Information - Quadflex AGM

Motobatt batteries are revolutionary in motorcycle battery design. By utilising the latest battery manufacturing technologies with an innovative and patented terminal design, MotoBatt makes motorcycle battery installation a simple task. The unique quad-flex design uses four terminals, a (2+, 2-) configuration, this allows ease of installation and adaptability for additional accessories.

For resellers it provides dramatically reduced inventories and increased parts availability for customers, by utilising our flexibility in terminal location. Motobatt’s creation of a taller plate design provides additional Amp hour or “run time” for the heavier cycling prevalent in modern Powersports vehicles.

Overview

Generally Powersports batteries available in the marketplace today have been largely unchanged for years. Motobatt designed, and continues to upgrade its own products to meet the ever changing demands of the industry. Powersports vehicles now are almost exclusively Fuel Injected, and have many additional power loads vs older models such as Thermal Fans, Fuel Pump, Injectors, ECU, ABS Braking, Telemetry, Traction Control, Electronic suspension and Projector Headlamps, just to name a few!

Additionally, Performance ECU, Heated Grips, Sound systems, GPS, Communication equipment, and charging outlets are all common aftermarket accessories. With all those extra loads Manufacturers are still using Starting lighting and ignition Lead Acid batteries as Original Fitment.

Motobatt has designed a battery that is a perfect balance between Ignition and Power Supply. Compared with older machines when the battery only had to start the engine and operate some low wattage bulbs, we now have a situation where Amp draw at Ignition and during operation has increased dramatically. Also the battery is cycling deeper and constantly. Hence the requirements for a battery that can retain CCA under higher load conditions as well as “cycle”.

CCA numbers alone are only part of the story, more CCA than the manufacturer specifies is wasted where it could be used to create more AH or “run time” in layman’s terms.

Motobatt batteries are designed to deal with repeated starts, additional accessory loads and faster recovery from heavy cycling. We have improved an old design by packing as much active material inside the battery in the smartest way possible. Many lower cost batteries are below manufacturers specifications, and as such expire rapidly or completely fail to deal with the task altogether.

Motobatt patented Quad Flex terminal design creates a shorter current path to the battery cables for a stronger inrush of current resulting in improved starting. As a bonus the two unused terminals make a safer, universal attachment point for accessories like charger leads heated grips etc. The terminals are made of heavy brass and are excellent conductors of electricity and will not bend or distort while in use or transport or use. They offer attachment from the top, side or front of the battery for infinite fitting solutions.

Incorporating additional lead in the form of larger thicker plates is only part of the story. Each plate is individually wrapped in Absorbed Glass Matting or AGM. This assists with the vibration found on many Powersports vehicles, it also reduces failures due to migrating particles inside the battery which result in short circuits and weld breakages.

AGM batteries have a much lower self-discharge rate than wet flooded types, and as a higher Amp Hour battery, the Motobatt battery can discharge more deeply and recover repeatedly, a standard wet flooded battery cannot withstand this type of cycling without premature failure.

It is worth noting that all Motobatt battery specifications are tested at the 10HR rate, which is a higher rating than the 20HR rate touted by other manufacturers.

Motobatt is a Factory Activated battery. It comes to you pre-conditioned ready to install out of the box. You don’t have to add acid, however due to storage variations in the supply chain you should always put the battery on an AGM type charger prior to fitting. This will ensure your battery is in the fully charged state it is designed for. 80% of premature battery failure in Powersports applications is caused by incorrect activation of the battery plates. As well as this you have to mess with acid, top up levels and deal with corrosion on terminals, or worse the machine itself. With Motobatt these worries are a thing of the past.

Please look at our Battery Care section to understand how to achieve the best life from your Motobatt battery.

Battery Care

Your Motobatt battery is designed to give you additional value and run time as compared with most products available on the market, including many Original Equipment batteries. However, to achieve this you need to take appropriate care of your battery.

No battery can survive being overcharged, left in a discharged state, charged by the incorrect charger, or left in the machine with no maintainer connected.

There are some interesting wives’ tales circulating about batteries not being as good as they used to be, this is very far from the fact. The reality is, quality branded batteries are better than they ever have been. They must stand up to the high cycling loads now placed on the starting battery in modern use real world conditions.

