Member Contributer zx5go Posted February 20, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted February 20, 2008 Ok, so I need a replacment battery for my '03 and I start doing the standard internet searches for a genuine Yuasa battery. As anyone who's replaced a motorcycle battery knows, they are very expensive for their size. Anyway, I'm having very little luck finding one for under $125 so I decide to call my local "battery outfitters" and they tell me they have two in stock for $79! I ask the guy if the brand was Yuasa and he replies "yup". Couple of days later I'm ready to purchase so I call back and ask if they still have any in stock and the guys says they are down to one. I ask what brand and he says Yuasa. So, I have him hold it for me and when I get there...you guessed it, it is NOT a Yuasa battery. But at this point I had to have a battery so I purchased it anyway. I know, I know, the best means I had to show my displeasure was to not purchase the battery but their two false phone statements had put me in a tight spot. The good news is that the battery does have a one year free replacement warranty. Why do retailers pull this stuff? Do they think the average Joe won't care as long as it fits? By the way, I went with the ytz14s instead of the 12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer poconovfr Posted February 20, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted February 20, 2008 AH, the old bait and swicth. Supply and demand my battery needing friend. :salesman: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer zx5go Posted February 20, 2008 Author Member Contributer Share Posted February 20, 2008 AH, the old bait and swicth. Supply and demand my battery needing friend. :salesman: One misleading salesman can ruin a business...few things please me more than telling others about businesses that have treated me poorly! I mean its a very simple statement to tell me "No, it is not a Yuasa but the size, capacity, etc are the same and we back it with the same warranty." I try to make it a point to work with local retailers when I can so I could see not using a Yuasa if I had a local source that was going to treat me right if I had an issue. Hopefully, they will but they didn't get off to a very good start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soichiro Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Makes no sense why he wouldnt have just said it's not. What kind of battery is it. ytz14s instead of the 12, whats that mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer zx5go Posted February 20, 2008 Author Member Contributer Share Posted February 20, 2008 Makes no sense why he wouldnt have just said it's not. What kind of battery is it. ytz14s instead of the 12, whats that mean? Well its out in the Jeep but it said something like "Super Sport blah blah" on it and the case was gray. The YTZ12S is the Yuasa part number for the 6th gen Interceptor. I believe the YTZ14S is the number for the 1300ST. They are the same physical size and same post layout put the 14 has like 20 or so more CCA. Probably doesn't mean anything but the 14 seems to be easier to get than the 12 which means the cost is usually less...less price and more CCA = no brainer for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soichiro Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Makes no sense why he wouldnt have just said it's not. What kind of battery is it. ytz14s instead of the 12, whats that mean? Well its out in the Jeep but it said something like "Super Sport blah blah" on it and the case was gray. The YTZ12S is the Yuasa part number for the 6th gen Interceptor. I believe the YTZ14S is the number for the 1300ST. They are the same physical size and same post layout put the 14 has like 20 or so more CCA. Probably doesn't mean anything but the 14 seems to be easier to get than the 12 which means the cost is usually less...less price and more CCA = no brainer for me! Huh, I didnt know that. So you were able to get the 14 in the off brand super sport blah blah :goofy: ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer gll429 Posted February 21, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted February 21, 2008 i take m battery to the auto zone, size it up.. pay about 40 bucks... come witha year warrenty.. i do this with every bike that needs a battery at my shop. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer FotoMoto Posted February 21, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted February 21, 2008 For a couple of bucks more, you could have a much better name brand one: http://www.westcobattery.com/battery_page....d=1&mid=673 Find a dealer who sells under MSRP and you'd probably would have paid about the same price as your "no-name" battery. Also, I wonder if your 14 amp/hr battery will be too tall. The short height is what makes the vfr battery so "special". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Daniel Paul Posted February 21, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted February 21, 2008 Just like the auto-dealer ad's on Craigs List.... ex- 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 20K miles only $5K!!! You call to confirm it... then you get there to check it out and ofcourse, they say "we just sold it" Bogus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer gll429 Posted February 21, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted February 21, 2008 i work at a shop!! i dont have time to order one and wait for it to show up.... not often anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 The price of scrap lead has tripled in the last year, and theres your reason for the price hike. The price of batteries is going through the roof. Rumor has it that your average bike battery cost is gonna go up another 35% by the end of this year. Yikes. :pissed: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer zx5go Posted February 21, 2008 Author Member Contributer Share Posted February 21, 2008 For a couple of bucks more, you could have a much better name brand one: http://www.westcobattery.com/battery_page....d=1&mid=673 Find a dealer who sells under MSRP and you'd probably would have paid about the same price as your "no-name" battery. Also, I wonder if your 14 amp/hr battery will be too tall. The short height is what makes the vfr battery so "special". Specs are below...they are the same physical size. Battery Family: YTZ Factory Activated, Maintenance Free Battery Type: YTZ12S Voltage: 12 Capacity: 11 Dimensions: 6" x 3 7/16" x 4 3/8" Weight: 8.1lbs. Metric Dimensions: 150mm x 87mm x 110mm Metric Weight: 3.7kg Amps: 1.1 C.C.A.: 210 Battery Family: YTZ Factory Activated, Maintenance Free Battery Type: YTZ14S Voltage: 12 Capacity: 11.2 Dimensions: 6" x 3 7/16" x 4 3/8" Weight: 8.6lbs. Metric Dimensions: 150mm x 87mm x 110mm Metric Weight: 3.9kg Amps: 1.1 C.C.A.: 230 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 i take m battery to the auto zone, size it up.. pay about 40 bucks... come witha year warrenty.. i do this with every bike that needs a battery at my shop. :thumbsup: You sell your clients AutoZone batteries? Tsk, tsk.