From my days working in a Service Station - when you could get service at the petrol station, I believe keeping Batteries on concrete was discouraged not to help the battery, but to stop any acid leakage from contacting the concrete. The lime in the concrete would react with the sulfuric acid and damage the concrete surface. Newer batteries have the gel and are sealed so are less likely to eat the concrete.
Keeping them on a quality trickle charger when not in use is the answer to battery maintenance. Considering changing mine on my 2008 ZX14....done me well tho' for the last 12 years.
@@Dranreb865 Sold the ZX14 with the original battery in Jan 2021 but advised the buyer that it might be ready for a replacement...gave him the charger :-) Now riding a 2005 Goldwing which def. needs to be on a trickle charger.
@@Dranreb865 What's wrong with that? if His Bike is still doing well & He likes it that's ok, no matter how long He has it & keeps enjoying it, it's up to Him when He replaces it, I've had 3 Harleys & quite a few other brands of Bikes in My lifetime, My first Harley, I had for 9 & half years, My current Bike is a 2015 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail, & I've had it for almost 6 years now & it's still going strong, asking those questions with all those question marks behind them like You're completely shocked & surprised is like saying to somebody that they should be giving up riding because they're getting too old, I've been riding for just over 47 years & in a few months time I turn 74 years of age & I still intend to be riding for a lot longer yet, whenever I'm told that I'm getting too old to keep riding, I just give People a quote from the Bike world that says "You don't stop riding & give up Your Bikes just because You got old" "You got old because You stopped riding & gave up Your Bikes" in other words it's up to the individual to decide if & when that is going to happen, so I think that if You were curious, a more respectful way to ask Your question would've been to simply ask "How come, You kept the same Bike for 12 years? or why did You keep the same Bike for 12 years?" not "12 years??? Are You serious???
I always buy Motobatt absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries when replacing OEM units. One reason is that AGM batteries keep their charge for longer. The second is that most Motobatt batteries have four terminals, which are useful for adding accessories. And it is possible to add those accessories without disconnecting the battery from the ECU, which you have to with with only one set of terminals, thereby retaining all the settings.
I have 2 bikes and have been using Motobatt for years with no problems.I used to have an Aprilia Tuono 1000R and it was hard to start in the winter,to the detriment of the sprag clutch.I installed a Motobatt and the extra CCA ensured first time starting.
Only if they are disconnected do AGMs have a lower self-discharge rate. If connected and there is a draw on the battery due to some accessory, the draw is far higher that the self-discharge rate.
Yuasa have been in the game a long time. My brother-in-law is rebuilding a 1983 Suzuki TS185 and he replaced the old original Yuasa battery for a new one. At the time I was amazed he could still get an exact replacement from the same manufacturer. I wonder how many other companies could do that?
Keep inmnd concrete floors can also get very hot and very cold. Gel batterys do not like extream cold as they can stiffen the gel right up in side. Lead acid battery plate can distort in the heat.
I just looked through the comments and I'm wondering why so many people have batteries on the floor ? ;) Get them installed on your bikes ppl, less of a trip hazard :)
I used to work for Enersys making lead acid batteries and can inform that all newly created batteries are filled with WATER, when you introduce LEAD to water with a current it creates the ACID WITHIN THE WATER.
I bought a new battery on EBay for my FJR1300 this February, 2020. It came with the acid in the self emptying plastic fillers as you showed and I filled up the new battery according to the instructions that came with it no problems. I never dressed up like a mad ace murderer like you did, and not been arrested for filling the battery up yet either!!😂 Battery is fine,works a treat.
Some useful info Andy, thanks. A couple of questions 1. What is the correct grease to use on battery terminals - always used to use Vaseline or petroleum jelly, is there something else recommended by Yuasa? 2. 10 lids! Why? that's more lids than bikes, even allowing for one for Mrs F and junior Flyers!
Do a Google (or Bing) search on "dielectric grease" or "tune-up grease". It's a non-runny silicone based grease that is non-conductive and which repels moisture. It used to be used on breaker-point cams as a lubricant between the cam and the breaker arm phenolic follower pad because it wouldn't fly off and it wouldn't short out electrical contacts that it might get on. It's still good as a corrosion preventive on electrical terminals.
Needed a new battery as my Tiger 800 wouldn't start. Watched your video on Friday and ordered a new one from Tayna and it came today. Not bad seeing that I'm on the west coast of Ireland. It's usually two week delivery on most stuff. I even got the TMF discount so thank you very much. 👍✊😃
I was taught many moons ago, the reason you do not let a battery sit on concrete for a long time was a temperature thing. Batteries work better when they are warm and if they sit on concrete it will absorb the heat from the battery whereby draining the battery. Heat is generated from the chemical reaction between the acid and the lead, heat = energy. I could be totally wrong as I learned that 40 years ago, times change and so do theories.
A battery loosing heat does not mean it looses charge, it is not draining. The only thing cold does is slow down the chemical reaction inside which means that a cold battery, even if fully charged might have issues supplying the high current a starter needs and when I say cold I do mean cold, bellow freezing cold. Back to the concrete, I am guessing that the temperature for an indoor concrete floor, like a garage, can go as low as maybe 7-8 degrees C. Now, if you put the battery on said concrete floor for an extended period of time, the battery temp will drop but once it gets to that 8 degree C, it will stay there, there can't be any more heat transfer to the floor and I am pretty sure a properly charged battery at 8 degrees C will start the bike absolutely fine. It is actually recommended when you store the battery over the winter to not keep it at room temperature but in a cooler place since that will slow down the reaction and thus it will discharge slower.
In one of your previous videos you said you keep your batteries on a optimiser but then I saw a Riche video saying that they damaged his battery what is the fact?
That Richys battery was 7 or 8 years old and the issue with the bike was a connector had melted itself.. So absolutely nothing to do with an Oximiser/Optimate maintenance charger to begin with
Chris I understand The battery was old but his service engineer said that optimiser had swelled the battery and didn’t recommend the use of optimiser, I only want the professional answer to how to keep a battery optimised through the winter!
