Motobatt battery problem. Can anyone borrow a smart battery charger?

[Kathryn42]

Well this is interesting. I installed a new Motobatt in my old CBR600 and it as performed perfectly. However, a friend who bought one for her 250 Virago has found that it seems to self discharge quite fast, a matter of several days. I had suspected a 'leaky' rectifier bridge, but we have installed a new one and it still does it. The battery takes a charge on the charger OK though.
So perhaps we have been looking in the wrong place for the fault... it could be the battery...

[ducatilover]

Well this is interesting. I installed a new Motobatt in my old CBR600 and it as performed perfectly. However, a friend who bought one for her 250 Virago has found that it seems to self discharge quite fast, a matter of several days. I had suspected a 'leaky' rectifier bridge, but we have installed a new one and it still does it. The battery takes a charge on the charger OK though.
So perhaps we have been looking in the wrong place for the fault... it could be the battery...

Have you checked for current draw when it's off?

[vifferman]

VFR800, notorious for having problematic electrics. And way tooooo many wires and electrical gizmos. So I added two extra horns, a PC2, grip heaters, a fan for the R/R, an accessory jack, a whole extra fusebox, several thousand millimetres of cabling, and a pratridge in a pear tree. (Yes, as a matter of fact, I did mean to say "pratridge". And yes, you've got me oroficer - I've no idea what it is).
Last battery I put in it was so long ago, I can't remember when I bought it, but it was at least 5 or 6 years ago. Checked the voltage at rest a few days ago (it was on vacation, lazing around on a beanbag), and it was 12.47V. Never had a scrap of trouble with it, and it's one of those (Shock! Horror!) Motobatts. Y'know: yellow thing, with an ugly butt-face only its blind mother could love (at both ends), membraneous leathery wings attached to its front legs, and a nasty squeaky voice. And apparently a motor somewhere propelling it around the place.
So how ees eet, meester?
One thing I will say is that I don't particularly like the universal terminal connections (they give you some adaptors and you choose the appropriate ones, and attach them with little nut's bolts. They're fiddly, and a bugger to get tight when you first install the battery. For that reason, I'm not sure if I'll buy one next time. Maybe, but depends on the connectors, which direction the wind's blowing, and what I had for breakfast the Tuesday before.

[FJRider]

Yuasa.


That is all.

I second that ...I've had no problems ever with them.

[ducatilover]

I second that ...I've had no problems ever with them.

Motobatt tend to hold charge much better, which is why I own one motobatt and 5 dead Yuassa and other such brand batteries, only the yellow one works and it started my bike after sitting for a year

[AllanB]

Mottomatt in mine since 09 - the factory Yussa (SP?) died a week after the bikes warranty ran out. The yellow box has performed most excellently.

[Kathryn42]

Have you checked for current draw when it's off?

Yes..... doesn't seem to be any, so I guess it might (must?) be the battery. That would be disappointing because it's brand new...

[ducatilover]

Yes..... doesn't seem to be any, so I guess it might (must?) be the battery. That would be disappointing because it's brand new...

Really? I wouldn't expect it to drain itself in a matter of days without some sort of load on it.
I must be rude and ask, how was it tested?

[Kathryn42]

Really? I wouldn't expect it to drain itself in a matter of days without some sort of load on it.
I must be rude and ask, how was it tested?

Digital multimeter in series. Tried all scales down into the milliamp range.... reads zero...

[ducatilover]

Digital multimeter in series. Tried all scales down into the milliamp range.... reads zero...

Somebody who can do such a simple test correctly!
I expect motobatt will replace that free of charge then (no pun intended)

[Kathryn42]

Somebody who can do such a simple test correctly!
I expect motobatt will replace that free of charge then (no pun intended)

Why thank you kind sir....

[Moise]

Yuasa.


That is all.

The OEM Yuasa in my bike lasted 6 years. It could still start the bike when I replaced it but couldn't crank the engine for very long.

So I bought another one from a seller on Trademe for about $30 more than a Motobatt.

[Grubber]

I second that ...I've had no problems ever with them.

Had one in my 955i since new and it is now 7 years old. Ready for replacement now so not bad effort i would have thought.

[bigreddog]

there was a dodgy batch of motobatts doing the rounds a wee while back...some where replaced under warranty. (1 year I believe)

[Big Dog]

The Hayabusa fitment was $100 difference so not a hard choice. Performed better than the two yuasas I ha in it before then.

+1 on any charger will charge it. A smart charger / battery tender will leave it holding a better charge. I don't understand the physics or chemistry. Just the anecdotal response of it starts easier in all conditions.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.