Gel battery.

Hi there! I've read somewere in here that gel batteries isn't that good on our bikes. Is there someone's who has tried and why doesn't it work? Has it something to do with the regulator?

 

From what I've read, gel batteries are not tolerant of heat and high amperage charging. I believe they are a replacement for an application that originally came with a gel cell battery but not a replacement for a more conventional acid or AGM battery. Gel batteries can be used in traditional applications, however, they require some electrical equipment to handle the charging profile of a gel battery. Also, they are typically more expensive and have a lower CCA than traditional or AGM batteries.

That said, I have no actual experience with a gel battery. This all came up when I was doing research on what battery to buy. I ended up with a Motobatt AGM battery.

 

most gell batteries you find are made for lower amp draw so they have the spade flat connectors that can't take the starting amps on our bikes for very long. the connectors heat up and will eventually
break the seal on the case. then everything corrodes and heats up more.......been there, done that
if you find one with better terminals, it should work

 

It's a car sparedealer who sells these batteries as a replacements for original, the terminals and all measurements are the same as original. Only thing is from what i've read gel batteries can't take as high chargingamps.

 

take a read on here
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/can_the_lead_acid_battery_compete_in_modern_times
if your charging system is working properly and the terminals are right, it should work.
like most things, it comes down to $

 

Ok, i bouhgt one, have to try it.

 

Funny I saw this thread today.
I was finally gonna commute to work this morning on my 81 550 Seca.
Had my route all planned out (winding country roads with no expressways), bike gassed up, boots laced up, jacket on, ready to ride.
Turn on the ignition, hit the choke lever, and press the starter button.
Nothing.
Starter barely cranks over at all.
Look at my gauges.
Dead battery.
FML.

Rode the cage to work and have been looking at gel batteries over my morning tea.
Why didn't these things come with kickstarters?

 

That would be great Have not tried mine yet, only got it in place.

 

Well definitely let me know how it works out.
Dead battery is such a buzz kill.

 

I'll do, but i have some more work on the bike, so it's gonna take a few weeks more...

 

Weight, modernity. The XS bikes still had kickers before the XJ series came out.

BTW, bump-starting an XJ is easy

 

I've never actually bump started a motorcycle. Probably cause i've only had this thing one season and was riding mopeds before that.
Is it just pull the clutch, put it first, roll it, and then drop the clutch? Or what's the process here?

 

I put it in 2nd to bump start it (always did that with cars too)

I usually start in neutral, get it rolling, pull the clutch, put in second then drop the clutch. (not sure if first or second gear makes a difference)

 

Yes that's it. Technicallly you can bump-start in any gear, but doing it in first makes it easy to just start riding away once the engine fires.

 

Jay, I have a 1981 XJ650 motorcycle. I'm wondering which Motobatt AGM battery you bought: Is it the 15A or the 11A?

The motobatt site recommends: MB12U (http://www.motobatt.com/index.php?r...anufacturer_id=52&category_id=63&model_id=339)

15A: https://www.amazon.ca/MotoBatt-MB12...id=1465309306&sr=1-2&keywords=12N12A-4A-1+agm
11A: https://www.amazon.ca/MotoBatt-MB9U...id=1465309306&sr=1-1&keywords=12N12A-4A-1+agm

 

The 15A MB12U. I haven't ridden it yet but I have done a lot of cranking/starting during the tuning process and it hasn't let me down.

 

Ummmm... jumping in late here with a question. What's the difference between gel and AGM? I thought there was gel in the glass mat.

 

Oh, okay, Wikipedia told me:
"There are three primary types of VRLA batteries, Sealed VR wet cell, AGM and Gel. Gel cells add silica dust to the electrolyte, forming a thick putty-like gel. These are sometimes referred to as "silicone batteries". AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries feature fiberglass mesh between the battery plates which serves to contain the electrolyte. Both designs offer advantages and disadvantages compared to conventional batteries and sealed VR wet cells, as well as each other"

 

http://batteryuniversity.com