Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Alchymyst on August 08, 2016, 08:53:38 AM
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So I have never hesitated to put a more powerful battery in my car or truck (more cca, more ah). Any reason not to upgrade the battery in my bike? There is an AGM with 600 CCA (30 AH ) that fits for a decent price. Thanks!
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No. In fact my 2004 EV came from the factory with an AGM battery.
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I always put the best, most powerful battery I can afford in my modern bikes.
In my old magneto-fired bikes, it doesn't matter, the battery is just a regulator for the lights, really. When everything including the fuel pump and starter is electric, it does.
Lannis
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I have an Odyssey AGM 925 in my 99. Almost as heavy as the bike ;-) Barely fits in the holder, but it's at least 5 years old (probably more) and I've never had a bit of trouble from it.
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I have two Westco AGM's currently in service on SPII and 98EV. Regina has a smaller Odyssey because we had to move her 98EV CPU into the battery compartment in order to lower the seat. I get many years of reliable service out of these. Original 98EV batteries lasted perhaps three years. AGM replacements push ten years.
But, you specifically asked about 'downside'. Perhaps there is one. When a flooded cell battery gets old, typically it weakens and shows you some symptoms to prepare for replacement. Perhaps slow cranking. Perhaps failing to start and requiring a jump. Etc. In my experience, AGM batteries work perfectly fine right up to the instant that they no longer work. I've experienced two such failures on other non-Guzzi applications. Start fine and drive off for an errand. Come out of the store and zip, zero, nada. Hook up a jump source and it starts and runs fine until you disconnect the jump source and then dead.
To be sure, it is a rare occurrence. I wouldn't use that one issue as an evaluation point. The advantages of an AGM are just so many in comparison to this fault. Just realize that if and when it fails, you are done. There is not limping home or to a repair facility.
Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
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No problem on an EV if no canister is by it. I have an AGM 34AH industrial batt in both the EV & Cal2 . They are a U-1 group batt for sun storage or computer back up, some call it a UPS batt. First one I got lasted 12yrs after getting it used for 2yrs on computer back up. They cost around $100 for USA made & $90 for Chinese one.