It's time for a new battery - suggestions please

[Mittzy]

Im pretty lucky to have got 6 years out of my R3 battery I reckon.
But since it totally failed on me this morning (and I keep it on a tender) it's time for a new one.
Anyone got any suggestions for a replacement? If I am Buying a new one I want to upgrade to something better.
I know this topic has been well covered in precious threads but tech changes and wanted to see what the current suggestions are.
Thanks in advance

 

[Ishrub]

I would not go lithium ion as they are affected severely by cold, not a big issue in Qld you might think but as soon as it drops to the low C they get sluggish to start I have one in my Sprint ST 1050 which will JUST start in a cold Canberra morning under an verandah eave with a cover over the seat etc. Leave it uncovered and forget it.

I bought an expensive Shorai AUD$300+ one from the US for my sidecar and it sat around the bike shop during the rebuild for a year but was supposedly maintained but when fitted I had heaps of problems even with a new 450 watt alternator and digital ignition etc. I assumed they may have been an issue but since fitting a 80amp hour deep cycle computer backup type battery in the sidecar I can leave it 3 months plus w/o a problem. Tested the Li ion and confirmed one of the cells had died despite hi tech pyramid cells etc.

Also the manufacturer states Li ion should not be used with battery tenders.

Currently I have two US made Deka absorbed glass fiber mat gel ETX20L 330cca batteries due to a sad story of rectifier failure see Only "Harley bikes matter"?

The original flattened one is OK but not quite as sharp as the brand new one, but charges up and holds 12.7 volts after a day off the charger. The new one holds 12.9v + well after being fully charged. 12.8v+ is considered 100% fully charged, 12.6v is 75% and 12.3v is 50% charged but will still start a R3 easily. 11.8v is fully discharged.

 

[idk]

I have tried a few different ones. Some more expensive than others. The one I have now I bought from an auto parts store and it has lasted the longest, and cost the least.

 

[motolink]

After 5 years I put in a Dynavolt 12v 20Ah earlier this year.

 

[Scorp]

Had this for a couple of years now, so far all good, very light yet powerful, but pricey.

 

[Rocket Scientist]

I got 11 years out of the factory installed Yausa. I just replaced it this spring as it was getting a little tired on the frosty mornings in Maggie valley last year. I went with another Yausa.

 

[scot in exile]

I got 11 years out of the factory installed Yausa. I just replaced it this spring as it was getting a little tired on the frosty mornings in Maggie valley last year. I went with another Yausa.

Fred forgot to mention that for the last six years his lovely wife had to get up early every morning to push the bike so Fred could bump start it. Then he tried to sell the eleven old battery on craigslist.

 

[Ishrub]

Fred forgot to mention that for the last six years his lovely wife had to get up early every morning to push the bike so Fred could bump start it. Then he tried to sell the eleven old battery on craigslist.

He should have put a SHORAI sticker on it and sold it as LI ion as no one would know the difference.

 

[Rocket Scientist]

Fred forgot to mention that for the last six years his lovely wife had to get up early every morning to push the bike so Fred could bump start it. Then he tried to sell the eleven old battery on craigslist.

So now would you be doubt'n me Scottish lineage ?

 

[motolink]

After 5 years I put in a Dynavolt 12v 20Ah earlier this year.

I have a lithium battery in my Bonneville it's a good 4 years old and considering I only start it once or twice a year the battery has never let me down. And there is no charger attached either. The instruction said to put a charger on it every 6 months but I really have only being doing the recharge every year.

When it came time to buy a battery for the Rocket the supplier said not to get a Lithium if there is a constant draw on the battery when the bike is standing so I went down the Dynavolt path. SO far no issues.