Hi,
I haven't used my 1960 Golden Flash for a couple of weeks due to our lovely (not) weather! Flicked my lights on earlier this week and . . . eek! Very dim
. Our last ride (my wife as pillion) was for about 20 miles on country roads so battery should have had a bit of a charge as we would have been doing up to 50 mph at times - (no lights on). So I'm thinking maybe it's time to start looking for a replacement battery.
Bike has been converted to 12v and uses the following: 12v Varta Powersports 12N7-3B (YB7L-B), 7Ah, CCA: 74A battery. V-Reg II regulator by AO Services, dynamo belt drive conversion. Amp meter shows a charge over about 45 mph.
I was going to settle on a Motobatt MB9U (Absorbed Glass Matt), 11Ah, CCA 140A battery as I've read that it will hold a charge a lot longer than a wet lead acid battery and can withstand vibration better but then read that it needed at least 14v, while my GF's dynamo will only provide half of that . . . so should I think again?
I realise that the high CCA isn't a big factor unless you need it for cranking (my foot does that). Obviously the battery dimensions are an important factor as is good standby capability for the winter months when most of out bikes stand idle for longer than usual here in the UK.
There must be wealth of info out there amongst our A7 and A10 owners on how suitable present day 12v batteries are for our bikes, so any info on your experience with your batteries would be most welcome.
Cheers, Roger.