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soichiro Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Our interstate battery prices have steadily gone up and are continuing to go up. A battery that was $60 2 years ago is now $80. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 I just went to Batteries Plus, bought a replacement, same size, same specs, about $80. Works great; did the same for my KTM a year ago, it also works great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monk Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 I just brought home from the local mc shop a .... MG14Z-s .... What does MG mean vs's YTZ ?. I went to the shop an ordered a YUASA YTZ14S and this is what they gave me.......... BikeMaster TruGel ( 11.2 amps. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 I have the YTZ14s in 3 bikes. Honda ST1300 Honda VFR800 Triumph Sprint ST I am hoping the A123 batteries continue to look good. The one Tightwad put in looks even better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spud786 Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I just brought home from the local mc shop a .... MG14Z-s .... What does MG mean vs's YTZ ?. I went to the shop an ordered a YUASA YTZ14S and this is what they gave me.......... BikeMaster TruGel ( 11.2 amps. ) Sounds like a Gell battery , versus an AGM . A ytz14s is running about $120 online Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monk Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I just brought home from the local mc shop a .... MG14Z-s .... What does MG mean vs's YTZ ?. I went to the shop an ordered a YUASA YTZ14S and this is what they gave me.......... BikeMaster TruGel ( 11.2 amps. ) Sounds like a Gell battery , versus an AGM . A ytz14s is running about $120 online Yea... It's a factory sealed GEL......... I'm wondering if it's ok vs's the YUASA YTZ14S ? I know I can take it back and tell them it's not what I asked for, but if it's a good-as, than why bother... So what say you's guy's ? I payed $140 for it. http://www.bikemaster.com/bmstrv2.nsf/0/D0A5D51618DBEF8F862576B20074849F?opendocument# Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Conedodger Posted April 22, 2011 Member Contributer Share Posted April 22, 2011 i take m battery to the auto zone, size it up.. pay about 40 bucks... come witha year warrenty.. i do this with every bike that needs a battery at my shop. :thumbsup: You sell your clients AutoZone batteries? Tsk, tsk.... <img src='http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' /> As long as he is open about it, I don't see the problem. I currently have an Autozone battery in my VFR. 3 1/2 years old and working just fine for 1/2 the price of the Yuasa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spud786 Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Gel Batteries like Factory Sealed AGM's , are advertised not to leak if case cracks. The difference that Ive read, Best Longevity results go to the AGM Battery. If you want a ytz14, your going to pay alot locally, try Batterystuff.com online, they are around $120, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monk Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Gel Batteries like Factory Sealed AGM's , are advertised not to leak if case cracks. The difference that Ive read, Best Longevity results go to the AGM Battery. If you want a ytz14, your going to pay alot locally, try Batterystuff.com online, they are around $120, Thx....... If longevity is the only problem then I guess I'll just keep this one, and get the AGM next time.... In the mean time I'll see what this one does. I've usually gotten the Yuasa's for my bikes, and haven't had any trouble with those. I wasn't trying to get a cheap one which this one isn't, but as long as it's giving me no leak maintenence free power, I'll play tester. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer blkrabit Posted April 22, 2011 Member Contributer Share Posted April 22, 2011 Monk, We started selling the TruGels about 6 months ago, so it's too early to say how they compare to high quality AGM batteries; I say give it another year or so. The TruGels do come with a 2 year warranty, which is double the typical Yuasa warranty. This is not to say that the Yuasa is an inferior battery; it's not. Truth is, a properly maintained lead-acid battery - flooded, AGM, gel, or spiral-cell - should last well beyond the 1 year warranty that is common for motorcycle batteries. Overwhelmingly, though, many recreational vehicle owners fail to maintain their batteries, and the average life tends to be about 2-3 years. I'm sure the manufacturers know this, and the short warranty period keeps them from paying for poorly-maintained batteries. I had a customer come in on Tuesday who was replacing the OEM battery from his 2001 BMW. Proper maintenance pays for itself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monk Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Monk, We started selling the TruGels about 6 months ago, so it's too early to say how they compare to high quality AGM batteries; I say give it another year or so. The TruGels do come with a 2 year warranty, which is double the typical Yuasa warranty. This is not to say that the Yuasa is an inferior battery; it's not. Truth is, a properly maintained lead-acid battery - flooded, AGM, gel, or spiral-cell - should last well beyond the 1 year warranty that is common for motorcycle batteries. Overwhelmingly, though, many recreational vehicle owners fail to maintain their batteries, and the average life tends to be about 2-3 years. I'm sure the manufacturers know this, and the short warranty period keeps them from paying for poorly-maintained batteries. I had a customer come in on Tuesday who was replacing the OEM battery from his 2001 BMW. Proper maintenance pays for itself! Thx, I ride my bike year round and put the trickle +1 on it about once a week........... I just bought this one and sure enough it still took about 6 hours to go solid green, though it did go to flashing green in about 15 min's(80% IIRC )..I'm a believer in the trickle charger. I also rather replace a battery a little early than start messing my electrics up trying to see how long I can squeeze one. This is a good time to remind peeps to put a full top charge on their new batteries before installing in the bike. It looks like a good Batt, worth giving it a chance anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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