@@crozzy28 He totally ignored the major electrical fault on the bike (including regulator/rectifier) and stated that such chargers are bad for batteries, when he had a 7-8yr old battery in his hands that was working fine and was plugged into a trickle charger daily until the bikes electrical fault. A symptom of which was clearly overcharging the battery, leading to swelling. Plug it into an optimate/oximiser/ctek or whichever brand you prefer, of motorcycle maintenance charger designed for the job.
I have an 8Yr old Yuassa still going strong on a conditioner. This is not advertising, this is telling us the viewer of a good product. Personally wouldn't buy any other bike battery, they come as standard on most bikes for a good reason.
i bought a 2015 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail, secondhamd at the end of 2018, less than a year later the battery needed replacing, I soon foumd out that the genuine Harley batteries are really quite expensive & I was told by the salesman at the Dealership that if You can get 2 years out of a battery You're doing quite well, so I went to one of the battery shops, around Town & bought a DELKA XTX20L, maintainence free battery, not for any particular reason, it's just the brand that they had in stock at that time, I'd seen them advertised in different Bike magazines occassionally, but did'nt really think that much about them, it was at a much more affordable price though, that was almost 5 years ago & it's still going strong, if I have'nt ridden for a few weeks all I have to do is either just put it on the charger for a few hours or just go for a nice long ride to keep it charged up, its been the best battery I've ever owned so far, longevity wise.
I bought a yuasa battery last year and it came with the bottle of liquid which I had to push in.. I’m not licenced.. this was the process described on the box and the seller.. ??
my bike ran around the east coast for 5 months of a shipping nightmare... still started when I got it early February on a 10F day :) (it was definitely weaker though, even the neutral light was going dim on me). efi bike but with a kickstarter means it only has to have enough charge for the fuel pump, not fully charged for an electric starter motor.
My 2nd bike was a Norton Commando. The OEM Lucas battery failed after a couple weeks, and I asked that the dealer supply a new battery under warranty. The mechanic put in a Yuasa, which had slightly smaller dimensions and didn't fit the carrier perfectly. I demanded a Lucas. But the mechanic replied, "Do want a battery that really works, or a battery that fits?". I've been a fan of Yuasa ever since. :-)
Is there a way to check if your motorcycle's battery is close to its end of life; i.e. weird sounds. I know that you can probably check the voltage across the battery.
I do mine and I've never had an issue - the intelligent optimisers I use are designed for just that (not necessarily an "old school" trickle charger though)...
Yuasa battery's every time, Great quality still have an original Yuasa on one of my bikes still going strong eleven years latter 👍 that's what I call getting your money's worth.
High there , I was just wondering if I could run a ytz14s battery on mt10 safely without damaging the stator or burning anything out , standard on them is the ytz10s but they really struggle on cranking over
Congratulations Andy for the article on the ABR Magazine, well done for your great work and thank you for sharing it with everyone. Keep it up and safe rides out there!!
He's just giving general information on bike batteries. How to Maintain and use etc. Also tells you where you can get a discount. He's not selling anything.
I have a 2001 Kawasaki VN1500Fi. I have purchased two separate new batteries and neither will start my bike. Something clicks and that’s it. I tried an old battery that will not charge up over 11.8 volts and that kicked in the starter with a little spin but not enough to start it. Does this bike need some kind of surge reducer? Both of the brand new batteries check at 12.8 volts.
@InvisibleCitizen, Yes I know what You.mean about that clicking sound, I've had that a few times Myself, the last time it happened I was parked in a Shopping Centre Carpark & I had just had My Bikes battery on the charger for a few hours before that, so there was no reason that it shouldn't have started but all I got was that clicking sound, the engine was trying to start but the battery just didn't seem to have quite enough oomph in it to kick it over, or at least so I thought anyway, luckily for Me a Guy came to My aid with a jump starter so We hooked it up & the engine started up first time, When I got home I put the battery back on the charger but it said that it was fully charged, I only live about 2 or 3 minutes away from the Shopping Centre, after a little bit of further investigation, I finally found out what the problem was, Ya see My Bike has a security alarm & there is a little red light that flashes in the speedo assembly to let You know that it is armed & working, the alarm itself has its own battery so it will go off if somebody tries to move the Bike or takes it off the Side Stand, even if the Bikes battery is dead flat, it also has a security fob that must be within a metre/3 foot 3 of the Bike otherwise the alarm will go off, & if the Fob is'nt within that range the engine wont start at all, all that happens is that the little red light just keeps flashing really fast to let You know that the Fob is out of range, the Fob has a size 2032 button battery inside it & it turns out that, that battery was going flat, it still had enough power to send a signal to the alarm, telling it not to go off but not enough power to let the Bike start which then caused the clicking sound to come from the starter motor, as soon as I replaced that little button battery & put the Security Fob within range the engine started up straight away, if ever My Bike won't start or I get that clicking sound now, the Security Fob is the first thing that I check, I don't know if You have the same system on Your Bike or not but if not maybe the problem might be a stator or a starter relay or even a solenoid that might just need cleaning or replacing, I know that this has been a bit long but I wanted to give You the whole story & give You some info that You can use in the future if You get a Bike with a security system on it.
Nice video TMF. May I add to it please as my business is involved in batteries and it may answer some questions viewer's have? The law on acid is a good law and we fill at point of sale however lead acid batteries are being replaced with agm vrla, a safer product and can be manufactured with higher cranking output. The reason lead acid dies is as you correctly say a float charge is not enough because a typical lead acid can build up a sulphate layer which drastically reduces performance and a suitable deep cycle intelligent maintainence charger such as Cetek can recover a failed battery. Finally under no circumstances must a Lithium ion battery be charged other than with a specific charger. Hope this helps your viewers.
I need a new battery on my RT1200..so can I fit that myself? Will disconnecting the existing battery affect the bikes computer..we know how it is with modern machines!
I use an oxford solar battery charger which works fantastic. All I do is have the solar panel internally up against the window and connect to the bike battery terminals. It completely stops the battery from losing charge, I even left it for 3 weeks once.
Nah, it's one of those rubbish regulations isn't it - but I do understand why that law came in when it did, no doubt as a reaction to those horrible acid attacks that were going on in London around the time....
So TMF, I have a optimate 2 on my bike, i have just ordered a optimate 2 usb connector so i can charge my phone whilst on the go. Have you ever used anything like this.? Thanks
@@TheMissendenFlyer Sorry what i mean is i have the optimate wired on my battery and the connecter end its tucked away. I put the optimate device on the connecter thats on the bike so it acts as a charger when out and about, Do you connect any off your devices like that? Thanks
Good video TMF! Interesting points. Got to admit I’ve always believed the concrete floor issue, to the point that I’ve put a rubber matting under the battery before.
Installed a new agm Yuasa in my '17 RT. The original Bmw battery barely lasted 3 years... Battery came with acid pack and followed instructions and all good. Bmw bike electronics start playing up even at lower voltages like resetting memory and settings...all good now...New battery fitted perfectly in the side accessed housing. Used Cetek MXS5 smart charger in bike agm mode to fully charge prior to fitting. I hope this one lasts longer than the original...🤞
I keep charging my battery 🔋, go for a ride then next day it's flat again, get the battery sign on dash ! Is the battery knackered or do I need to go for longer rides 125cc .
Modern systems can still run with no less than 9.7volts excluding the starting sequence .ie bump start and thereafter run through alternater then recharge .a decent battery will recover!!
You are lucky. Can't bump start most big bike these days. They require too much power ie fuel pump, ECM, unloader, solenoid, lights (on all the time) etc
I recently put a lithium LiFe battery in my Harley (recommended by the dealer). now I heard that its not ok to to jump start my bike, even with the harly starter pack, because flat lithium batteries take all the charge into the cell with the lowest voltage and can explode. What do you think? Thanks for the great videos btw
O-kay ... dumb question: can a battery sweat acid? I've held a battery in my hand for a few minutes and after a while I feel a burning sensation. Do I need a psychologist?
@@TheMissendenFlyer heh heh No they are sealed bttys. I sell them at the store. Each time I toss them on the shelf, I feel a tingle ... _stop it_ ... and after washing my hands well, the tingle is gone.
I've been selling car batteries for over 40 years, and that will definitely happen. I believe it's just a residue from manufacturing & handling. And I always wash my hands after handling them!
G'day mate, trying to find a replacement battery for my drz 400 here in Thailand but proving difficult. I was considering a higher amp/hr battery but some people have told me it's not good for the electronics. any truth to this? I wouldn't have thought a couple extra amp/hr battery would do any damage but I'm no expert. cheers
Best maintenance for a battery is to ride further & more often. I try to do at least 100 miles every ride & ride at least once a week. Don’t want to tempt fate but stringently adhering to this arduous regime means I haven’t needed a new battery in years! TMF still in self-isolation after Toro trip? No symptoms I hope? And selfishly hope you spent it editing future videos to keep us entertained if UK goes into lock down.
I didn't self isolate after Toro, that was 4 or 5 weeks ago - I've been to Majorca last weekend and was lucky to get one of the last flights out on Monday evening - I'm keeping my distance from everyone since then (as I've also been skiing in the Alps 2 weeks ago and out in a packed pub in London last week...and I'm not feeling that sharp)
I have a wet battery on my K75, can I put a sealed battery on , it takes 30 A H. quite a big battery for a bike , but it is 33 years old , the bike that is .
Umm, fine line between independent opinion and loyalty to sponsors. A difficult conundrum. This one may be a tad blatant. Love your channel TMF, thanks for the vids.
The myths apply to all batteries regardless of manufacturer - not sure how this is "blatant" - It's clear I'm sponsored by Yuasa and got the information from them.....I don't think at any point I said Yuasa batteries were better than anyone else's??
I take your point TMF. That’s fair. Perhaps I’m just used to your refreshingly independent reviews (bought a street triple after hearing about yours), and such prominent placement of a sponsor’s product was a surprise. Feedback meant positively. Thanks again for hours of great entertainment.
Top tip. Phone your bike tracking company before playing about with the battery, unless you want them to phone you whilst you are in the middle of playing about with the battery :)
Some serious jacket collection you got going on there ! What would you say was the best laminate jacket / trouser combo on the market at the moment, irrespective of cost ? Cheers 👍🏻
Thank you for this - most helpful. Can I ask for clarification on what sort of distance ride would fully charge a bike battery? - Living on Hong Kong island nowhere is really very far away, so many trips tend to be very short ones... Thank you in advance!
How often can you charge the battery when the bike is parked up weekly monthly?? Or leave charger on constantly?? Can you find out which is the correct way can you ask your battery boffins mr pot much appreciated.
If it’s a modern battery conditioner you can leave hooked up all the time, some arguments against doing that with a “dumb” old school trickle charger though...
Using lithium batteries when its cold outside. With my Husqvarana on a few enduro rides. Bike starts fine for sound inspection in the evening...then won't barely start on a cold morning. I've had to argue with some people who say that is rubbish.
Hi Andy. Great info, but... If you source your battery from Tanya, using the Yuasa code, how does it arrive and how do you commission it without the requisite license?
Thanks for this useful information, TMF! You say that short rides or leaving the bike idling won't charge the battery fully. Will a longer ride (say 60 to 90 minutes) bring it up to charge properly?
We can still handle acid here in the US. I just replaced my OEM Yuasa battery in my 2015 R1200GS with a new Yuasa which came with an acid pack. The new battery was a bit taller than stock with slightly more capacity. I found the battery on the Yuasa web site and got it through Amazon.
Yuasa have been around for a long time. My first bike was a 1963 Honda CB72 250cc that I bought in 1970 and I'm sure it had a Yuasa battery. The Suzuki I bought new in 1972 definitely had one!
Well that was interesting TMF but every battery I’ve bought in the last 20 or so I’ve had to it and seal it myself. I’ve always felt that it was a bit dangerous to have to do as you have to take real care when filling the batteries. Must say I’m very pleased I won’t have that job to do again
I cant answer you but I had my bike 4 months without running, connected with those chargers and I was really impressed as for the first start, the battery was so strong, as new. I can't recommend more.
