Battery, Honda vs AGM

[Fly2xs]

Hi All,

I have been a way forum for a while but have a question. What is/are the differences between a stock Honda Battery and AGM? Which is better and what is the best out there?

I have an 05 Shadow Spirit 1100 and left the key on a few months ago and it killed the stock Honda battery that came with the bike new. I decided it was about time (4 years old and 20,000 miles) for the battery to be replaced. So I decided not to charge it and replaced it with a new stock OEM Honda battery. Unlike others from what I have seen and read on this forum, I never had any problems with my old stock Honda battery, it was awesome. My new replacement OEM Honda battery, really blows. Some days, it just barley has enough umph to start the engine. Once in a while at a stop light and while crusing if I hit the horn, the system does not have enough juice to blow the horn normally, it makes a sick errrrrrrrrr sound. I am just waiting for it to let me down 100 miles away from home. Any ideas what might be going on? My riding habits have not changed, I live in the same house and store the bike in the garage like I have always done........the only thing that changed was the battery which I feel is the cause of all this.

Any help or input would be greatly appreicated.



Fly

[SHADOW 1100T]

The Honda battery is a wet cell where as a AGM the acid is absorbed in a fiberglass mat, the UBTZ14S is one that a lot of riders have gone too because it's sealed and has more CCA (cold cranking amps)
Your lucky to get that much use out of a OEM battery but like a lot of things, they last untill they don't, it's time.

[bondo]

Wouldn't the stock battery for a 2005 be an AGM? It is on my '05 750. A wet cell battery would have an opaque body that you can see the fluid level through and plugs at the top that you can remove to top up the cells.

Have you checked the charging system? I would do that first. Others, with more knowledge than me, can help you with that.

[Phil]

Originally Posted by bondo

Wouldn't the stock battery for a 2005 be an AGM? It is on my '05 750. A wet cell battery would have an opaque body that you can see the fluid level through and plugs at the top that you can remove to top up the cells.

bondo,
I believe some (or all) of the 1100's have wet cells installed from the factory.
Like yours, my 750ACE came with a Yuasa AGM battery.

My bike is a '98 and the original battery lasted 10 years. I replaced it last summer with another Yuasa AGM, but this time I went with one that has a little more capacity.
Phil

[Easy Rider 2]

Originally Posted by bondo

Have you checked the charging system? I would do that first.

+1

Also, if the new battery really IS a conventional wet cell, it should have been fully charged BEFORE being put into service. If that wasn't done, it might be toast now too.

[jpr1968]

The stock battery should have been an AGM. Honda does not make batteries so what you bought was a rebranded battery and probably paid way too much. Last but not least is, if the battery sucks take it back to Honda on a warranty issue. Don't keep screwing with it and void the warranty.

[adlowe]

Honda doesn't make batteries; they have their name put on a battery made by another company. (My bike has and AGM battery with a Honda logo on it. Maybe I'll post a picture after I go in to hook up my Gonzo wire harness.)

The stock battery on Honda's VT1100 bikes (and VT750 too?) is a T-shaped battery. AGM batteries could be built in the T-shape, maybe some are. But Honda uses a "flooded-cell" (or "wet cell") -- one that has liquid splashing around and is vented to the atmosphere. This technology goes back a long way-- 100 years or more.

AGM stands for "Absorbed Glass Mat" and is much newer technology. AGM batteries rely on the same chemistry as flooded cell batteries and, while not "flooded", are still wet-cell batteries. But they don't have the liquid splashing around. An AGM will generally last a LOT longer than a flooded call battery and would be considered "maintenance free" because you do not need to keep tabs of the level of the liquid.

There are also gel batteries and some folks (including me once upon a time) had these confused with AGMs.

You can get much, much more info here ifyou are interested.

Based on my experience with my bike, I will NEVER have a T-shaped battery in it again. I will NEVER have a flooded-cell battery in it again. The flooded-cell T batteries are hit or miss, mostly miss; I went through 3 in the first 5 years I had my bike. Until better technology comes along at a comparable price, I'll stick with AGM.

To your specific problem:
- Remove the battery from the bike and check the fluid level in all the cells. Add distilled water to any that are below the marks. This can NOT be done on the bike.
- While the battery is off the bike, hook it up to a slow charger and get it fully charged.
- When the battery is fully charged, take it somewhere and have it tested. If it fails (as I suspect it will), take it back to the dealer (with receipts) and raise a fuss. If it passes, you've got to spend some time checking out your charging system.

Generally, the charging system on Honda's VT1100 bikes doesn't put out a lot at idle -- so your horn troubles while stopped are an indication of a battery issue. If you have the same issue while cruising then something else *might* be causing trouble. Focus on the battery first, though, since it is the thing you changed.

[Drail]

You need to check the chargin system output and the connector plug between the stator and the regulator to see if the battery is being charged.

[Fly2xs]

Thanks for all the input, but I do not think it is the charging system since the only thing that changed was the battery and the bike only sat for a month before ridings....which has been done many of times before I left the key on and killed the battery.

The battery I purchased from the Honda shop was the exact some one that was removed from my 1100 Spirit. I think I paid 80 bucks or so for it. When I purchased it at the Honda shop, I had to wait 45 mins. for them to add water and charge the battery since they receive the battery without the water in it and charged.

I do think I will stop by the parts desk and see what they say. I would like to know if it is an AGM battery but will have to pull the cover off the bike to see. What I remember the case was white with blue filler caps on the top water ports.

Thanks again,

Sean

[Jan Janowski]

I replaced the damned "T" battery in my 95 Ace 1100 years ago with the YTZ14S AGM replacement... Had a bit of an issue with connections, but it has been smooth sailing ever since....

I'd definately do it again.... I've never been a fan of the "T" batteries...