Battery choices?

What battery type and brand do you think works best? I have a 1980 kz750. I could pick up a battery at wal mart for $40 but not sure that would be good move. I question the quality and don't have the cash to keep buying new batteries.

Any help would be great!

Thank You
Ray

I've used WalMart batteries without any problems, and they have a good return policy.
$40 is inexpensive.
But if you can afford a better battery, then go for it.

$40 is probly the cheapest problem that you bike will throw at you. :laugh:

Sometimes you have to replace batteries every few years or less with bikes, depending of course on the usage.

Wal-Mart batteries are made by Johnson controls. They are the same company that makes Optima. The key to battery life is to follow the setup instructions exactly. If you do not you wont get good battery life. Generally you want to charge it at I believe 10 percent of the amp hour rating. I use a Schumacher trickle charger and have had no issues. I have the AGM (maintenence free) Everstart from Wal-Mart in my Kz 1000 and have had no problems after a year and about 15000 miles.

rayellis wrote:

What battery type and brand do you think works best? I have a 1980 kz750. I could pick up a battery at wal mart for $40 but not sure that would be good move. I question the quality and don't have the cash to keep buying new batteries.

Any help would be great!

Thank You
Ray

I used to order batteries dry from JC Whitney. I probably uised about six of theirs over the years and they were all good. I think most batteries are good and I think all batteries are made by three or four manufacturers who just slap different labels on them.

Here is wisdom:

Bike batteries die early because they get a severe deep discharge cranking the starter. I got about 18 months each out of the stock battery and it's dealer replacement.

I changed the wiring so that all the electricals loads except the ignition "switch out" by a relay when I engage the starter solenoid and EVERY battery since has lasted over five years, a couple went seven. Reducing that heavy load at starting multiplies life.

I am currently running one of these:

www.jcwhitney.com/jcwhitney/product.jcw?...12&_requestid=894663

My Vehicle:
1979 Kawasaki KZ Models

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Great info from all of you and it sounds like the wal mart battery will work out. I do not want to get it from jc whitney it cost too much with shipping and I don't see any quality differences from wal mart.

I was thinking maintenance free might be better but it seems to not matter much.

I appreciate your info and thank you!

Ray

My AGM is giving it up after two years. I was not impressed by it's cranking power from the get go. I shall go back to normal batteries which usually last at least twice as long for half the price. I keep a tender on them all. I did like the not worrying about battery spills or boil out. But it's not worth it. IMHO

I use Sears DieHard. Ed

my last wal mart battery lasted 7 years !! i was shocked by this too....

If I get two years out of a walmart battery I am happy.

Don't try the ones from Pepboys. I think they are called ProStart or something like that. I bought one, dry. Kept it in the box for a year, dry, then installed it. It went belly up in a few weeks, but of course the warranty was long over by then. It seemed like something let loose inside and shorted.

I thought maybe it was just a fluke, so I bought another one. That one died after 2 months. Warranty was only 30 days.

I'm sure I've used them before and got at least a couple years out of them (they're only like $20), but now I've had nothing but bad luck with them.

I went to a Kaw dealer after that.

I've done a lot of batterys over the years and you're still better off staying with a Yuasa battery whether it conventional or maintenence free. There are a few things about cheap batterys that always bugged me.
#1. The breather port is "always" just a little smaller diameter on cheap batterys so you go to reuse your existing tube on the motorcycle it is too big and won't stay on. Sure they give you a new chinese tube all rolled up in a 3" ball. I don't feel the need to unroll a 3" ball of chinese rubber tube and reroutt it in place of the existing hose.
#2. The screws are "always" too short, so you go to install it the reach of the terminal screw is too short to reach the nut after the cables are in place so get ready to pick around with a screwdriver to try to get the nut up a little to get the bolt threaded.
These 2 pet peaves are enough right there to steer me off Walmart batterys on top of the "fact" if you put a walmart battery in full charge right next to a Yuasa, the Yuasa will crank faster and longer, on top of lasting much longer, 2 to 3 times longer usually.
Of course battery life can not be accurately forecast for any battery, and many Yuasa are now made in China, but China Yuasa does not have the #1-#2 pet peaves and have worked fine for me. Just my experience over the last 30 years anyways.

:laugh: Yeah. I have a collection of those small tubes taped into a ball and a bunch of battery screws I can't use too. :laugh: