This is my goto battery on K bikes. I haven't seen them for <$100 for quite a while now.

BatteryMart has them now for $106.95 and with a $10 off promo code of SAVE510 (Expires midnight 9/2) that makes the total $96.95 with free shipping.

Apex Battery has them for only $96.88. (But they're in Washington so I get dinged for sales tax but that's a great deal if you are out of state.)

Odyssey batteries are schmick in the way they quietly function! I obtained my first one about thirteen or fourteen years ago. It'd been used in a City of Portland (OR) police bike but had come up flat after a parade. The coppers leave their bikes sitting with lights ablaze regularly. I worked in a shop that serviced their bikes. We goodwilled a warranty for them and then it sat for yonks on the shelf until the service manager asked me to clear out the old warranty parts. I took it home. It'd been there eighteen months, according to him. I charged it with amps after being told by the rep from Hawker Energy, the manufacturer of Odyssey, that that's what brings them back to life. He said hit it with 50 amps for a few minutes to kick it back to life, then charge it with 10 amps until it's back to 13+ volts. He said they can be re-charged fifty times like this. I took his advice. He also suggested they don't like to be left on low-amp trickle chargers, said they don't allow the battery to come to full charge and full life expentancy. I admit to having used a Battery Tender once in a while on them, against his advice.

The battery lasted me another coupla years then I sold the R1100RS it was in to a mate. He ran it for two more years then sold the bike on, with the battery still functioning. I sold a heap of them with that story and never got one back with complaints. I use them in my own variety of bikes as well. Then, many years later, up in Tacoma, I grabbed one off the spent stack that was all puffed out and tired looking. I don't know its full story, but the service manager told me it had plumped up after a charge. I took it home, waited 'til it shrunk back to normal size then gave it a short 10 amp boost. It's sitting in my garage now, more than two years later, waiting to be used in one of my three bikes that take that model, the venerable PC680. I check it every so often with a load tester and voltmetre and it comes up aces. In 2002 they regularly sold at dealerships for $89.95. If you can glom onto one for just over a hunnerd dollars now, you'll be making a helluva savings.

The PC680 is the physically smaller of the two size choices but fits in the indented battery tray of all Bricks with no mods required, and will certainly be far superior to the large old school lead/acid version.

Hey Daz, 

I am going to be up for a new battery soon for one of my 75s and you previously mentioned you use the lawnmower bloke in Beenleigh when in Oz.  I know where the shop is but what would you recommend from him? 

Does he stock something like the Odyssey? 

Cheers, Dave.

Motobatt AGM MB51814 is what I use in the '87 K100RS in Beenleigh. I paid, I think $105AU last February. It drops right into the narrow slot of the tray and is Screaming Yellow in colour. The pos & neg connections can be reversed, making it versatile for many models, as the terminals are in all four corners. The larger version, unnecessary in our bikes, is MB53030.

Batteries Direct in OZ are selling the PC680 for (on sale, they say!) $261.66AU, which is roughly $198.00USD.

TWB, I'm curious about your note that the PC680 doesn't like to be on a battery tender.  Do you have more info on the effect that using a battery tender has on this battery?  I'm going to be parking my bike for a few months (away from where I live...so 1-2 months at a time will go by without me seeing it) with this battery and was planning on using a battery tender.  Would I be better just to disconnect the battery and then charge it (if needed) before restarting?

I have a PC680 purchased in March, 2010 that has spent much of its life on a Battery Tender Junior.

When the rep gave me this info, "smart chargers" weren't mainstream. He was referring to uncontrolled voltage spikes when a charger is first connected. For eight or ten years now most "tenders" are regulated to under 15 volts. Apparently the Odyssey didn't "like" 16+ volts coursing through its veins like a strong espresso at dawn.

Looked through the instructions on the one I just bought. (Rare for me.) 6A or more charger recommended for recovery from a deep discharge.

Yep, Odyssey batteries love amperage when they need a kick. As the man said to me lo these many years ago, "just don't expect to bring them back to life with a low voltage trickle."

Picked up a Motobatt AGM MB51814 as recommended by TWB at Beenleigh Batteries on Wednesday.  Cost now is AUD 130.  The man is also speaks BMW which is a bonus and gave me some tyre recommendations for my F650GSD.  

