Need battery help

[jimigalahad_imp]

I'm clueless about batteries (and really anything mechanical). I haven't been riding much and yesterday the battery went kaput on me and the bike wouldn't turn over. It took awhile but I gained access to the battery compartment. My questions are:

Should I replace the battery or just jump it?
If replacing, where do you all buy your batteries?
Anything special I have to take into account or can I just drop the new battery in?

[White Dog_imp]

First thing I would do is check the voltage at the battery.
Then, put the battery on a slow charger.
Once charged, Check voltage when the starter is turning. If it falls below 10 volts, your battery is toast and should be replaced. Honda shop is most logical place to buy an OEM battery. There are other options, but I've had good success with Yuasa batteries over the years.

In regards to jump starting, you can use a car battery but NOT with the car running.

[the Ferret]

Hate to hear this.

My experience with these AGM batteries is, unlike the old acid filled batteries, the AGM's give zero warning of failure and are done when they no longer turn the bike over. I keep mine on a tender jr anytime they are not being ridden, trying to avoid the inevitable. I generally get 4 or 5 years out of a battery. They can be jumped to get you home, but the next morning it will probably be kaput again.

I am a strong believer in the OEM Yuasa batteries (not aftermarket Yuasa batteries), but dang they are expensive. My suggestion is to replace, but go online and try and find the best price you can get on the battery, then take that price to your local dealer and see if he will match, ordering thru Honda and not one of his after market suppliers.

barring that, I suppose any battery from Batteries plus, Walmart or online that is spec'd for the bike will probably do for a couple of years. It may be cheaper in the long run just to buy cheap and replace every two years. I know guys that do that.

[CB360T_imp]

Ferret, what are the main differences between an Honda OEM Yuasa battery and an aftermarket Yuasa? Are you speaking of a re-branded Yuasa product? I would have expected the OEM Yuasa to be the same as the non-OEM Yuasa, if both say "Yuasa" on the side. Thanks!

[Rocky_imp]

Ferret, what are the main differences between an Honda OEM Yuasa battery and an aftermarket Yuasa? Are you speaking of a re-branded Yuasa product? I would have expected the OEM Yuasa to be the same as the non-OEM Yuasa, if both say "Yuasa" on the side. Thanks!

I have the same question.
I buy Yuasa batteries from my Honda dealer and don't think a Yuasa isn't anything else but a Yuasa.

[the Ferret]

I have read that Yuasa outscources some of it's batteries (Tawain, the Phillipines and Singapore) and that's why a distributor will have a Yuasa for $120 and the OEM or Honda part numbered battery (from the USA or Japan) is $180 (example..have not priced a batt for CB). Have also read a lot of stories of non OEM batteries failing earlier than OEM ones. I don't know.

Here is what Yuasa says on their website:

Yuasa Battery, Inc. has been manufacturing motorcycle batteries in the U.S.A. to uncompromisingly high standards since 1979. Most of the large capacity Powersports batteries are manufactured in our Laureldale, PA plant. All other Powersports batteries are produced in a Yuasa state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in various countries throughout the world. Each Yuasa facility follows the same rigorous manufacturing processes to ensure the highest Yuasa quality standards are met.

Also see link below page A10 under foreign producers

[url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SaDd3FYjpj8C&pg=SL1-PA11&lpg=SL1-PA11&dq=where+are+Yuasa+batteries+produced?&source=bl&ots=Vv7PbN0yIn&sig=3jOsoBSQW9Nr77j5xI0ATOnqia4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CFUQ6AEwCWoVChMIuLXKrIvAyAIVg5ANCh3nJQGg#v=onepage&q=where%20are%20Yuasa%20batteries%20produced%3F&f=false]https://books.google.com/books?id=SaDd3F...3F&f=false

I have also read that Motocross Batteries are also manufactured in same plant as Yuasa and only difference is label.

again, I don't know.

If you google Yuasa you will be ads for Yuasa batteries and Original Yuasa batteries. What does that mean? Again I don't know.

I don't mean to malign Yuasa.. I use them, and recommend them above all others. It is after all a global economy. Not every part of your CB 1100 was mfg in Japan, and not every Yuasa battery is mfg in Japan.

[furious_blue_imp]

"...but go online and try and find the best price you can get on the battery, then take that price to your local dealer and see if he will match, ordering thru Honda and not one of his after market suppliers."

+100 unless I just don't have time to go to my dealer, I always give them the chance to get my business first.. Sometimes I think that it ends up being cheaper since I don't have to pay any extra shipping costs.

As a general rule, if I have a battery that is getting up on 6 years of service, even if it still cranks OK, I will replace it anyway.. I didn't notice that about AGM batteries, but now that it's mentioned.. yes, it seems like they fail 'suddenly' with no hint of decreasing capacity.

[redbirds_imp]

I have mail ordered Yuasa batteries in the past and never had a problem with them. Batteries from a dealer are usually at a premium price and you can save a bundle buying mail order. Another place to buy batteries is at a local battery dealer. Many battery dealers carry all types of power sports batteries including Yuasa. I bought a Yuasa battery for my Moto Guzzi at a battery dealer in Waycross, GA and paid 1/3 less than mail order after figuring in shipping costs.

[flynrider]

My OEM Yuasa AGM failed exactly two years to the day after I bought the bike. Early battery failure is not unusual here in the desert, so I wasn't that surprised. I was surprised that there was zero indication of impending failure (this was my first AGM battery). I started the bike normally and rode to the post office. Leaving the post office, I hit the starter and didn't even get 1/2 a crank. Nothing. Luckily I was able to push start it.

I ended up replacing it with an MMG Lithium Ion battery. It's been 6 months and so far so good. I like that the Lithium is only about 1/4 the weight of the AGM battery. I started a thread on it here :

http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=5457

[AzBob_imp]

If you decide to replace the battery, I _HIGHLY_ recommend you get a Shorai (might as well also get their charger so you can wire a pigtail to the bike and keep it charged), or any of the Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries (EarthX, etc.). The battery is smaller and lighter, and has more power. I have one in each of my bikes and they work great. And they're either close to or cheaper than the equivalent Yuasa.