Motorcycle Batteries

[ray1970]

I?ve also pretty much always used Yuasa in my metric bikes and always been happy.

I?ve switched back to OEM batteries in my Harleys because they seem to last the longest.

Battery tenders are a must, especially during winter months.

Some bikes inherently just eat batteries. I?ve had bikes that would run for ten years on a battery without a problem. I also have one bike that seems to need a new one every two or three years.

[buffalobo]

^^^This.

I also use the Harley OEM batteries for my portable sprayer and trolling motor on my inflatable.

[TRnCO]

I currently have the OEM battery in my 09 FJR. I think Yamaha uses Yuasa? I know, hard to believe. It's all about the JR tender that is plugged in any time I'm not riding. I've never had any other battery live this long. I am a big believer in battery tenders.

I've not read any where that guys are getting long life out of the lighter, smaller, lithium's.

[sportbikeco]

Deka AGM and use a battery tender, you will be set for many years to come.

(Deka is the Harley OEM and they are hard to start, vibrates run hot)

[battlemidget]

I would not run a Lithium battery with a combustion engine.

[Martinjmpr]

Unless you are racing, I don't quite get the "light weight" advantage for MC batteries. Even a regular lead-acid MC battery weighs, what, 5 lbs? Maybe 6?

A lithium might be half that so a 3 pound battery for an extra $100+ doesn't make much sense to me.

If you need to be 3lbs lighter take a healthy dump before you ride and maybe skip that second muffin at breakfast.

Light weight is an advantage for something you have to carry or move around a lot but a MC battery, once it's in the bike you shouldn't have to touch it.

I keep both my bikes on tenders and the batteries have lasted for years.

One warning about tenders, though: No battery lasts forever and in my experience, the one disadvantage of using a tender is that it will "mask" the symptoms of a failing battery.

IOW, the battery works great - right up until the day it doesn't. And when it gets to that point, there's nothing you can do except replace it.

[zulu01]

In my experience, the lithium batteries are not worth the extra cash. Yeah, they are super light but it's not like you gaining some performance advantage.

The big issue is they don't like cold temps. It doesn't even have to be that cold to have starting issues. Typical high altitude mountain summer morning will do it.

[Grant H.]

Shorai is good.

Anti-gravity LI batteries are good. I currently have one of their RS series in my GSXR.

Super caps work on older/smaller bikes, but with my GSXR being FI, running the ECM, etc, even 500F super caps (6 in series, largest I can fit in the factory battery location) would only give me 2 attempts to crank, and with it being a cold blooded, it's not uncommon to have to start it 2-3x which makes the super caps iffy.

All LI types (lifepo4, LiPo, etc) are good to go until 32-35F, which is noticeably colder than I will ever be riding.

The biggest argument that I have for LI batteries is the longevity. I got tired of having to replace LA/AGM/Traditional batteries every 1-2 years, even with a tender, and have had my Anti-gravity for 3 years at this point with 0 signs of issues.

[ray1970]

but with my GSXR being FI, running the ECM, etc, even 500F super caps (6 in series, largest I can fit in the factory battery location) would only give me 2 attempts to crank, and with it being a cold blooded, it's not uncommon to have to start it 2-3x

Well, sounds like somebody could use a better tune. If I had a fuel injected bike that didn?t fire right up on the first time it would ruffle my OCD.

[TFOGGER]

There's a lot of good options, depending on the bike.90+% of new bikes come with Yuasa as OEM. I put a LOT of batteries in bikes for customers, and my preference is lithium for modern bikes (anything fuel injected), as they provide more cranking amperage for a given form factor than anything else. Next would be gel electrolyte, followed by AGM, then as a last resort, flooded lead acid. I run lithium in my own bike, and ride year round, down to about 15 degrees, as long as the streets aren't slick. The bike lives in the garage overnight, so never much colder than 20 or so, but stays outside while I'm at work. The current battery is about 5 years old.