Fitted said bat to the 75S and kicked it over.  I swear I saw the bike smiling at me.  

All ready for a quick blat out to the Toad on Sunday morning and a good opportunity to try out the "newish" Koni rear shock from Rick G and the comfort seat that Paul bought out from the UK earlier in the year.  

I've just pulled my red RS out of the shed in Beenleigh after an eight month rest. I whacked the multimetre onto the battery. 12.6 volts. I don't have power in the shed so no battery tender was used while I was away. I'd only disconnected the earth strap. Out in the sunshine a few minutes later it cranked strongly, fired and ran after less than ten econds. Motobatt make a decent battery. If only they weren't yellow.

Two Wheels Better wrote:I've just pulled my red RS out of the shed in Beenleigh after an eight month rest. I whacked the multimetre onto the battery. 12.6 volts. I don't have power in the shed so no battery tender was used while I was away. I'd only disconnected the earth strap. Out in the sunshine a few minutes later it cranked strongly, fired and ran after less than ten econds. Motobatt make a decent battery. If only they weren't yellow.

hey twb good to see you back in the land of footballs , meat pies , kangaroos, and falcon cars , i was speaking to charlie the other week  top guy , anyway you said you might have an ECU stashed away in your lock up in beenleigh , its to go in my project bike based on a 1990 / 1991 k100 rs16v, i have a 1990 loom from said 16v and the rest of the bits no cat or abs hollister suggested i look for a ECU with the following numbers  1464479 or 1464417 can you see what the one you said you have from an early 1993  bike i think you quoted from memory and let me know if you want to part with it im not flush with cash but will pay a fair price for a working unit cheers and best regards woodcutter

Two Wheels Better wrote:...... Motobatt make a decent battery. If only they weren't yellow.

They make a black battery especially for HD... go figure

Because the hardly riders made a lot of noise

TWB, I agree about the colour - I plan on going down the Motobatt route next battery purchase.

Any reason why the battery case can't be painted black? I would be pleased to hear if anyone knows of any issues with doing that.

Cheers

I don't see why that black MBTX20UHD shouldn't go well in your 75 and 1100 Gaz. Dimensions look ok.... width might be a bit tight for the 1100. I have the MB51814 in my K1100RS and its snug.

Motobatt #	Application	Amp Hour	CCA	Length	Width	Height
MB51814	K75 K1100	22	220	183	80	170
MBTX20UHD		21	310	175	87	155

Thanks Nigel, I'll look at those dimension as I've had a slightly over size (physically) battery in the K1100 for quite a few years. I had to make up a short section of busbar at the time to get the -ve connected

Cheers

Gaz, 

I don't see why you cannot use black dukt tape. Don't know if there is any heat transfer through the casing causing the tape to wrinkle. 

Or if you want to look really sharp then you could use 3M carbon fibre look a like tape. Konfuse the crap out of hardly drivers when you tell them they're only available for BMWs. 

Hello!

The Kung Long Batterie is the best price we know in Germany for the K bike.
Half of the Ks use it, with or without ABS.
Last for a long time.

41,50 $

FirstPower 12v 22ah for Kung Long WP20-12
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FirstPower-12v-22ah-for-Kung-Long-WP20-12-/291813089458?hash=item43f16a60b2:g:5j4AAOSwbYZXfpSv

Cheers

Chocolate wrote:Hello!

The Kung Long Batterie is the best price we know in Germany for the K bike.
Half of the Ks use it, with or without ABS.
Last for a long time.

41,50 $

FirstPower 12v 22ah for Kung Long WP20-12
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FirstPower-12v-22ah-for-Kung-Long-WP20-12-/291813089458?hash=item43f16a60b2:g:5j4AAOSwbYZXfpSv

Cheers

But.....  (USD)$48.59 shipping by UPS Standard To Canada. And... UPS charge broker's fees on top of that.
And.... a (USD)$ cost us over (Cad)$1.31 ( again )

OK, you want cheaper, I can do :-)

Method One of Four: Making a Soda-powered Battery
http://m.wikihow.com/Make-a-Homemade-Battery


Cheers

Chocolate wrote:OK, you want cheaper, I can do :-)
Method One of Four: Making a Soda-powered Battery
http://m.wikihow.com/Make-a-Homemade-Battery
Cheers

Guess what???
In order to fight obesity and diabetes, the Canadian government is thinking about putting an extra tax on all sugary sodas. I will have a hard time to convince the government that it is not used a drink.