I’ve gotten 5 years out of my battery and it’s still worked fine. That said it didn’t turn the bike over as sharply in its fifth year, and that’s why I’ll be rplacing it this spring.
Hi Karl, it only applies to Yuasa bike batteries - we've had orders using the code already so it's definitely working. Can you confirm what you tried to buy?
Must have spilled some battery acid on your head as it seems to have removed all hair. I have given up on all motorcycle batteries that go flat easily and dont last very long. I installed a serious size battery (small car size) in the top box and extended the cables, now no battery issues. Tons of cranking amps, tons of reserve amps, and lasts for years.
Hi mate I always use a battery tender, and my motorcycle battery is is getting on a bit but it keeps on working ok 🤞so they are well Worth having especially if you do short rides. Good video cheers ⚙️🔩🔧👍
If your battery comes into contact with coronavirus, it needs to be fully discharged and fully charged only 6.2 times and a vaccination in the positive terminal..
In the good 'ol US of A, you get to fill your own acid into your moto battery if you have the battery delivered to your home, no license or anything required!! Needless to say I don't like handling acid and wear protective gear but what a drag doing it. Be safe, folks?
I have a Yuasa battery in my bike. Funnily enough, Yuasa is also the word I use when I find out my battery is flat....
...actually pronounced "You - Ass - A" as opposed to our profane version I've since learned...
Tell the truth now... How many outtakes did you have while giggling at the name? 😉
From my days working in a Service Station - when you could get service at the petrol station, I believe keeping Batteries on concrete was discouraged not to help the battery, but to stop any acid leakage from contacting the concrete. The lime in the concrete would react with the sulfuric acid and damage the concrete surface. Newer batteries have the gel and are sealed so are less likely to eat the concrete.
Keeping them on a quality trickle charger when not in use is the answer to battery maintenance. Considering changing mine on my 2008 ZX14....done me well tho' for the last 12 years.
12 yrs??? Are you serious???
@@Dranreb865 Sold the ZX14 with the original battery in Jan 2021 but advised the buyer that it might be ready for a replacement...gave him the charger :-)
Now riding a 2005 Goldwing which def. needs to be on a trickle charger.
@@Dranreb865 What's wrong with that? if His Bike is still doing well & He likes it that's ok, no matter how long He has it & keeps enjoying it, it's up to Him when He replaces it, I've had 3 Harleys & quite a few other brands of Bikes in My lifetime, My first Harley, I had for 9 & half years, My current Bike is a 2015 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail, & I've had it for almost 6 years now & it's still going strong, asking those questions with all those question marks behind them like You're completely shocked & surprised is like saying to somebody that they should be giving up riding because they're getting too old, I've been riding for just over 47 years & in a few months time I turn 74 years of age & I still intend to be riding for a lot longer yet, whenever I'm told that I'm getting too old to keep riding, I just give People a quote from the Bike world that says "You don't stop riding & give up Your Bikes just because You got old" "You got old because You stopped riding & gave up Your Bikes" in other words it's up to the individual to decide if & when that is going to happen, so I think that if You were curious, a more respectful way to ask Your question would've been to simply ask "How come, You kept the same Bike for 12 years? or why did You keep the same Bike for 12 years?" not "12 years??? Are You serious???
I always buy Motobatt absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries when replacing OEM units. One reason is that AGM batteries keep their charge for longer. The second is that most Motobatt batteries have four terminals, which are useful for adding accessories. And it is possible to add those accessories without disconnecting the battery from the ECU, which you have to with with only one set of terminals, thereby retaining all the settings.
I'm with you there Peter … Motobatt all the way for me !
I have 2 bikes and have been using Motobatt for years with no problems.I used to have an Aprilia Tuono 1000R and it was hard to start in the winter,to the detriment of the sprag clutch.I installed a Motobatt and the extra CCA ensured first time starting.
Only if they are disconnected do AGMs have a lower self-discharge rate. If connected and there is a draw on the battery due to some accessory, the draw is far higher that the self-discharge rate.
Yuasa have been in the game a long time. My brother-in-law is rebuilding a 1983 Suzuki TS185 and he replaced the old original Yuasa battery for a new one. At the time I was amazed he could still get an exact replacement from the same manufacturer. I wonder how many other companies could do that?
The "Cement floors myth" is more about the ambient temperature affecting the battery life than sharp edges.
Keep inmnd concrete floors can also get very hot and very cold. Gel batterys do not like extream cold as they can stiffen the gel right up in side. Lead acid battery plate can distort in the heat.
I just looked through the comments and I'm wondering why so many people have batteries on the floor ? ;) Get them installed on your bikes ppl, less of a trip hazard :)
I used to work for Enersys making lead acid batteries and can inform that all newly created batteries are filled with WATER, when you introduce LEAD to water with a current it creates the ACID WITHIN THE WATER.
I bought a new battery on EBay for my FJR1300 this February, 2020.
It came with the acid in the self emptying plastic fillers as you showed and I filled up the new battery according to the instructions that came with it no problems.
I never dressed up like a mad ace murderer like you did, and not been arrested for filling the battery up yet either!!😂
Battery is fine,works a treat.
Done the same thing in February for my daughters bike, someone should tell the battery manufacturer (Yuasa) that there are new laws out.
It's to try and stop people having it thrown in their face
I am replacing mine on FJR...what did you get?
Some useful info Andy, thanks. A couple of questions
1. What is the correct grease to use on battery terminals - always used to use Vaseline or petroleum jelly, is there something else recommended by Yuasa?
2. 10 lids! Why? that's more lids than bikes, even allowing for one for Mrs F and junior Flyers!
Do a Google (or Bing) search on "dielectric grease" or "tune-up grease". It's a non-runny silicone based grease
that is non-conductive and which repels moisture. It used to be used on breaker-point cams as a lubricant
between the cam and the breaker arm phenolic follower pad because it wouldn't fly off and it wouldn't short
out electrical contacts that it might get on. It's still good as a corrosion preventive on electrical terminals.
I not really sure but maybe Vicks VapoRub would work just as well too.
