Hitchcocks Forum

I've bought cheap batteries before & they've been ok but this has made me think.
Last used my 350 six weeks ago on a 100 mile round trip then parked up in garage. When I went to take out today I noticed what I thought was some oil under the bike. It wasn't.
Have needed to top up this battery a few times in the 2 years it's been on the bike & even checked that it wasn't overcharging as I was puzzled. Should have looked closer. The top (black) part of the battery was not fully 'bonded' to the bottom and had been leaking, so the 'vent pipe' was serving no purpose, so after my 100 mile run followed by parking on the side-stand, a lot of acid had leaked into the battery box, over the chainguard & frame removing paint (which is what I had seen on floor) & started eating its way through the inner & outer alloy primary chaincases.
Some wet n dry paper & much autosol polish has removed most of the alloy corrosion & repainting damaged tinware was fortunately straightforward but maybe I could have avoided all this by not trying to save a few quid! I don't expect sympathy but perhaps you might save youself some grief with a cheapy battery if you find the electrolyte needs topping up for no obvious reason.
REgards, Mick

These days I would prefer not to ride than fit another Chinese junk battery in a bike, they are just rubbish.

I`ve had two CBE batteries on my Bullet since I bought it in 2003, both lasted about 5 years; now fitted the third-one.

Hi MICKEY and thanks for that touch of honesty !!--------- This is the sort of information that we really do need to be made aware of..... Can you name the make for us ??

Hi Mickey, Only belately learnt
many of those cheap batterie's
initial charge up, whether sealed,
or when you add the acid, simply
can't handle a trickle charge of
more than .5 amps. Else they fry,
or fail prematurely. Out here
they are marketed under endless
labels, and are fit for burglar
alarms only,then thrown away when
flat. Actually, would be nice to know
if good brands like the Yausa or
FB from Japan durability are affect-
ed if they have been sitting in stock
many years before you activate them
with acid? Bought one 6volt that
failed, but may have given it too
much initial charge, Bought another
NOS from same source, but despite
paying top dollar, old stock may be
equally poor value too. Gordon

I brought a Bosch Battery for my work bullet an old 65 well worth the extra expense I've not had to top it up or charge it off bike since fitting in nearly four years. It always seems to have the guts to turn the electric leg first thing in the morning. Same as others tried cheap ones gave up after having too annually replace them longest lasted 18 months before they just loose there guts too crank the engine or hold a charge.

Interesting responses but I'm starting to wonder if the make printed on the battery is of any significance. For what it's worth the battery that failed was a cheapy bearing the 'Exide' logo & though it had no 'made in' imprint or marks it seemed from the original instructions it might be Chinese. The battery had a BLACK top in contrast to the RED top Exide battery (stamped 'Made In India') which was the original equipment on the bike & in all fairness lasted well. My other Bullet has a battery with just the name of the U.K. supplier + 'England' printed on it. Looking at it closely it could easily have been made in the same machine as the as the cheapy 'Exide' so I again suspect Chinese. Out of curiosity I looked at a 'Yuasa' battery also which stated 'Made in Taiwan' What does all this mean? I'm not sure as I guess some battery manufacturers make their products in different countries. What concerns me though is the possibility of some fakery going on here! REgards Mick

Hopefully the Chinese don't start making fake Motorbatt ones but you can never trust the Chinese, they will scab everything till they are the only supplier left in the world. All decent quality manufactures worldwide are being sent to the wall by cheap imports from China

Norm is spot on. Recent example
is suffice, albiet another quality
product. Stihl, the german reputable
chain saw's market in S. Americia
was jeopardized with scam imitations.
Stihl hired investigators in China
to track down their source,fasinating
insight as to how thing operate there.
Countless back garden suppliers who
are oblivious to to the end usage of
a given part, organized by distributors
that change names overnight insomuch
litigation is futile, let alone concern
at patent enfringment. Stihl even tried
diplomatic pressure but got nowhere with
corrupt bureacrats that condone all this.
So what chance have we further down the
food chain of believing a well known
battery brand is legitimate? Sorry Mickey,
we hijacked your innocent post! Gordon

Now I am so pissed off, I just bought 2 MB9U batteries and these are obviously also made in China. Jacksonville FI USA on the battery but I just noticed on the bottom of the box Made in China. Last Motorbatt I will be buying