There are many different motor scooters being manufactured, when it comes time to choose the best battery you are advised to follow the recommendations given by the manufacturer. Manufacturers of quality motor scooters all agree that surplus or discounted batteries should be avoided, this is suggested because modern scooters, although they may not look it, have a great deal of sophisticated electronics built in. When it comes time to replace the battery you can stick with the original water filled type or you may wish to consider using an AGM or gel-type replacement battery. Regardless of the type, you should purchase a replacement based on the part number of the OEM unit or take accurate measurements of the battery, paying particular attention to the post locations. In this way you can be assured that you will get the right battery for your scooter.
Motor scooter batteries take considerable abuse. Not only are they called upon for the electric starter, the lights and accessories such as a GPS draw current from the battery as well. These extra draws can stress the often weak charging systems found on scooters. Many batteries that are designed for use with motor scooters use heavy lead plates in a hard to break plastic battery case. Many aftermarket batteries are equal to or even superior to the original battery that was included with your scooter when you bought it.
Wet cell lead acid batteries have been the mainstay for any kind of vehicle for years. This type of battery has proven to be very reliable over the years. A lead acid battery is commonly available in two types. The least expensive battery is one which requires periodic topping up of the electrolyte, the more popular motor scooter batteries are maintenance free, meaning they are sealed at the factory. The better choice is an absorbed glass matt (AGM) or gel type sealed lead acid battery.
A water filled lead acid battery, whether it is maintenance free or not must be used only in the upright position, the terminals must be on top. A sealed battery will not leak even when the scooter is lying over on the side. Another significant advantage of a sealed gel filled battery is the material itself. The gel tends to add support to the lead plates in the battery, this helps to reduce the possibility of shorting across when the scooter is taken over rough roads. A typical water filled battery can easily crack and fail due to the shaking that scooters are subjected to. Although AGM and gel type motor scooter batteries are a little more expensive the fact that they are less likely to fail is well worth the small difference in price.
