BATTERY PROBLEMS

I got a Motobatt Mtbx12u it is Absorbent Glass Mat technology which apperaently gives it higher CCA around 200+ and stays charged up longer £35 from Busters!!

If the bike is in regular use, like every day or every other day, is this enough use to keep a good battery 100% charged?

2troke wrote: I got a Motobatt Mtbx12u it is Absorbent Glass Mat technology which apperaently gives it higher CCA around 200+ and stays charged up longer £35 from Busters!! Been no hesitation starting and no clock resets since!!

+1 this is my 3rd battery in 8 years & these are definitely the best, got a datatool alarm fitted, done all the wiring upgrade mods, 150A solenoid & I stick it on the Optimate once a week & no starting problems

All wiring mods done and always on optimate, I'll unclip the headlights to start in cold weather just to ensure getting maximum juice to the starter. 

jay g wrote: Had a few problems getting the new 14amp gel to charge.All o.k now{i hope}and have fitted it onto bike and she burst's into life instantly now Managed to get a taller battery clamp and it fits well,as it should. So if you want one, here is the correct part number...8138597 Thanks to everyone,i think we have sorted this battery thing out now[^]

Ok, thx Spoonz.

Just to mention lads from my own experience, I have a gen 1 tuono with ytx14bs battery, higher rated starter relay,removed brown connector...etc etc. All these things made a big difference, and funny enough the brown connector was fine but I removed it anyway for better connectors, previous owner used an optimate from day one when he bought the bike new. Even after all this the bike would sometimes turn over lazy when starting even when I was out on a ride for a few hours like the battery was on the way out, one day came home, turned bike off, went to start 10 minutes later to park up and no swing what so ever, the connection at the end of the lead going onto the starter had completely corroded off, you could tell by looking at it that it seemed to have been burned like it was a loose connection. Got the local bike shop to solder on a decent connector back on to the lead, bike swung over faster than it ever did since I got it after doing this, don't know how the f**k it stayed starting for as long as it did,the original connector is a light thin one. So even though the higher rated battery's and all that are worth doing don't forget to check this, cos if that connection is corroded and needs to be replaced it don't matter what battery is in it if there is a sh*t connection going onto the starter. 

Just be careful if you are taking the lead of the starter, when you turn the nut make sure you are holding the bolt secure , that bolt that comes out of the starter has an insulator around it on the inside, if the bolt turns when you are loosening the nut it will break the insulator on the inside, I found that out the hard way when I was doing mine and didn't hold it, bolt was badly corroded as well and it sheared off along with breaking the insulator  

Not read all the replys, so sorry if this has been mentioned.

damo46 wrote: Just be careful if you are taking the lead of the starter, when you turn the nut make sure you are holding the bolt secure , that bolt that comes out of the starter has an insulator around it on the inside, if the bolt turns when you are loosening the nut it will break the insulator on the inside, I found that out the hard way when I was doing mine and didn't hold it, bolt was badly corroded as well and it sheared off along with breaking the insulator   See below post which has some pics on post no. 9 to give you an idea  http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?187907-Did-I-just-break-my-starter-motor-Was-adding-dielectric-grease-to-starter-motor&highlight=starter+motor+parts

This design , Gen1 Shown has Auxiliary Optimate connections, and copper busbar at the battery terminals.
All heat resistant design, and come with High temp silicone grease.

Cheers Rybes!
Yes they've evolved following requests from people using them ( you included! )

When are people going to wise up to this crap about 'leave it on an optimate when not in use'? 

It's so not needed if the battery and charging system is good. The amount of people who have cooked their battery grows daily.
 

I don't have an alarm fitted although I did have a Meta 357t fitted when I got my Sv1000 new

I have never had to have any of my bikes on one of those optmiser gadgets,I do have one though and the only time either bike gets connected to it is when I take the batteries off around November time and they come in and get a top up charge for a couple of hours.

They are then disconnected and receive another couple of hours before they go back on the bikes around march time

During the year I only use my bikes every couple of weeks and they both start as instantly as switching on a light,no 'turning over' just the first piston to firing position starts the engine.

I have de bugged the wiring and fitted John's excellent cable upgrade kit though

If everything is working properly charging and battery wise you should be able to go around 3 weeks without going near the bike and still have it start instantly

Johny I have emailed you regarding the cables dude. Please get in touch. I am away with work for the next 2 weeks, so no real rush. But still sooner rather than later please. A box of bits when I get home will  will keep me out of trouble LOL