Battery buggered me thinks. Unsure if correct battery [Archive]

nudemetalz

15th September 2013, 13:21

My Guzzi V11 is giving issues starting at present.
It's cranking over slowly and then just the usual flat batt clicking. I've charged it up on the charger and lasts not that long. My jumper leads are crap, but they do eventually get it going from the car.

In the past I've only started it every couple or few weeks while it sits in the garage as I've not ridden it in the last 12 months.

The battery is about 3 years and is a MotoBatt MBTX12U. Is a gel one.
Now I look on the MB spec sheet for the Guzzi and they recommend a MotoBatt MBTX30U.
Does this make much difference? Is the battery too low spec?

I have a MotoBatt MBTX14U in the Mrs's Kawasaki Ninja EX-400 as this is recommended and works fine.
I haven't tried that one in the Guzzi yet,it's an idea though.

What ya reckon?

AllanB

15th September 2013, 13:30

Looks like the 12U is listed for your ride and many other big bore twins. My battery tender has a recovery mode for flat batteries apparently, don't know what you have to charge it with but the inactivity over the past year without a regular battery tender attached may have shortened it's life.

Which makes me wonder what do the bike shops do? Trickle charge each bike in the showroom in some sort of order or just allow to throw anew battery in each bike sold?

http://www.motobattasia.com/batteries.php?pid=43

nudemetalz

15th September 2013, 13:59

avgas

15th September 2013, 14:18

hmmmm no LiPo4 posters......... am I still on KB?

bogan

15th September 2013, 14:30

Sounds pretty ideally suited for the new ultrabatts... Little more pricey than lead acid but heaps less self discharge.

hmmmm no LiPo4 posters......... am I still on KB?

Happy now?

Akzle

15th September 2013, 14:31

shush!
Youll rouse ed from his drug induced stupor!

Edbear

15th September 2013, 14:45

hmmmm no LiPo4 posters......... am I still on KB?

Yeah, I was resting... :niceone:

shush!
Youll rouse ed from his drug induced stupor!

Consider me roused... :rolleyes:

The Shorai recommendation is the 27L3, which is more in line with the recommendation you quoted from Motobatt for a 30. All the big twins require a higher CCA than the fours of the same capacity. Andrew Stroud ran a 9A in his Gixxer thou for a whole season and a bit before switching to the recommended 14A.

Edbear

15th September 2013, 14:49

...and it recommends this too
http://www.motobattasia.com/batteries.php?pid=51

One is $88, the other is $220 !!!

(oops edit:- Just saw it's for the V11 Bassa, Calis etc, duh me !!)

Hmmm,....

yeah I wondered too if the stop-starts while in the garage stuffed the battery too, rather than the starter motor.

Stop/starting will run any battery down after a while, you do need to give the bike a run or charge the battery up every week or two. LiFePO4 batteries do not self-discharge nearly as quick as lead acid do, and they charge a lot quicker as well.

Pussy

15th September 2013, 16:53

Get an Ultrabatt, Chris. Problem solved!

Madness

15th September 2013, 17:38

Andrew Stroud ran a 9A in his Gixxer thou for a whole season and a bit before switching to the recommended 14A.

Ed, how is this relevant to battery selection for a Moto Guzzi V11?

nudemetalz

15th September 2013, 18:56

Ed, how is this relevant to battery selection for a Moto Guzzi V11?

Ah dunt matter,..he did say about the battery running down.

Can a bike shop test a battery to see if it is knackered or would they automatically say "why yes it is stuffed, Sir,...we have a new one right here for you to purchase... "..

Ultrabatts seem rather expensive next to the MotoBatts.

bogan

15th September 2013, 18:59

Hit it with a desulphation charger, might bring it back to life. But it'll probably never be good as new again so a trickle charger for in the shed might be a good idea.

Edbear

15th September 2013, 19:11

Ed, how is this relevant to battery selection for a Moto Guzzi V11?

