Motobat motorbike battery

Roberltd2

Roberltd2

Active member
 Village of The Dam
Hi,
In March 2015 bought a Motobat MB9U 12V battery for my bike. As I don't ride the bike on a regular basis, I was amazed at how the battery held it's charge over long periods of non use (i.e. the winter). However, this year I found the battery to be totally flat and no amount of recharging with the Motobat charger will help.
I realise now that I should have trickle charged the battery regularly when not in use, but my question is, is this type of battery (absorbed glass mat) best suited to my needs anyway? On the other hand, now that I've bought the charger, I might as well by another Motobat MB9U?
Thanks in advance for any thoughts / advice.
Robert.
 

Attachments

  • DSCF1506.JPG
    DSCF1506.JPG
    154.6 KB · Views: 405
I think glass mat batteries can cope better with seldom use than a normal lead acid type, good idea to use a smart charger that can be left on for long periods.
Now tell us about the bike, Is that an underseat oil filler for a separate oil tank? Dry sump engine? :?
Rob
 
Dry sump / seperate oil tank.
One of the earliest unit construction twins which came out of the Meriden factory in 1963!
Not exactly in original spec, it's kind of evolved with the times over the decades, and I hope it never gets "restored".
Thanks for the advice. I only checked this evening how long ago that I bought the battery and I was surprised that it was five years ago. The fact that they can last so long without proper maintenance says a lot for them I would think. So I might go for another one in that case.
Robert.
 
mr.tourette said:
To be honest in my experience, trickle charger or not you seldom get 5 years out of a motorbike battery anyway
[/quoteThat's what I was wondering as well. Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
As my blade doesn't get used much I usually buy a cheap one and expect to change it every couple of years.
Leave it fully charged and disconnected over the winter, current one is 3 years old.
 
I had a motobatt years ago after it being recommended on a forum I was on.
It was one of the worst batteries that I had in my bike. Think it lasted just over a year.
 
Thanks for the replies. I think I might take another punt on a Motobatt item being as I've already got the charger, and next time round make sure I trickle charge it at regular intervals.
What with one thing and another though, I might leave it till next spring now.
I have to say though that Nictrix' review of Motobatt's batteries is not the first negative one I've come accross.
Robert.
 
I am no authority on bikes at all, but is the charger only able to be used on that make of battery then?
Could you not get a different make of battery and still use that charger on it?
 
I had a lead acid battery on my Ducati and as it was a pain the rear to get to the bloody thing i used to leave it on an optimate 24/7. It survived quite a log time like that and meant the bike was always ready to ride when i fancied it.
 
enuff_zed said:
I am no authority on bikes at all, but is the charger only able to be used on that make of battery then?
Could you not get a different make of battery and still use that charger on it?
Click to expand...
I would think it might work on another AGM battery of the same voltage, although it is switchable to 6V, presumably to cater for the the purists who haven't upgraded their machines to a 12V system. I think they have different charging characteristics to, say lead acid battery chargers for example though. At least that's my understanding. I'm not really an authority on batteries either. I went went for Motobatt because a couple of people recommended them to me.
 
Rockhopper said:
I had a lead acid battery on my Ducati and as it was a pain the rear to get to the bloody thing i used to leave it on an optimate 24/7. It survived quite a log time like that and meant the bike was always ready to ride when i fancied it.
Click to expand...
Another recommendation was Optimate. So that's another option to think about. Thanks again for the replies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom