Talk to me about motorcycle batteries
Discussion
Been running lithium for about 7 years on one bike and 5 years on the other (it came with one from new) no issues, they hold charge for ages over winter months and obviously much lighter (over 5kg on one bike) Not that much more expensive now. Downside is you may new need optimate charger if you do intend on leaving them for many months without use.
Brennnain1 said:
Unlucky Timmeh, are you still able to access spare givi keys? Is so I’ve PM’d you. Cheers.
Hi mate. I’m afraid not. I thought I had replied to your PM. I apologise. I know where I was working at the time still has the box of keys. Hopefully this isn’t breaking any rules: C J Ball - 01603 307500
Philos said:
Folks,
Stay away from cheap stuff.
I put a new Yuasa on my R1 4xv the other day and it started better than the previous 'other' brand battery had ever done. For an extra £10 I had an instant starter and still able to use my old optimate charger.
P.
Definitely agree with this - mine came with an invoice for a new battery, I forget the brand but it was generic, only 6 months before I bought it, the thing was flat after 2-3 days of sitting about, and sometimes even sooner than that it'd struggle to start it (a twin).Stay away from cheap stuff.
I put a new Yuasa on my R1 4xv the other day and it started better than the previous 'other' brand battery had ever done. For an extra £10 I had an instant starter and still able to use my old optimate charger.
P.
Stuck a Yuasa in it and it starts after 2 weeks without a conditioner no bother at all.
The irony is that I paid the same for the right-spec of Yuasa on the webs as the previous owner had for his cheapo one.
Krikkit said:
Definitely agree with this - mine came with an invoice for a new battery, I forget the brand but it was generic, only 6 months before I bought it, the thing was flat after 2-3 days of sitting about, and sometimes even sooner than that it'd struggle to start it (a twin).
Stuck a Yuasa in it and it starts after 2 weeks without a conditioner no bother at all.
The irony is that I paid the same for the right-spec of Yuasa on the webs as the previous owner had for his cheapo one.
I'd third that - I tried a motobatt when I had my SV650 and the original (16 year old!) Yuasa died. Worked great, for about 7 months, then lost a cell for no reason and wouldn't even turn the bike over. Got a new Yuasa and never had another problem, although I did also replace the reg/reg "just in case". For the price it's just not worth trying anything else, unless you're dropping the cash to go LithiumStuck a Yuasa in it and it starts after 2 weeks without a conditioner no bother at all.
The irony is that I paid the same for the right-spec of Yuasa on the webs as the previous owner had for his cheapo one.
I bought 2 motobatts, one for my Blade and 1 for my X11. The X11 one lasted just over a year and failed drastically, Blade one was fine. Warranty was only 1 year, so stuffed on that count. When i checked around various forums, my findings were that they fail regularly, and can also leak, so I'd steer clear of that particular make. I replaced it with a cheap make from ebay that race teams use, and it's been fine for 2 years now.
Pete
Pete
Slightly off topic.
Has anyone had an issue with optimate showing green yet the battery doesn’t have enough “omph “ to turn the motor other than a couple of slow revolutions then click click buuuuurrrrrr.
The Optimate is the one I’ve always used on this bike and is a trusty model 3SP and the battery is a direct replacement Yuasa (probably 7-8 years old now).
As said optimate indicates “green” yet the battery just won’t spin motor over quick enough to fore up. Bike starts instantly in a push start.
I also tried my newer model optimate and a ctek. Both unable to charge the battery to a power level that would start the bike on the button although both showed battery as “fully charged and holding power”
I Guess the battery is just tired and needs replacing, I just thought it odd that the chargers all indicated that the battery is on “good condition” when it clearly isn’t.
How come????
Has anyone had an issue with optimate showing green yet the battery doesn’t have enough “omph “ to turn the motor other than a couple of slow revolutions then click click buuuuurrrrrr.
The Optimate is the one I’ve always used on this bike and is a trusty model 3SP and the battery is a direct replacement Yuasa (probably 7-8 years old now).
As said optimate indicates “green” yet the battery just won’t spin motor over quick enough to fore up. Bike starts instantly in a push start.
I also tried my newer model optimate and a ctek. Both unable to charge the battery to a power level that would start the bike on the button although both showed battery as “fully charged and holding power”
I Guess the battery is just tired and needs replacing, I just thought it odd that the chargers all indicated that the battery is on “good condition” when it clearly isn’t.
How come????
chris4652009 said:
Slightly off topic.
Has anyone had an issue with optimate showing green yet the battery doesn’t have enough “omph “ to turn the motor other than a couple of slow revolutions then click click buuuuurrrrrr.
The Optimate is the one I’ve always used on this bike and is a trusty model 3SP and the battery is a direct replacement Yuasa (probably 7-8 years old now).
As said optimate indicates “green” yet the battery just won’t spin motor over quick enough to fore up. Bike starts instantly in a push start.
I also tried my newer model optimate and a ctek. Both unable to charge the battery to a power level that would start the bike on the button although both showed battery as “fully charged and holding power”
I Guess the battery is just tired and needs replacing, I just thought it odd that the chargers all indicated that the battery is on “good condition” when it clearly isn’t.
How come????
I had the same thing with my Yuasa battery yesterday actually! The Optimate was showing green and that all was ok, yet after about two cranks I got the dreaded "click". I ended up boost starting it and the after a few checks with the multimeter and amp clamp, both the charging system and battery were both deemed ok. After idling for about 10 minutes and switching off, the battery was sat merrily at 12.7v and restarted the bike again no problem about an hour later. I can only put it down to the charger really.Has anyone had an issue with optimate showing green yet the battery doesn’t have enough “omph “ to turn the motor other than a couple of slow revolutions then click click buuuuurrrrrr.
The Optimate is the one I’ve always used on this bike and is a trusty model 3SP and the battery is a direct replacement Yuasa (probably 7-8 years old now).
As said optimate indicates “green” yet the battery just won’t spin motor over quick enough to fore up. Bike starts instantly in a push start.
I also tried my newer model optimate and a ctek. Both unable to charge the battery to a power level that would start the bike on the button although both showed battery as “fully charged and holding power”
I Guess the battery is just tired and needs replacing, I just thought it odd that the chargers all indicated that the battery is on “good condition” when it clearly isn’t.
How come????
[quote]Folks,
Stay away from cheap stuff.
I put a new Yuasa on my R1 4xv the other day and it started better than the previous 'other' brand battery had ever done. For an extra £10 I had an instant starter and still able to use my old optimate charger.
P.
[/quote]
Good point. From my experience, Yuasa and EarthX are decent batteries for motorcycles. Check this page for a reference, never problems with any kind of charger.
Stay away from cheap stuff.
I put a new Yuasa on my R1 4xv the other day and it started better than the previous 'other' brand battery had ever done. For an extra £10 I had an instant starter and still able to use my old optimate charger.
P.
[/quote]
Good point. From my experience, Yuasa and EarthX are decent batteries for motorcycles. Check this page for a reference, never problems with any kind of charger.
i have an antigravity lithium on my monster. i needed a new battery and this wasn't much of a stretch over local dealer price. the advantage of the antigravity is that they have a low voltage cut-off which can be reset by remote control and has enough charge left for a crank. given the battery is under the tank i thought this would be the best way to go.
it's been in 8mths now and never been connected to a charger since it's initial charge. it's been through a dubai summer and started first time the other day after i'd been away for 5 weeks. i've never had to use the reset.
it's been in 8mths now and never been connected to a charger since it's initial charge. it's been through a dubai summer and started first time the other day after i'd been away for 5 weeks. i've never had to use the reset.
shirt said:
i have an antigravity lithium on my monster. i needed a new battery and this wasn't much of a stretch over local dealer price. the advantage of the antigravity is that they have a low voltage cut-off which can be reset by remote control and has enough charge left for a crank. given the battery is under the tank i thought this would be the best way to go.
it's been in 8mths now and never been connected to a charger since it's initial charge. it's been through a dubai summer and started first time the other day after i'd been away for 5 weeks. i've never had to use the reset.
An “antigravity” battery? I bet your bike really flies...it's been in 8mths now and never been connected to a charger since it's initial charge. it's been through a dubai summer and started first time the other day after i'd been away for 5 weeks. i've never had to use the reset.
I always defended Yuasa as a battery on here, despite two failing previously, but mine failed on me leaving me stranded in a remote highland location with very little warning in August and I'm avoiding them now.
Being an automatic bike it was a nightmare as I could bump it! I had to borrow jump cables from some kindly old bloke, jump start from, amusingly, a Ferrari 612. Then ride 100 miles with the fear of running out of fuel, to get a replacement from Inverness Halfords and fit it in the carpark.
That's the third and final Yuasa battery I've had let me down.
Being an automatic bike it was a nightmare as I could bump it! I had to borrow jump cables from some kindly old bloke, jump start from, amusingly, a Ferrari 612. Then ride 100 miles with the fear of running out of fuel, to get a replacement from Inverness Halfords and fit it in the carpark.
That's the third and final Yuasa battery I've had let me down.
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