It is important to understand that compared with earlier models that have no electronics operating when the machine is not running; modern Powersports vehicles have a constant drain on the battery when the key is off, with no replacement charge available. The ECU is always running in the background, as are alarms, clocks and Performance enhancing ECUs like Power Commander. These keep important data about your machine and they use energy from the battery to store this information. Designed for weight and space saving reasons, many Sport models come with a batteries which are only sufficient enough to start the machine in perfect conditions. Even without any additional loads like accessories it is a struggle unless the battery is in perfect health. Thus, as soon as the battery starts to decline from its 100% health state, it may turn the starter, but not make enough capacity to tell the computer to start the engine. If one imagines a battery is like a tyre, once it is worn it loses material from its tread, when a battery is worn it is losing material from the plates inside. The surface of the plate degrades, or becomes sulphated, those areas of the plate are unable to hold energy. You see when your battery is almost expired it will charge very quickly, this is because there is less active material inside that can accept the charge. With less capacity, it then loses both current and voltage and fails to start your bike.

Draining a battery from parasitic loads is the number one cause of battery failure in the industry right now, situations such as these heavily sulphate the plates, and once taken under 8V it’s very difficult for the battery to recover. It’s not uncommon to have batteries sent back to us with 2V readings, a sure sign the battery has been parasitically drained, to death! The frequent comment is “I have barely ridden the bike, how can it be worn out already?” Many folks just don’t realise and in fact there is little in the Manufacturers Manuals about battery care, or the onslaught a modern battery now faces in the realm of sophisticated electronics.

Therefore, it is imperative to have your machine connected to a suitable Charger Maintainer. Such asthe Motobatt Little Boy Charger Part: MBCLB or similar AGM specified product. The 1 Amp maintainers are fine to keep your battery in good shape up to 32AH in size, and it is designed to only switch on when the battery has dropped in voltage so each time you ride your battery is in the perfect shape to perform.

FAQs

Q. Can I leave my battery in the bike for extended periods and simply start it occasionally to keep it charged?

A. Never leave your battery connected to the vehicle for more than 30 days without a maintenance charger connected, or a careful recharge. Starting your machine periodically DRAINS your battery!

Many machines particularly sport models have very small batteries and additional electronics. A good example; a Honda CBR1000RR takes only a MBTZ7S battery. It is a 1000cc machine with sophisticated electronics and the HISS security system. This machine may drain a battery to 2V is 4 weeks with the key in the off position! Many Harley Davidson models lose a 4-500mA per day and within one month the battery can be unserviceable with the Alarm operating.

Starting the bike periodically for a short time at idle is like rubbing salt into the wound since it takes more energy from the battery than what idle speeds will replace for a short time.

Modern charging systems have changed little with the event of Fuel Injection and only generate healthy amounts of charge at engine speeds over 5000rpm. The charging system runs off crankshaft speed and at 800rpm you are barely getting any charge. Even at highway speeds many bikes rarely see over 3000rpm in top gear. Repeated starts without proper charging will create a deficit in the battery, so each time you turn the key off the battery is being stored in an increasingly discharged state. The same goes for short rides. It’s a good exercise to volt test your battery just to understand how your individual machine is working.

Also, the battery having just “woken up” is not yet ready to accept a good bulk charge immediately after starting up. Starting batteries by design download large amounts of inrush current to turn starter and the engine. This must be replaced at a slower rate than it can download.

Q. If I disconnect my battery to store my machine, how often will I have to charge it?

A. Never leave the battery disconnected from the machine for long periods without a maintenance charge. Always fully charge the battery before storage.

Even though Motobatt AGM batteries have a long shelf life and low self-discharge rate vs flooded types, they still need a regular boost charge to keep the battery in good health. Standard bottle fill batteries will lose as much as 10% per month, while Motobatt AGM with its extra thick plates will lose only 1-2% per month. Ambient temperatures have a direct effect on discharge rates. Stored correctly they will last years.

What hurts the cells is parasitic load from being drained from them by electronics. In warmer ambient temperatures you will need to check the battery every 90 days. It is best to store the battery in a refrigerator at 0-4C, here the chemical activity less and the discharge is slower. In this type of environment, it can be 6 months or more before voltage drops to 12.5V.

Q. What voltage should the battery read at the terminal before I install?

A. Always charge your new battery and check the voltage is between 12.75-12.85V.

Your battery fully charged should register 12.8-12.85v, at times right off the charger you will see up to 13.3v for some time until the “surface charge” dissipates. You should always fit the battery when fully charged to ensure long life. Starting your machine from a lower state of charge puts higher stress on the cells and can damage them prematurely.

Q. What safety precautions do I need to take before charging my Motobatt battery?

A. Motobatt is an extremely safe battery to charge. It is a sealed and factory activated battery meaning there is no place for acid to spill out and cause a burn injury. However, some precautions should always be taken.

1. Never wear metal jewellery or any other conductive material when working around the terminals; you could accidently short circuit the battery if the metal makes contact. This may damage the battery, and will create sparks and has the potential to cause injury. Do not smoke or allow naked flame or sparks in the charging area as explosive gasses can be present in the event of overcharge.
2. Ensure you have selected the correct battery replacement for your application. The battery should fit exactly in the battery holder, and be of the same Voltage and Amp Hour rating. Motobatt batteries replace the Original battery dimensions and there is no need to shim or modify the battery. If you feel your battery does not fit correctly, do not force it, return it to the place of purchase or consult a technician.
3. Prior to refitting the new battery and after preparation, check to ensure there is no damage, dirt or other substance in the battery compartment. Clean the area and leave dry.
4. Examine the cables for rust, corrosion, damaged insulation or loose connections. Replace cables if needed. Clean and check cable attachments are secure and clean.
5. Connect the Positive (+) side of the battery to the Positive cable (red). Tighten the connection securely. Then connect the Negative (-) terminal of the battery to the Negative cable (Black). Tighten securely. To test connection turn on your accessories and lights and ensure power is available.
6. Start the engine and check all functions are restored. If everything is fine, replace the battery strap and cover in the reverse order of removal.

Q. How should I charge my battery, and for how long?

A. Never charge your battery with a charger which has the wrong Amp or Voltage Rating.

Since we are talking about Motorcycle batteries we refer to 6 or 12Volts. Lead acid batteries have a maximum current or Amp capacity that they can absorb; exceeding this permanently damages the battery by creating too much heat, forcing the lead paste from the grid, melting lead welds and eventually drying the battery out. Tell-tale signs, the battery is hissing or boiling, the battery case is warm or hot or may have expanded. The battery is emitting a strong odour (Hydrogen gas)

In any of these cases the battery has been charged with more current or Voltage that the size of the battery can handle. Note: As the battery gets old and the capacity goes away, the tendency to “overcharge” is increased as there is less active material to uptake the charge. Therefore, smart chargers are the best option for smaller batteries.

This blends in with the above. Ideally a battery should be charged at just 10% of its rated AH capacity. For instance, a Motobatt MBTX9U is a 10.5ah battery. Ideally a 1-amp charge is perfect to bring the battery back to full charge and really let the plates absorb properly at optimum temperature. However, you can rapid charge at a higher rate for fast charging. This will be 10.5 Amps divided by 3. Therefore 3.5 Amps for a reduced period would be the maximum rate of charge. For longevity we recommend only charge like this in an urgent situation.

A. Motobatt Charger will never overcharge your battery since they are optimised for charging Motobatt batteries and can be left on permanently.

Q. How do I charge my AGM battery? Is it different to other Lead type batteries?

A. Yes, AGM batteries by nature are different in chemistry and characteristics vs normal flooded types. Charging with a specific AGM charger is the best method.

Batteries, including AGM designs do not like heat, since they carry reduced electrolyte inside the battery. It is important to have an automatic charger for this reason. AGM likes to be charged at a slightly higher voltage than flooded types. Motobatt AGM should be charged at up to 14.9V to achieve full charge to the plates. Many older brands which are widely sold, fail to reach voltages of 13.9V, thus the battery never becomes fully charged. Motobatt uses the very latest design 9 Step Microprocessor which optimises charging by measuring the battery over 100 times per second. Most good quality chargers have an AGM function, but if yours doesn’t, you may not be fully charging your battery.

