Author Topic: Which battery these days  (Read 19473 times)

Offline Laitch

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Re: Which battery these days
« Reply #25 on: September 13, 2018, 06:36:29 PM »
Mine died a horrible death a couple days ago.
Please describe the horrible death, Robert. I'm current on YouTube crash videos.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline rbm

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Re: Which battery these days
« Reply #26 on: September 13, 2018, 07:01:30 PM »
Please describe the horrible death, Robert. I'm current on YouTube crash videos.
This is no crash, Laitch, but electrical suicide is more along the lines of what happened.  So, driving home from work, beautiful evening, mid-20's, sunny.  Bike starts up great after being parked all day.  I got about halfway home and accidentally stalled the engine.  Instantly all lights went out - dash lights, gauge lights, headlight, all signs of life gone, DOA.  Pulled over to the side of the road and did fuse checks and other diagnosis but still couldn't get any sign of electrical activity in any circuit.  The positive terminal of the battery was caked, and I mean caked, in green oxide.  The terminal lugs were stuck together and I could barely get the terminal screw to turn.  All this was brand new looking only 5 months ago.  I knew something was very wrong with the battery.

Had Ed's number so gave him a call.  Luckily he was just around the corner at the Bank and he popped by eventually.  We concluded that the battery was completely dead.  Pushed the bike to his place (no mean feat since I had a sore back and he is recovering from an accident with a broken wrist), put the battery on charge and there it's been.

What I don't understand is how the battery went from OK downtown to dead as a doornail in 20 km of riding.  The battery is less than 2 years old.  AGM so it's sealed and I have no way to top up acid. I conclude it must be Cheap Chinese junk based on the price.  False economy on my part to buy it; I knew better.
  • Regards, Robert
Toronto, Ontario

1987 K75 - Build Blog @http://k75retro.blogspot.ca/

Offline bocutter Ed

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Re: Which battery these days
« Reply #27 on: September 13, 2018, 07:06:09 PM »
Probably would have been cheaper and simpler to get a couple or 3 lawn tractor batteries, and a charger,  from Walmart ... but where's the fun in that.  :giggles

It's still there; hope to get it home tonight.
Still there. I checked a few minutes ago. It's been a long day. Been doing things with the arm I probably shouldn't have.  Tomorrow looks like another long day so will be hitting the sack early.
  • Toronto, Canada
  • '61 Puch DS60 - '66 Puch 250 SGS - '87 BMW K75s

Offline rbm

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Re: Which battery these days
« Reply #28 on: September 13, 2018, 07:07:12 PM »
Still there. I checked a few minutes ago. It's been a long day. Been doing things with the arm I probably shouldn't have.  Tomorrow looks like another long day so will be hitting the sack early.
The Missus is home shortly and I'm planning on picking it up tonight.  BTW Ed, really really appreciate the help!!!
  • Regards, Robert
Toronto, Ontario

1987 K75 - Build Blog @http://k75retro.blogspot.ca/

Offline Laitch

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Re: Which battery these days
« Reply #29 on: September 13, 2018, 07:20:09 PM »
  False economy on my part to buy it; I knew better.
Thanks for the cautionary tale. Having help nearby was a plus though. I wonder if there is hearty laughter at the battery plant when a shipping container of those is hauled away.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline Filmcamera

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Re: Which battery these days
« Reply #30 on: September 14, 2018, 08:29:15 AM »
I imported a Deka Power Sports ETX20L I got on Amazon into Costa Rica with no problems, except that the tax and shipping cost me slightly more than the battery! It was still cheaper than buying one locally though.  Since then I have found a good source of Motobatt batteries locally so I think that will be my next choice.
  • San Jose, Costa Rica
  • 1991 K100RS 16v ABS1, 2022 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
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Offline mophead

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Re: Which battery these days
« Reply #31 on: September 16, 2018, 08:40:21 PM »
Find an AGM maintenance-free battery made in the USA and don't look back.

+1.  Words of wisdom here.
  • Amarillo, TX
  • 95 K1100RS Formerly 86 K100RS & 91 K100RS
On the back nine of life

Offline Kevinb

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Re: Which battery these days
« Reply #32 on: November 08, 2018, 07:51:13 AM »
First I'm Canadian ;)
I thought about it, but it a good 10 days round trip and 4 of those days are dangerous, I drove it down form Montreal Canada last July, was a amazing 7800km, but one of the state I need to pass by as road pirate, yes, road pirate. I'm looking to go deeper south for my new trip, like from here, Riviera Maya to Panama or Colombia.
  • Mexico Puerto Morelos
  • K100rs 1990

Offline Laitch

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Re: Which battery these days
« Reply #33 on: November 08, 2018, 09:54:49 AM »
I thought about it, but . . .
Continue this discussion by starting a thread in the MBdotCom Community Center section, Kevinb. I'm interested to learn about your life as a road pirate—what you steal, who you consider your best targets for assault and robbery, whether the OEM side cases are large enough for carrying stolen goods, whether you have decided that it's worth your being shot in the head while pursuing this hobby, etc..
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

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