Needed a new battery as my Tiger 800 wouldn't start. Watched your video on Friday and ordered a new one from Tayna and it came today. Not bad seeing that I'm on the west coast of Ireland. It's usually two week delivery on most stuff. I even got the TMF discount so thank you very much. 👍✊😃
Glad to be of help Robert!
I was taught many moons ago, the reason you do not let a battery sit on concrete for a long time was a temperature thing.
Batteries work better when they are warm and if they sit on concrete it will absorb the heat from the battery whereby draining the battery.
Heat is generated from the chemical reaction between the acid and the lead, heat = energy.
I could be totally wrong as I learned that 40 years ago, times change and so do theories.
I'm only telling you what the Yuasa boffins told me!!
A battery loosing heat does not mean it looses charge, it is not draining. The only thing cold does is slow down the chemical reaction inside which means that a cold battery, even if fully charged might have issues supplying the high current a starter needs and when I say cold I do mean cold, bellow freezing cold. Back to the concrete, I am guessing that the temperature for an indoor concrete floor, like a garage, can go as low as maybe 7-8 degrees C. Now, if you put the battery on said concrete floor for an extended period of time, the battery temp will drop but once it gets to that 8 degree C, it will stay there, there can't be any more heat transfer to the floor and I am pretty sure a properly charged battery at 8 degrees C will start the bike absolutely fine. It is actually recommended when you store the battery over the winter to not keep it at room temperature but in a cooler place since that will slow down the reaction and thus it will discharge slower.
Don't forget about batteries with wooden cases ?? Where were they used...... on the feckin ark ??
In one of your previous videos you said you keep your batteries on a optimiser but then I saw a Riche video saying that they damaged his battery what is the fact?
That Richys battery was 7 or 8 years old and the issue with the bike was a connector had melted itself..
So absolutely nothing to do with an Oximiser/Optimate maintenance charger to begin with
Chris I understand The battery was old but his service engineer said that optimiser had swelled the battery and didn’t recommend the use of optimiser, I only want the professional answer to how to keep a battery optimised through the winter!
@@crozzy28 He totally ignored the major electrical fault on the bike (including regulator/rectifier) and stated that such chargers are bad for batteries, when he had a 7-8yr old battery in his hands that was working fine and was plugged into a trickle charger daily until the bikes electrical fault. A symptom of which was clearly overcharging the battery, leading to swelling.
Plug it into an optimate/oximiser/ctek or whichever brand you prefer, of motorcycle maintenance charger designed for the job.
I have an 8Yr old Yuassa still going strong on a conditioner.
This is not advertising, this is telling us the viewer of a good product.
Personally wouldn't buy any other bike battery, they come as standard on most bikes for a good reason.
My wife says she always uses their batteries...I didn't dare ask.....lol
lol Bib.....best NOT to ask..!!!
Well I sure am curious....
@@TheMissendenFlyer There's no way I'm going in Mrs Boulders closet to find the answer....
If it needs a motorcycle battery, she'll end up chipping a tooth.😏
i bought a 2015 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail, secondhamd at the end of 2018, less than a year later the battery needed replacing, I soon foumd out that the genuine Harley batteries are really quite expensive & I was told by the salesman at the Dealership that if You can get 2 years out of a battery You're doing quite well, so I went to one of the battery shops, around Town & bought a DELKA XTX20L, maintainence free battery, not for any particular reason, it's just the brand that they had in stock at that time, I'd seen them advertised in different Bike magazines occassionally, but did'nt really think that much about them, it was at a much more affordable price though, that was almost 5 years ago & it's still going strong, if I have'nt ridden for a few weeks all I have to do is either just put it on the charger for a few hours or just go for a nice long ride to keep it charged up, its been the best battery I've ever owned so far, longevity wise.
I bought a yuasa battery last year and it came with the bottle of liquid which I had to push in.. I’m not licenced.. this was the process described on the box and the seller.. ??
my bike ran around the east coast for 5 months of a shipping nightmare... still started when I got it early February on a 10F day :) (it was definitely weaker though, even the neutral light was going dim on me). efi bike but with a kickstarter means it only has to have enough charge for the fuel pump, not fully charged for an electric starter motor.
My 2nd bike was a Norton Commando. The OEM Lucas battery failed after a couple weeks, and I asked that the dealer supply a new battery under warranty.
The mechanic put in a Yuasa, which had slightly smaller dimensions and didn't fit the carrier perfectly. I demanded a Lucas. But the mechanic replied,
"Do want a battery that really works, or a battery that fits?". I've been a fan of Yuasa ever since. :-)
Great story cheers!
Which is best? a cheap 12ah or a good (Yuasa) 8ah
Another well done video Flyer! What are your thoughts on lithium ion?
I've yet to use one - I did think about getting one in my Panigale - maybe that's a subject for a future video!
4:35 The EPP License...known in some places as the "Not In The Face License"
I only ever use Yuasa batteries for my bikes, they're the best. And Halfords seem to sell them at a good price.
This vid’s ok. He’s totally honest and upfront about the sponsorship .... you don’t have to watch it.
Thank you Caden!
Is there a way to check if your motorcycle's battery is close to its end of life; i.e. weird sounds. I know that you can probably check the voltage across the battery.
I've not heard the weird sounds one before! You can usually tell if you bike doesn't start!
Can you leave then on charge on an optimiser? There are conflicting views on this
Yes. Why would an optimiser do more damage than the bikes charging system?
I do mine and I've never had an issue - the intelligent optimisers I use are designed for just that (not necessarily an "old school" trickle charger though)...
Yuasa battery's every time, Great quality still have an original Yuasa on one of my bikes still going strong eleven years latter 👍 that's what I call getting your money's worth.
How come I can still buy the battery with the acid you add yourself on eBay today?
I dunno.....
@@TheMissendenFlyerThanks for the reply. If possible could you please tell me the best battery to buy for my ktm duke 125 2012 cheers.
Again I'm no expert - I'd replace it with the same that it originally had personally...or go lithium if you want to save a bit of weight.