Many off the shelf car type chargers are 4 amp and linear chargers. This means a constant current blast of 4 amps into the battery, no matter what the battery can accept. This will ruin your battery. These types of chargers are designed for charging much larger batteries in cars or trucks. Do not use these types of chargers unless you are going to monitor the battery constantly, and the Amperage is within the safe range to do so. If you leave the battery on charge overnight with these charger types, when the battery does come to full charge, it will overheat, evaporate off electrolyte and destroy the battery. This will void your warranty.

Automatic maintainers like all the Motobatt range, test the battery hundreds of times per second and only apply the optimum charge the plates will absorb while generating no damaging heat.

Q. Can I Remove the top cover of the battery?

A. Never remove the top cover of the battery unless instructed to do so by a technician

The Motobatt battery is a sealed Factory Activated design. Tiny burp valves exist on each cell to allow excess gases to escape under heavy charging conditions. Removal of the top plate will allow these burp valves to come off thus exposing the battery to atmosphere and rendering it useless. Removing the top plate will void your warranty, never remove itunless instructed to do so by an Authorized Motobatt Reseller.

Never remove or tamper with the batch code on the battery lid.

The batch code on top of each battery lid holds important information for the development and improvement of our products. Tampering with the batch code, will VOID YOUR WARRANTY.

Don't Do This

Leave your battery connected to the vehicle for more than 7 days without a charger maintainer.

Many machines have very small batteries and a lot of electronics. For example a Honda CBR1000RR takes only a MBTZ7S battery. It is a 1000cc machine with sophisticated electronics and the HISS security system. This machine will drain a battery to 2V is 4 weeks with the key off!

Leave you battery disconnected from the bike for extended periods without recharging at least every 90 days.

Even though Motobatt AGM batteries have a long shelf life and low self-discharge rate, they still need a regular boost charge to keep the battery in good health. Ambient temperatures have a direct effect on discharge rates. Stored like this they will last years. What hurts them is parasitic load by being drained by the machine.

Fit your new battery without checking the voltage is over 12.7V

Your battery fully charged should register 12.8-12.85v. You should always fit the battery when fully charged to ensure long life.

Start your machine regularly and idle it for a few minutes thinking that you are charging the battery!

Modern machines have charging systems which are just adequate. The charging system runs off crankshaft speed so at 800rpm you are barely getting any charge. Even at highway speeds many bikes rarely see over 3000rpm in top gear. Repeated starts without proper charging actually create a deficit in the battery, so each time you turn the key off the battery is being stored flatter and flatter. The same goes for short rides. It’s a good exercise to volt test your battery just to understand how you individual machine is working.

Charge your battery with a charger which is the wrong Amp Rating.

Lead acid batteries have a maximum speed and Amp capacity that they can take up; exceeding this permanently damages the battery by creating too much heat, melting lead welds and eventually drying the battery out. Tell-tale signs, the battery is hissing and boiling, the battery case has expanded! The battery has been charged with more Amps that the size of the battery can handle.

Charging your battery with the wrong charger, for too long.

This blends in with the above. A battery ideally should be charged at just 10% of its rated AH capacity. For instance, a Motobatt MBTX9U is a 10.5ah battery. Ideally a 1 amp charge is perfect to bring the battery back to full charge and really let the plates absorb properly. However you can rapid charge at up to double that, which would be around 2 Amps for a reduced period.

Many off the shelf car type chargers are 4 amp and linear chargers. This means they just blast 4 amps of current into your battery no matter what the battery needs and in turn destroy it.

Further if you leave the battery on charge overnight, when the battery does come to full charge, its then becomes overcharged and destroys the battery.

Automatic maintainers like all the Motobatt range, test the battery hundreds of times per second and only apply the optimum charge the plates will take while generating no heat.

Remove the top cover of the battery

The Motobatt battery is a sealed Factory Activated design. Tiny burp valves exist on each cell to allow excess gases to escape under heavy charging conditions. Removal of the top plate will allow this burp valves to fly off thus exposing the battery to atmosphere and rendering it useless. Removing the top plate will VOID YOUR WARRANTY unless instructed to do so by an Authorized Motobatt Reseller.

Grind off or tamper with the batch code on the battery lid

The batch code on top of each battery lid holds important information for the development and improvement of our products. Tampering with the batch code, will VOID YOUR WARRANTY.