Yuasa Batteries at Tires Unlimited

[bwringer]

You might not even notice it on their eyesore of a web site, but Tires Unlimited also sells Yuasa batteries.

I just picked up a lovely YTX14AHLBS maintenance-free AGM battery for $55.73. Shipping was $12.something, for a to-my-door price of under $68.

That, friends and neighbors, is a screaming deal. It's hard to find any AGM battery in this size for less than $70 delivered, let alone what is widely considered to be the finest brand and model in the land (at least in this size).

http://tiresunlimited.com/yuasa_batteries.htm

The YTX14AHLBS is an exact replacement for the 14L-A2, one of the most common motorcycle battery sizes.

Be aware that you have to add the acid (it ships with a premeasured acid container, and it is extremely easy to add the acid with no danger of spilling) and then charge the battery before sealing it and putting it in service. So you need to make sure you have an automatic battery charger/maintainer with at least 1.2 amps capacity and a few hours to spare.

Some AGM batteries come factory sealed and charged, but adding it yourself is probably a better bet because everything stays factory fresh until you break the seal.

http://tiresunlimited.com/yuasa_batteries.htm

Oh, and they sell tires, too, also with excellent pricing and service.

http://tiresunlimited.com/motorcycle_tires.htm

They're located in Dayton Ohio, and stock what they sell. In fact, if you order from a lot of online "tire stores", they simply are middlemen who pass the order on to TU to ship from the TU warehouse.

[koolaid_kid]

Wow, that is a heck of a deal for an AGM. Most excellent score, brian.

[Griffin]

Good score.

I bought the exact same battery (as you know Brian) at Cycle Recycle based upon Rob's recommendation. It cost $69.95, but I also had to pay tax on it, so it ended up costing me $74.15.

I've been rotating it between the 1100 and 700.

[bwringer]

Actually, I had no idea that CRC2 sold these. Good to know, and still not a bad price. I'm sure Rob has seen more batteries come and go than anyone, so his recommendation is worth a lot.

My "old" battery (less than a year old, and nothing wrong with it other than it's from Wal*Mart and requires regular checking) is going to a good home in a GS650 nearby.

Batteries Plus will accept old batteries for recycling with no ceremony or fees required, as will some (but not all) auto parts stores.

[koolaid_kid]

I was at the Scary Store (a.k.a. WalMart) this afternoon, and they also carry a AGM battery. It was their house brand, of course, but is most certainly a rebranded part. And Scary Stores are more plentiful than CRC2s. Just an FYI.
p.s. I call it the Scary Store because of the clientelle. I don't know where they come from, but there are sure a lot of them. Kind of like Dawn of the Dead. :shock:

[SteveN]

Has anyone hever heard of Adventure Power batteries? are they any good? Apex has them listed for dirt cheap:

http://www.apexbattery.com/adventure-power-ub14b-4-motorcycle-battery-motorcycle-batteries-universal-power-motorcycle-batteries.html

Adventure Power UB14B-4 Motorcycle Battery

U-40616 $12.70
Adventure Power UB14B-4 (12V, 12AH)
Manufacturer Adventure Power
Model UB14B-4 (12V, 12AH)
Weight 11
Volts 12
Amp-Hour 12
CCA 140
Length 5.91
Width 2.75
Height 5.75
Warranty 1 Year
Chemistry SLA

[MalFet]

My "old" battery (less than a year old, and nothing wrong with it other than it's from Wal*Mart and requires regular checking) is going to a good home in a GS650 nearby.

And I'm the good home to which Brian's battery has been adopted. I have to say, I didn't realize those nuts inside the posts were going to be a three handed project. There was plenty-'o-cussin' as I tried to swich out batteries in a carport lit by one overhead CFL at 11:00 PM. Starts fine, though.

I also bought a charger/maintainer like you mentioned as well as some oil change paraphernalia. I'll drain the oil this weekend while your in Galena and we'll ride to lunch next week.

Thanks! :-D

[Planecrazy]

Batterymart.com BIG CRANK AGM $54.95 and only $8.48 shipping (to Chicago)!!

This battery comes ALREADY filled, sealed, and fully charged (Which I prefer, because it gives them a chance to make sure all is well before shipment). It's rated at 190cca, but when I sent my battery back to them after accidentally killing it they not only revived it but torture tested for a week to make sure it was A-OK, and it tested at 400cca!! Now THAT'S a good battery!!

A side note ... Last week I realized that I had forgotten to hook the battery back up to my smart charger (a Vector 2/10/25/75 amp electronic unit) and I almost killed it again (because it had sat for over a month with a small load on it). Initially it wouldn't take a charge, but after running it through several "desulfate" cycles on the charger and then using the 75amp "jump start" setting while cranking the bike over I was able to "shock" it back into normal operation, and it took a full charge yet again! I'll be watching it carefully this weekend with a volt/charge meter I'm installing on the bike today, but so far it appears to be working perfectly!

