If I hadn't been on a regular 2 year replacement cycle on the Deka batteries I wouldn't have even asked the question. That experience did happen with long term use of a maintainer not recommended by one of the members. Guess I had been lucky with older bikes and wet batteries, no corrosion from fumes, any overflow went out the vent tubes, but point well taken even so. The higher performance from AGM batteries seems to be the case. On my own I could not find a 400 CCA wet battery which is why I asked for help. Looks like sticking with the AGM is not only the way to go, it is the only option.

 

It is not the only option.............Buy a lithium battery and be done with it

Tiny so no problem fitting and more importantly getting it out - my RK is a bitch to remove with the stock AGM battery
Can hold the charge and sit a very long time without a maintainer
Huge CCA
Weighs nothing - perhaps not so important on an 800 lb bike

 

If you don't want the AGM, why not move up to Lithium. DK Customs has them 600 cca for $369.

 

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While I appreciate the suggestion, I can replace 3 1/2 ETX30s for that price, that is quite a smack to the wallet. Perhaps when they get a little less than 61.5 cents per CCA I might make the jump. Won't heat eventually damage those also? Though not a lithium battery, I tried an Odyssey battery in an old rice popper. It was OK, but nothing spectacular.

 

Plus I found a AGM with 600CCA and 30AH rating. How can you bet that. Starter will get every amp it could ever want or need.

Shaun

 

Are you keeping the specifics (brand, nomenclature, source, price etc) secret?

 

From my experiences just this month. I bought the bike last year and in starting, it was like it took everything the battery had to turn it over. I guess I am lucky it never let me down on the road, it finally wouldn't hold a charge. Not having many options for batteries where I live, I went to Batteries Plus and got the AGM 400 CCA battery and replaced it in the parking lot. Huge difference in starting from the old battery. BTW, the old battery as it turns out was a cheap Advance Auto Parts Autocraft wet battery, so I was lucky it lasted a year (read the reviews on them).

 

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" If I hadn't been on a regular 2 year replacement cycle on the Deka batteries I wouldn't have even asked the question. "

Well if your going thru a good quality deka agm battery every 2yrs or less there has to be something going on with your bike and or the way your maintaining the battery maybe using a main charger 24/7 or often which can in some cases drying out AGM batteries due to them by design having much less acid/elecytrolite in them to begin with leading to premature failure.

Heat can be an issue in reducing battery srvc life but the Deka ETX30l i removed from my HD was still going strong @ 4+ yrs when i replaed with with a yuasa GYZ32HL 500cca battery as a preventative maint item to avoid issues on the road.

I installed a new Deka AGM battery on 9/2009 in a prior bike i owned that i sold to someone i know and still srvc the bike for him and ride often with him too and that same battery was still is still going strong 7.5yrs later (in his 1700cc v-twin) last time i rode with him 11/2016 .

And he doesn't normally use a maint charger either.

I had a Deka AGM in a 2nd bike i had that didnt get much use or charging and when i sold that bike in 2015 the battery was approx 5-5.5 yrs old at the time still going strong in that bike too.

Yes,if someone lives in an area thats hot yr round they will get reduced srvc life esp if they sit in a lot of stop/go traffic but consistently getting only 2 yrs or less out of good quality deka battery IMHO could be caused by an issue with charging system on bike over charging the battery & or over use of a main charger thats over charging the battery over time too.

Could also be an issue with excess vibration & or very poor road cont that are pounding the bike & battery to death causing reduced srvc life.

Had a deka battery in my daily use use car that made it just over the 10yr mark.

Scott

 

My experience with Motorcycle batteries is they give no notice of failing and they will leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere without warning.

 

"Could also be an issue with excess vibration & or very poor road cont that are pounding the bike & battery to death causing reduced srvc life."

I do live in Oklahoma where the smooth side of the pavement is on the bottom.