High there , I was just wondering if I could run a ytz14s battery on mt10 safely without damaging the stator or burning anything out , standard on them is the ytz10s but they really struggle on cranking over
No idea....
Can you charge a bmw r1250 rt with a normal optimate charger or does it have to be CAN-bus edition
Seems to work on my GS which has CanBus.....
Thank you. Just purchased bike with a new battery but with removable cell covers. Do these need to be removed for recharging
The battery ?
No!
Congratulations Andy for the article on the ABR Magazine, well done for your great work and thank you for sharing it with everyone. Keep it up and safe rides out there!!
Cheers Nelio - so glad you saw it!
Hi what yuasa battery would you recommend for my 2002 GSX-R 1000 k2 please.
No idea - sorry!
It's just like watching the shopping channel now.
Do they give you information on bike batteries then??
@@TheMissendenFlyer lol TMF.......touche
Why ? He is stating battery facts I think it's good you can get discount parts through his channel
@@fozinwozz9738 I agree, very informative, good vid.
He's just giving general information on bike batteries. How to Maintain and use etc. Also tells you where you can get a discount. He's not selling anything.
I have a 2001 Kawasaki VN1500Fi. I have purchased two separate new batteries and neither will start my bike. Something clicks and that’s it. I tried an old battery that will not charge up over 11.8 volts and that kicked in the starter with a little spin but not enough to start it. Does this bike need some kind of surge reducer? Both of the brand new batteries check at 12.8 volts.
You're asking the wrong person - sorry!
@InvisibleCitizen, Yes I know what You.mean about that clicking sound, I've had that a few times Myself, the last time it happened I was parked in a Shopping Centre Carpark & I had just had My Bikes battery on the charger for a few hours before that, so there was no reason that it shouldn't have started but all I got was that clicking sound, the engine was trying to start but the battery just didn't seem to have quite enough oomph in it to kick it over, or at least so I thought anyway, luckily for Me a Guy came to My aid with a jump starter so We hooked it up & the engine started up first time, When I got home I put the battery back on the charger but it said that it was fully charged, I only live about 2 or 3 minutes away from the Shopping Centre, after a little bit of further investigation, I finally found out what the problem was, Ya see My Bike has a security alarm & there is a little red light that flashes in the speedo assembly to let You know that it is armed & working, the alarm itself has its own battery so it will go off if somebody tries to move the Bike or takes it off the Side Stand, even if the Bikes battery is dead flat, it also has a security fob that must be within a metre/3 foot 3 of the Bike otherwise the alarm will go off, & if the Fob is'nt within that range the engine wont start at all, all that happens is that the little red light just keeps flashing really fast to let You know that the Fob is out of range, the Fob has a size 2032 button battery inside it & it turns out that, that battery was going flat, it still had enough power to send a signal to the alarm, telling it not to go off but not enough power to let the Bike start which then caused the clicking sound to come from the starter motor, as soon as I replaced that little button battery & put the Security Fob within range the engine started up straight away, if ever My Bike won't start or I get that clicking sound now, the Security Fob is the first thing that I check, I don't know if You have the same system on Your Bike or not but if not maybe the problem might be a stator or a starter relay or even a solenoid that might just need cleaning or replacing, I know that this has been a bit long but I wanted to give You the whole story & give You some info that You can use in the future if You get a Bike with a security system on it.
Nice video TMF. May I add to it please as my business is involved in batteries and it may answer some questions viewer's have?
The law on acid is a good law and we fill at point of sale however lead acid batteries are being replaced with agm vrla, a safer product and can be manufactured with higher cranking output.
The reason lead acid dies is as you correctly say a float charge is not enough because a typical lead acid can build up a sulphate layer which drastically reduces performance and a suitable deep cycle intelligent maintainence charger such as Cetek can recover a failed battery.
Finally under no circumstances must a Lithium ion battery be charged other than with a specific charger.
Hope this helps your viewers.
Thank you Ian!
How about a video on lithium batteries?
Great idea!
You need Big Clive for that. More smoke and flames.
I need a new battery on my RT1200..so can I fit that myself? Will disconnecting the existing battery affect the bikes computer..we know how it is with modern machines!
I imagine you’ll be fine....
@@TheMissendenFlyer Just done it and yes, all good!
Fair enough but I was only after confirmation that optimiser’s are not detrimental if left on permanently!
Thank you for the info TMF......never too old to learn something new!
I can’t get power to were I store my bikes so can’t leave them on trickle charge. Do you know if there are any cost effective solar options?
I am pretty sure there are (for travellers, campers, etc) - although I've no experience of them personally....
I use an oxford solar battery charger which works fantastic. All I do is have the solar panel internally up against the window and connect to the bike battery terminals. It completely stops the battery from losing charge, I even left it for 3 weeks once.
Sean XJR thanks mate will get one, I don’t have a window so will have to put it on garage roof, hope the wire is long enough
gymnutrition Drill hole in wall and put the solar panel on it. rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F332734655383
I was sent a battery last year for mt 1200gs & knew nothing about a license to fill it, i just followed the filling instructions
Blimey,iv half a gallon of battery acid in garage from atleast 30 years ago. Realistically I can't see how this can be policed.
Nah, it's one of those rubbish regulations isn't it - but I do understand why that law came in when it did, no doubt as a reaction to those horrible acid attacks that were going on in London around the time....
@@TheMissendenFlyer what would be the best way to dispose of any acid?
Thanks TMF! I need a new battery for my Guzzi, perfectly timed.
Glad to be of help David! I had a report that the discount code didn't work - did it work for you??
Sure did, discount covered the shipping costs.
Ah good - thanks for letting me know...
Does a higher amperage battery improve bike performance?
Thank for the info. Also it’s so nice to see the 899 in the background. Love that beauty.
Me too - it's been soo long since i rode it....
That’s easily cured young Sir.
Top information thanks for posting. Any sign of a review of the Tiger 900 ?
I should be getting one delivered for review tomorrow! Stay tuned....