Regards,

[Mysuzyq]

[

A side note ... Last week I realized that I had forgotten to hook the battery back up to my smart charger (a Vector 2/10/25/75 amp electronic unit) and I almost killed it again. Initially it wouldn't take a charge, but after running it through several "desulfate" cycles on the charger and then using the 75amp "jump start" setting while cranking the bike over I was able to "shock" it back into normal operation, and it took a full charge yet again! ,

May I ask how long it sat before being hooked up to the charger again? It sounds like a week, going by your post...I'm puzzled why no charging for a week would, in effect, 'kill' the battery, unless its something about the AGM batteries I should know (and don't).....I have left my battery in the bike for at least 10 days at a time, since I have'nt had much riding time this season, and it fired up without any problems and is charging fine (4 month old Yuasa AGM, with 210CCA)....are these supposed to be hooked up to a charger/maintainer at all times when not in use?
My former 'wet' type Yuasa's I would charge fully a couple times a month during the winter (off the bike....this was before I bought a battery-tender), and it seemed fine with that (lasted 3 years on average).

Tony.

[Planecrazy]

May I ask how long it sat before being hooked up to the charger again? It sounds like a week, going by your post...I'm puzzled why no charging for a week would, in effect, 'kill' the battery, unless its something about the AGM batteries I should know (and don't).....I have left my battery in the bike for at least 10 days at a time, since I have'nt had much riding time this season, and it fired up without any problems and is charging fine (4 month old Yuasa AGM, with 210CCA)....are these supposed to be hooked up to a charger/maintainer at all times when not in use?
My former 'wet' type Yuasa's I would charge fully a couple times a month during the winter (off the bike....this was before I bought a battery-tender), and it seemed fine with that (lasted 3 years on average).

Tony.

Sorry, Tony ... I elaborated in another post and should have done so here. I didn't use the bike very much this season, and the battery did just fine most of it because there was no load on it. AGM batteries actually take much longer to lose residual charge than conventional lead acid batteries. The reason I had a problem was that the last time the bike was used was roughly a month to month and a half ago, and when it was parked I forgot to unplug the fairing (and stereo), which left a small draw on the battery (clock memories, etc.). As a result, the battery lost a lot of its charge and was down below six volts when I realized (last week) that I had forgotten to either disconnect the fairing and/or put the charger back on it.

Hope that brings everything into focus...

Regards,

[Steve]

I have to say, I didn't realize those nuts inside the posts were going to be a three handed project. There was plenty-'o-cussin' as I tried to swich out batteries in a carport lit by one overhead CFL at 11:00 PM.

Here is a tip, especially for those who are joining the sealed battery brigade:

Keep the vent tube from the old battery. Cut a pice about 1 inch long, squiash it and place it under the battery terminal nut. Do the same for the other post. The tubing keeps the nut lifted to where the bolt will grab it easily, and will deform without damage when the bolt comes through the nut. \\/


.

[Steve]

I have to say, I didn't realize those nuts inside the posts were going to be a three handed project. There was plenty-'o-cussin' as I tried to swich out batteries in a carport lit by one overhead CFL at 11:00 PM.

Here is a tip, especially for those who are joining the sealed battery brigade (but it works for wet batteries, too):

Keep the vent tube from the old battery. Cut a pice about 1 inch long, squish it and place it under the battery terminal nut. Do the same for the other post. The tubing keeps the nut lifted to where the bolt will grab it easily, and will deform without damage when the bolt comes through the nut. \\/


.

[Mysuzyq]

Hope that brings everything into focus...

Crystal-clear, Steve....thanks!

Tony.

[bwringer]

Here is a tip, especially for those who are joining the sealed battery brigade (but it works for wet batteries, too):

Keep the vent tube from the old battery. Cut a pice about 1 inch long, squish it and place it under the battery terminal nut. Do the same for the other post. The tubing keeps the nut lifted to where the bolt will grab it easily, and will deform without damage when the bolt comes through the nut. \\/


.

Excellent excellent tip tip!

Here's another one: before taking in an old/dead battery for recycling, remove the terminal nuts and bolts and keep them somewhere safe. You'll probably want them at some future date. Guess how I learned this...

[Billy Ricks]

I picked up a Westco Gel cell earlier in the year and it sat for months before I put it to use. Every few weeks I'd hook it up to the charger and found it would still have about a 95% charge after sitting unused. After a few weeks with a conventional battery there would be very little charge left. I'll never go back to the old lead/acid batteries again in the bike.