Crazy Frog, can I ask you something?

My Menu when writing a text like this, is missing.
I can't add pictures or anything else then writing text.

How do I get the Menu back?

Cheers

I've been using the Panasonic LC-P1228AP for many years now.  Currently $127 online.  Way cheaper than the PC680 in Aus which is just extortion and not yellow.  The last one I replaced was 7 years old and still working, just starting to get a little slower heading into a winter so I replaced it jut in case. Leave for many months, no charger and they still work just fine. They are a little taller than standard.  I've never tried a motobatt because I'm happy with the service and the price of what I am using already why would I want to change? (and its not yellow)

Trickle chargers on constant low volts cause sulphation and are not good for batteries long term. A multi stage smart charger is a different thing completely.  The only bike that ever needs charging on a regular basis in my garage is Maries R1150R with a PC680 fitted.  It always gets lazy after a few weeks of not being ridden.

Al

Two Wheels Better wrote: Motobatt make a decent battery. If only they weren't yellow.

I covered both my YELLOW Motobatts with BLACK vehicle wrapping film. 

Paul.

I have taken the PC 680 out of my bike. It performed fine and was half the size of the standard battery. I now have a YTX14 BS which is even smaller but has no problem turning the engine over, and the battery is only there to start the bike as it does nothing while the engine is running.
Interestingly My Ducati 848, twin cylinder high compression engine chucking out over 130 bhp is running on a Lithium battery that weighs in at 600 grams. Never had a problem with that either.

Chocolate wrote:OK, you want cheaper, I can do :-)

Method One of Four: Making a Soda-powered Battery
http://m.wikihow.com/Make-a-Homemade-Battery


Cheers

Choco, better to use the latest Organic 'Sealed' battery technology. No spillage.  

Very nice Holister!

You are right, a modern sealed battery is better.
A replacement is cheap and you get it on most farms.

Cheers



Besides:

My Menu when writing a text like this, is missing.
I can't do nothing.
I can't add pictures or anything else then writing text.
I'm using a iPad

How do I get the Menu back?

I am using Chrome on my IPad and don't have any problems.
See, everything is working.

Crazy Frog wrote:

Crazy Frog wrote:I am using Chrome on my IPad and don't have any problems.
See, everything is working.

Now, I am using Safari and everything works too.

Thanks for the info.

But the issue must be related to iOS 10
On my iPhone with iOS 9 the Menu is normal.
I'm posting the pictures from my iPhone iOS 9

iOS 9 OK



iOS 10 on my iPad

Chocolate wrote:
But the issue must be related to iOS 10
On my iPhone with iOS 9 the Menu is normal.
iOS 9 OK
iOS 10 on my iPad

This is exactly what I was thinking.  
The old Ipad mini is the last of my Apple technology and cannot be updated   .
Just read this morning about 2 class actions against Apple
Apple become (or is) as bad as Micro$oft

OK, I see.

So I will have to wait until the issue is solved by Apple or try a other Browser.
Not so nice, bad Apple, maybe I should take bananas;-)

Anything that is as big as Apple became, is bad.
Big companies can't be good

Cheers

The ODYSSEY PC680 Battery is the standard battery for my airplane, Vans RV8. And it fits the k-bike perfect too. No more search for a battery that fits. Cheap from Vans Aircraft or Amazon.

I was very enthusiastic about Odysseys batteries before.
Since I started a friend's bike, remained abandoned for 3 years, but started with no prvious charge thanks to its odyssey, I was very impressed.
I used on various bikes, and was indeed very satisfied.

So I ordered another one to an european importer, by phone. As I was in the business, he prevented me "You know, quality is not as good as it used to be, the last batch I imported was very bad quality, a lot of after sale return and angry customers. The factory changed the material in the battery but they don"t mind about bad returns. I'd rather sell you another battery".
But I wanted this one.
Lasted 5 months, on a daily use bike with a perfect charging system, then... dead.

Never more Odyssey. Too bad.