To illustrate the difference between a four and a twin. The V11 requires a lot more grunt and while the 12A might start it, the drain really shortens its life, and it should be fully charged each time.

Edbear

15th September 2013, 19:20

Ah dunt matter,..he did say about the battery running down.

Can a bike shop test a battery to see if it is knackered or would they automatically say "why yes it is stuffed, Sir,...we have a new one right here for you to purchase... "..

Ultrabatts seem rather expensive next to the MotoBatts.

LiFePO4 batteries are more expensive in the beginning. The advantage is in the long term really, for road bikes. They last longer than the price difference. If you want light weight and small size, that's a no-brainer.

A shop should do the test in front of you.

nallac

15th September 2013, 19:34

LiFePO4 batteries are more expensive in the beginning. The advantage is in the long term really, for road bikes. They MIGHTlast longer than the price difference. If you want light weight and small size, that's a no-brainer.

Only time will tell.....

AllanB

15th September 2013, 19:36

Don't those LifeP04's set your bike on fire? ....................

Just pulling Eds wiener there.

Given the ease of use of a battery tender they are well worth the initial outlay for anyone who infrequently uses their ride. NOTE apparently you need a fancy pants one if getting one of the new fangled batteries (I may be wrong).

nallac

15th September 2013, 19:39

Akzle

15th September 2013, 19:40

FastBikeGear

15th September 2013, 19:48

inbuilt balance charge controller

If you are in Aucland I can test your battery for you. No charge.

I can also give it a free recondition desulphation charge for you and the retest it to see if it comes back to life for you with one of our CTEKs.

http://www.fastbikegear.co.nz/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=184&zenid=3d3cc88c65b1a37d9940f3b027d9933e

Once we have done this and know the true state of your battery you make your informed choices from there.

I've done a bit of work on Moto Guzzi electrics for the guys in IMOC club.

bogan

15th September 2013, 19:49

Given the ease of use of a battery tender they are well worth the initial outlay for anyone who infrequently uses their ride. NOTE apparently you need a fancy pants one if getting one of the new fangled batteries (I may be wrong).

Not sure if they do fancy pants tenders for LFP. They don't like to be tended much, so a fancy pants one would actually just turn off for like 4 weeks then turn on for an hour or two to top it off.

AllanB

15th September 2013, 19:50

Said it before on KB. Fastbikegear offers very good service - online from personal experience and looksee above for physical! Well done that man.

FastBikeGear

15th September 2013, 20:01

Not sure if they do fancy pants tenders for LFP. They don't like to be tended much, so a fancy pants one would actually just turn off for like 4 weeks then turn on for an hour or two to top it off.

Exactly. LFP charges typically charge to 14.6 volts and then turn off to alloy battery to settle back to 13.2-13.4 volts.

Lithium batteries unlike lead acid batteries do not like sitting at the full charging voltage of 14.6V hence the good ones do turn off once charged and then typically don't recommence charging until voltage has dropped below 13.2v.

By contrast Lead acid trickle chargers typically hold the charge up closer to their charging voltage of 14.4 Volts constantly.

Madness

15th September 2013, 20:09

To illustrate the difference between a four and a twin.

So, despite being the GC that he is, Andrew Stroud is completely irrelevant to this thread then. Glad we cleared that up :niceone:

avgas

15th September 2013, 20:38

Don't those LifeP04's set your bike on fire? ....................
Fire is such a harsh word.
I prefer the one "incendiary"

and to answer you question yes........but it's only a guzzi

avgas

15th September 2013, 20:41

If you are in Aucland I can test your battery for you. No charge.
287509
FBG Customer Service to the rescue. Also you better hope there is no charge!

FastBikeGear

15th September 2013, 21:05

287509
FBG Customer Service to the rescue. Also you better hope there is no charge!

Well we hope we can charge the battery, but there is no $ charge for testing batteries.

