Anyone using a new fancy battery???

[wirelessguy]

I need to do some troubleshooting to see if my battery is dead but if I have to replace it I was curious if anyone is using one of those new sealed batteries and what your opinion is?

While I've heard that they can be positioned in many ways and are potentially lighter or smaller I don't know much else about them.

I guess I'd need to figure out what the dimensions of my 1100EZ battery are and ensure it's not too large but hopefully that's the only difference.

Thanks.

[Steve]

Not sure it's all that "fancy", but most of my bikes have an AGM battery in there from Batteries Plus.

Are you trying to do something that requires a different battery?

You can look up specs for your battery or just order the battery that fits it without knowing the actual dimensions.

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[Octain]

I have a Motobat in my 850.
IIRC I got it on amazon for around 60 bux.

All my bikes have one of dem der "fancy" batteries in em.

[GateKeeper]

maybe by fancy he means one of these

http://www.ballisticparts.com/index.php

Ballistic Performance Component Batteries use the latest, state of the art lithium ferrous energy storage technology available to provide you with a smaller, lighter, higher energy battery. Each Ballistic Performance Component Battery is assembled by hand in the USA using computer designed custom proprietary cells, cases, and hardware. As a result, Ballistic Performance Component Batteries will provide more energy out of a smaller package while requiring almost no regular maintenance and under most conditions a longer service life than existing lead acid batteries.

[Agemax]

i use the Ballistic 8 cell battery. excellent. half the size,more cranking power and mounts any position

[oldpara]

I use a Shorai in my 500, it works fine.
Only 1.5lbs and tiny.

[wirelessguy]

Thanks Gatekeeper.

Yes, I didn't know if to call them Lithium Ion (it seems they're actually called lithium Iron sometimes on motorcycle websites).

My last battery for the 1100E was in the area of $80 or so and some of these new ones were only in the $100 range (Shorai) so part of me thinks I'd be willing to give it a try.

I suppose an important question would really be what to do in the winter months and if normal float chargers can be used so if I require their specific models which are $70+.

maybe by fancy he means one of these

http://www.ballisticparts.com/index.php

[Wallowgreen]

I've just switched to my first AGM battery from batteries plus, I got the uprated version that has higher cold cranking current and a two year replacement guarantee. Cost me $96 so I reckon that's break even with wet cells if it only lasts two years but obviously expecting more than that.

Time'll tell eh?

[Steve]

Yes, I didn't know if to call them Lithium Ion (it seems they're actually called lithium Iron sometimes on motorcycle websites).

Those who are calling them "Lithium Iron" are quite incorrect.

I suppose an important question would really be what to do in the winter months and if normal float chargers can be used so if I require their specific models which are $70+.

If you want to maintain the battery at its proper level, not only will you need the special charger for your off-times, you will likely need a new charging system for the bike, too.

Lithium Ion batteries have different charging needs than the more-common lead-acid batteries, in all of its varieties. The very basic, very simple charging systems on our bikes really do not charge them properly. Yeah, a bunch of guys will say they work fine, but that's only because there is so much reserve in the batteries that they happen to get by. They are not fully-charged, yet they seem to get the job done.

Good luck.

.

[sedelen]

I got one of those Gel batteries. Can't remember what kind it is exactly, but I make sure I ride my bike often to keep it charged (and it has gotten very low at times) because my conventional battery charger says not to charge a Gel with it. So......... when this battery goes I'll either have to get a battery charger that is capable of charging it or go back to the old wet cell. I'll probably go back to the old wet cell.

[OldVet66]

I'll stick with my Motobatt. At the local restaurant one hot morning, a not so "Old" Veteran was limping across the parking lot to his old clapped out Chevrolet with a cane, got in the car and it clicked the solenoid. I asked him if he had jumper cables, he did, some really thin aluminum wire cables. Pulled the saddle bags of my bike took out my "air box tool kit", hooked up the cables and mentally crossed my fingers. It groaned over twice and fired right up. Had to do it for the wife also, after she left the lights on at work. I guess if it will start a Trident V10 50 times in the tests, when all the other AGM's had died it will start the odd stranded vehicles and my bike. I think I'll gladly carry the extra weight.

