery, it is a good thing to do to put it on a charger, at a motorcycle friendly battery charger (in other words not a high charge rate), and leave it overnight. When they come off the shelf, they may not be fully charged. Some say to take the bike for a run, and that will work if your run is for overnight . The idea being that a good slow charge so that the new battery is fully charged, and not 80% charged, means that it will start its operational life fully charged, and should last longer. GW seem to be particularly hungry for voltage, so treat the battery right, and it will treat your GW right.