Here's a pic of me after last timeI put my tongue across a motorcycle battery.

nudemetalz

15th September 2013, 21:45

If you are in Aucland I can test your battery for you. No charge.

I can also give it a free recondition desulphation charge for you and the retest it to see if it comes back to life for you with one of our CTEKs.

http://www.fastbikegear.co.nz/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=184&zenid=3d3cc88c65b1a37d9940f3b027d9933e

Once we have done this and know the true state of your battery you make your informed choices from there.

I've done a bit of work on Moto Guzzi electrics for the guys in IMOC club.

Love to take you up on your offer, but in Welly unfort :(

............and to answer you question yes........but it's only a guzzi

Charming.....
:rolleyes:

Actually, when it wouldn't start,.. I said a lot more harsher words to it than that !!

FastBikeGear

16th September 2013, 23:11

Actually, when it wouldn't start,.. I said a lot more harsher words to it than that !!

I have developed a special vocabulary for Moto Guzzis....which has on occasions caused me difficulties with some of the guys I ride with. Phrases like "push it over the bank and them climb down and set fire to it" have not always been appreciated.

But I do lust after a MGS-01 in moments of weakness.

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2009models/2009-MotoGuzzi-MGS-01CORSA.htm

nudemetalz

17th September 2013, 08:19

I have the sledgehammer ready to take to it sometimes, but then it's beauty (well, to me anyway) overcomes that agitation,... and I calm down trying to figure out just how much Vino the MG designers and engineers drank while designing and building the bike....

Paul in NZ

17th September 2013, 09:16

Sitting un used or with partial starts and a quick run for a long time is almost certain death for an ordinary battery... Its hardly MG's fault... It would happen to any lead acid battery.

If you want to keep the bike happy it needs to be started and ridden regularly so that the whole drive train gets up to full operational temperature. Just starting it and reving it a few times is arguably worse than not starting it as it simply adds moisture to the exhausts etc. The oils need to be fully warmed so any water is evapourated out.

If you cant do that then change all the oils etc, fill the tank to the top and bung in some (or drain it 100%) put it on a stand and remove the battery. Cycle the battery monthly (ie a light discharge using an old headlamp for 45 mins or so and recharge - note DON't flatten the darn thing). Check a few yank sites as in snow country they are very good at this sort of thing.

Skiwi

17th September 2013, 10:11

Ah dunt matter,..he did say about the battery running down.

Can a bike shop test a battery to see if it is knackered or would they automatically say "why yes it is stuffed, Sir,...we have a new one right here for you to purchase... "..
.

Yes shops can test batteries in about 20 seconds flat if they have the right gear. An auto electrical workshop is bound to have a hydrometer and load tester.
Whether or not they just recommend a new one anyway is up to their integrity, most are pretty straight up.

You can do a rough and ready test yourself if you have a multimeter. Check fluid levels. Take a reading, charge it, check it takes at least a 13.8v charge, remove it from the charger, wait 5 minutes then take another reading, then leave on the bench for 24 hours, take another reading, the further it has dropped the less "life" it has left in it. If its below about 12.5v don't shag around with it, buy another.

There seems to be two trains of thought on batteries, buy a standard battery and factor in replacing it reasonably regularly if you ride intermittently, or spend shit loads on the latest greatest and hope it lives up to the marketers claims.
I chose the first and replace mine about every three years for a bout $90 a time.

avgas

17th September 2013, 13:05

Charming.....
:rolleyes:
Actually, when it wouldn't start,.. I said a lot more harsher words to it than that !!
You called it a CX?

nudemetalz

17th September 2013, 14:04

You called it a CX?

hahaha not quite........

I got the battery tested today,..yup after charging it overnight, tried it again in the bike this morning and it would still barely turn it over...
So got it tested, yup,...buggered.

New one on order and now I shall treat it (and the Guzzi) well with good rides now I can ride again.

Thanks again for all of the good info, peoples.