You know I’m breathlessly waiting on that one too.....🤔
So TMF, I have a optimate 2 on my bike, i have just ordered a optimate 2 usb connector so i can charge my phone whilst on the go. Have you ever used anything like this.? Thanks
Not an optimate one no, but I do use usb chargers for my phone on several of my bikes...very handy!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Sorry what i mean is i have the optimate wired on my battery and the connecter end its tucked away. I put the optimate device on the connecter thats on the bike so it acts as a charger when out and about, Do you connect any off your devices like that? Thanks
Ah, no I don't.....
@@TheMissendenFlyer No worries. Thanks for your reply. Take care TMF and family.
Good video TMF! Interesting points. Got to admit I’ve always believed the concrete floor issue, to the point that I’ve put a rubber matting under the battery before.
concrete can be cold for longer, cause batts love coldddddddddd oh and vibraaationnnnssss
Installed a new agm Yuasa in my '17 RT. The original Bmw battery barely lasted 3 years...
Battery came with acid pack and followed instructions and all good. Bmw bike electronics start playing up even at lower voltages like resetting memory and settings...all good now...New battery fitted perfectly in the side accessed housing.
Used Cetek MXS5 smart charger in bike agm mode to fully charge prior to fitting. I hope this one lasts longer than the original...🤞
I keep charging my battery 🔋, go for a ride then next day it's flat again, get the battery sign on dash ! Is the battery knackered or do I need to go for longer rides 125cc .
Knackered battery I'm afraid.....
@@TheMissendenFlyer has yoisa battery init ,would you say I'll be OK with cheaper Chinese one of the same model number thanks Andy
No, I'd get a well known make like Yuasa....
Thank you; I didn't know about the Battery Acid Regs until I watched the Video
Modern systems can still run with no less than 9.7volts excluding the starting sequence .ie bump start and thereafter run through alternater then recharge .a decent battery will recover!!
You are lucky. Can't bump start most big bike these days. They require too much power ie fuel pump, ECM, unloader, solenoid, lights (on all the time) etc
I recently put a lithium LiFe battery in my Harley (recommended by the dealer). now I heard that its not ok to to jump start my bike, even with the harly starter pack, because flat lithium batteries take all the charge into the cell with the lowest voltage and can explode. What do you think? Thanks for the great videos btw
Sounds dangerous - not heard that before...maybe check with another dealer or the maker of the Lithium battery??
O-kay ... dumb question: can a battery sweat acid? I've held a battery in my hand for a few minutes and after a while I feel a burning sensation. Do I need a psychologist?
Did it have a leak?
@@TheMissendenFlyer heh heh No they are sealed bttys. I sell them at the store. Each time I toss them on the shelf, I feel a tingle ... _stop it_ ... and after washing my hands well, the tingle is gone.
I've been selling car batteries for over 40 years, and that will definitely happen. I believe it's just a residue from manufacturing & handling. And I always wash my hands after handling them!
@@stoney3398 Cool, thanks, makes sense.
Is it ok to always keep your battery on a trickle charger or should we let it drain down a bit now and then?
I have always kept my bikes on a trickle charger and have never had a problem. Would like to hear an expert opinion though.
I need a new battery for my Benelli Tornado, guess I'm going to get 10% off, thanks 😊
G'day mate, trying to find a replacement battery for my drz 400 here in Thailand but proving difficult. I was considering a higher amp/hr battery but some people have told me it's not good for the electronics. any truth to this? I wouldn't have thought a couple extra amp/hr battery would do any damage but I'm no expert. cheers
No it’ll do no harm as far as I know - it’ll only draw the current it requires!!
G’day TMF. Any flying videos coming up?
Possibly not given the current situation....
@@TheMissendenFlyer - So just don't fly in formation! :-) BTW, do you ever get the urge to try wingsuit flying?
TheMissendenFlyer That’s a shame but I can see why. Currently in ‘Lockdown’ in France. No bikes. No planes . So bored!!
Yes I fear the UK is yet to fully wake up to what is about to happen....stay safe...
TheMissendenFlyer You too Sir. 👍🏻
Best maintenance for a battery is to ride further & more often. I try to do at least 100 miles every ride & ride at least once a week. Don’t want to tempt fate but stringently adhering to this arduous regime means I haven’t needed a new battery in years!
TMF still in self-isolation after Toro trip? No symptoms I hope? And selfishly hope you spent it editing future videos to keep us entertained if UK goes into lock down.
I didn't self isolate after Toro, that was 4 or 5 weeks ago - I've been to Majorca last weekend and was lucky to get one of the last flights out on Monday evening - I'm keeping my distance from everyone since then (as I've also been skiing in the Alps 2 weeks ago and out in a packed pub in London last week...and I'm not feeling that sharp)
I have a wet battery on my K75, can I put a sealed battery on , it takes 30 A H. quite a big battery for a bike , but it is 33 years old , the bike that is .
There is a good chance. Call tayan.co.uk with the part number of the current battery, and if there is a sealed one, they will have it!
Just a quick question, when attaching cables from the battery terminals to your ears, will it induce hair growth?!
I’m not entirely sure - try it and see??
I ride my new bike at least twice during a 7 day period for a least a min of 1.5 hours do I need to purchase a battery charger ?
Probably not but they’re always useful to have...
Once again TMF nails the correct pronunciation of the item, I thought 'Youassa' was something Italian drivers shouted after being cut up? :)
Does cold weather affect the battery performance?
Umm, fine line between independent opinion and loyalty to sponsors. A difficult conundrum. This one may be a tad blatant. Love your channel TMF, thanks for the vids.
The myths apply to all batteries regardless of manufacturer - not sure how this is "blatant" - It's clear I'm sponsored by Yuasa and got the information from them.....I don't think at any point I said Yuasa batteries were better than anyone else's??
I take your point TMF. That’s fair. Perhaps I’m just used to your refreshingly independent reviews (bought a street triple after hearing about yours), and such prominent placement of a sponsor’s product was a surprise. Feedback meant positively. Thanks again for hours of great entertainment.
Top tip. Phone your bike tracking company before playing about with the battery, unless you want them to phone you whilst you are in the middle of playing about with the battery :)
...good tip - one I wish I would remember ever time I take the bike for a service....
Some serious jacket collection you got going on there ! What would you say was the best laminate jacket / trouser combo on the market at the moment, irrespective of cost ?
Cheers 👍🏻
Well I haven’t tried them all!
Could you do a short video about the volt display you had on the Speed Twin? Thanks
That would be a short video! It’s just a plug in USB adaptor and voltmeter...
Thank you for this - most helpful. Can I ask for clarification on what sort of distance ride would fully charge a bike battery? - Living on Hong Kong island nowhere is really very far away, so many trips tend to be very short ones... Thank you in advance!
I would ride for a good hour if the battery needs a decent top up.....
How often can you charge the battery when the bike is parked up weekly monthly?? Or leave charger on constantly?? Can you find out which is the correct way can you ask your battery boffins mr pot much appreciated.
If it’s a modern battery conditioner you can leave hooked up all the time, some arguments against doing that with a “dumb” old school trickle charger though...
TheMissendenFlyer thanks
Using lithium batteries when its cold outside. With my Husqvarana on a few enduro rides. Bike starts fine for sound inspection in the evening...then won't barely start on a cold morning. I've had to argue with some people who say that is rubbish.
Oi! You got a loicence for that battery electolyte?
My main comment is "how many kids do you need??"
Interesting vid TMF, thanks! This is how to do sponsored content.
Thank you very much - appreciate that (feel a bit brow beaten over this one!!)
You have such a nice MC garage. I hope to have one as perfectly set up as yours one day!
Thank you!
Hi Andy. Great info, but... If you source your battery from Tanya, using the Yuasa code, how does it arrive and how do you commission it without the requisite license?
Prefilled or sealed. I've got 2 new batteries off ebay since 2018
What Chris said!
We now pre-fill your battery for you where required, and despatch with an overnight carrier.
Thanks guys!!
Thanks for this useful information, TMF! You say that short rides or leaving the bike idling won't charge the battery fully. Will a longer ride (say 60 to 90 minutes) bring it up to charge properly?
Yes
What Chris said ;0)
Thanks both!
We can still handle acid here in the US. I just replaced my OEM Yuasa battery in my 2015 R1200GS with a new Yuasa which came with an acid pack. The new battery was a bit taller than stock with slightly more capacity. I found the battery on the Yuasa web site and got it through Amazon.
As for the last one anyone can buy a dry battery and add the acid here in Wisconsin
God bless ‘merica!
How do I become a patreon of msf
Pop Patreon.com/theMissendenflyer into your browser should get you there!
Do yuasa have a lithium battery for sale yet for the triumph speed triple 2008 another good and I'm formative video with good factual points 👍
Cheers Cecil - I don't know without looking it up check out the link in the description to find out!
Yuasa have been around for a long time. My first bike was a 1963 Honda CB72 250cc that I bought in 1970 and I'm sure it had a Yuasa battery. The Suzuki I bought new in 1972 definitely had one!
Well that was interesting TMF but every battery I’ve bought in the last 20 or so I’ve had to it and seal it myself. I’ve always felt that it was a bit dangerous to have to do as you have to take real care when filling the batteries. Must say I’m very pleased I won’t have that job to do again
Does anyone know the average lifespan of a battery that has been kept on a smart charger over the winters?
I cant answer you but I had my bike 4 months without running, connected with those chargers and I was really impressed as for the first start, the battery was so strong, as new.
I can't recommend more.
I’ve gotten 5 years out of my battery and it’s still worked fine. That said it didn’t turn the bike over as sharply in its fifth year, and that’s why I’ll be rplacing it this spring.
Oh dear...just tested my Yuasa12V battery that's been left for a month and it's showing 6.6V! Never seen that before, reckon it's toast :(
Sorry to hear that....
Beware when connecting jump leads or chargers to discharged batteries. A spark will ignite any hydrogen gas sometimes with disastrous consequences.
Good point!
Your code doesn't seem to get any discount on the link?
Hi Karl, it only applies to Yuasa bike batteries - we've had orders using the code already so it's definitely working. Can you confirm what you tried to buy?
Odd? I'll check it out...
oi do you have a battery loisense?
Must have spilled some battery acid on your head as it seems to have removed all hair. I have given up on all motorcycle batteries that go flat easily and dont last very long. I installed a serious size battery (small car size) in the top box and extended the cables, now no battery issues. Tons of cranking amps, tons of reserve amps, and lasts for years.
Yeah ok, kinda interesting. BUT - where 's the coolcover for the GS? Hopefully just waiting for some heat =)
Cool cover???
@@TheMissendenFlyer The meshy seat cover from CoolCover? For the gs?
Sorry yes, that's exactly it - still not very warm here yet, it'll be back on for Summer for sure....
Can you show us how you mount your helmets to the ceiling? :O
I can - but there’s no magic, just large hooks!
TheMissendenFlyer maybe it was just the camera but they appear to be floating!
Cool!
Hi mate I always use a battery tender, and my motorcycle battery is is getting on a bit but it keeps on working ok 🤞so they are well Worth having especially if you do short rides. Good video cheers ⚙️🔩🔧👍
Another great vid AND I’ve just used the code to get 10% off my new battery, bargain! Cheers TMF👍🏻
Good stuff - thanks Paul
Just ordered a new batt. Got £3 off with the code with halved the postage. All helps
Good stuff Colin!
Could you show us your ceiling helmet setup please?
Can I ask where they made
You would assume Japan but apparently they have a factory in Wales too!
@@TheMissendenFlyer happy to hear that as have one ordered.
@@TheMissendenFlyer - Because of shipping costs of lead batteries,
making them near their market is important, I'd imagine.
Good point....
Under impression opitmte can knacker battery maybe not then
Not if it's one of the new fangled "intelligent" types designed to be connected continuously...
Wow no mention of Coronovirus..thanks!
Talk about a self defeating comment!!
If your battery comes into contact with coronavirus, it needs to be fully discharged and fully charged only 6.2 times and a vaccination in the positive terminal..
In the good 'ol US of A, you get to fill your own acid into your moto battery if you have the battery delivered to your home, no license or anything required!! Needless to say I don't like handling acid and wear protective gear but what a drag doing it. Be safe, folks?