[Toasty]

I have a gel battery on my bike. It's 5ish years old (PO installed it) and it still holds a charge just fine. It's kind of a pain though that you can't use a standard bike charger on it though.

[GateKeeper]

the ballistic ones don't really need anything special

Do I need a special charger or can I use a standard automotive based charger?
No, you do not need a special charger. Any automotive or motorcycle based charger is acceptable to recharge your Ballistic Performance Components Battery as long as it has an automatic shut-off at 14.4V to prevent over charging. If you are using an automatic charge, be sure that it is not used in automatic desulfication mode designed for lead-acid batteries, this can damage the cells.

Ballistic Performance Components batteries are very different from a traditional lead acid batteries in that they do not require regular maintenance charging. A traditional lead-acid battery can lose as much as 1% of their capacity per day of static use. Ballistic Performance Components batteries will lose only 10% of their total charge over a twelve (12) month period of static use so a trickle charger is not required. Ballistic Performance Components batteries are compatible with your vehicle’s charging system and can be used in a “total loss” racing application. Please refer to the detailed charging instructions included with your battery or the charging instructions located at: http://www.ballisticparts.com/tech/charging.html.

When charging a Ballistic Performance Components Battery with a traditional automotive or motorcycle based external charging device, the following input specifications are recommended:

Standard Charge: 2A @ 13.2-14.4V for approximately 45 minutes or until the battery registers 14.4V.
Maximum Charge Rate for Standard Automotive-based Charger:
EVO2 50 Battery (100-009) – 5A @ 13.2-14.4V for 15 minutes or until the battery registers 14.4V.
4 Cell EVO2 (100-010) – 10A @ 13.2-14.4V for 15 minutes or until the battery registers 14.4V.
8 Cell EVO2 (100-011) – 20A @ 13.2-14.4V for 15 minutes or until the battery registers 14.4V.
12 Cell EVO2 (100-012) – 20A @ 13.2-14.4V for 15 minutes or until the battery registers 14.4V.
16 Cell EVO2 (100-013) – 20A @ 13.2-14.4V for 15 minutes or until the battery registers 14.4V.

What is different about the Ballistic Performance Components BMS (Battery Management System) Charger?
The primary advantage to the Ballistic Performance Components BMS (Battery Management System) Charger is the balance charging function. The balance charging mode balances the voltage of each cell or cell pack individually using the Ballistic BMS port on 2011 and up EVO2 batteries. By balance charging your Ballistic Performance Components Battery you can insure that the battery is operating at its maximum power. Periodic balance charging can also double the expected life of your battery.

In order to balance charge your EVO2 battery you must connect the supplied BMS cable to the BMS port on the top of the battery along with the positive and negative leads from the charger. The BMS cable lead should connect to the individual port at the right side of the charger.

In this mode the built-in processor monitors the voltage of individual cells and controls input current fed into each cell to normalize the voltage.

The BMS port is a feature only included in the latest 2011 version of the EVO2 battery. If you have an older Ballistic Performance Components Battery, the standard charge mode is your best choice.

Do I need to use a Battery Tender®?
The answer is no you do not need to use a Battery Tender®, but you can. Because of the high discharge rate of a lead-acid battery they require a regular maintenance charge in order to remain functioning. A Ballistic Performance Components Battery only discharges at a rate of 10% per year of static use compared to a discharge rate of almost 1% per day of a traditional lead-acid battery, and thus they require no maintenance charge. If you wish to use a Battery Tender®, it will not hurt the battery as long as it has an auto shut off at 14.4volts. Overcharging any battery will cause it to fail.

[mustangflyr]

Battery

I too have installed an AGM battery in my 1000 works great.

[Steve]

I got one of those Gel batteries. ... my conventional battery charger says not to charge a Gel with it. ...

I have a gel battery on my bike. It's 5ish years old (PO installed it) and it still holds a charge just fine. It's kind of a pain though that you can't use a standard bike charger on it though.

Are you guys SURE you have "gel" batteries?

A TRUE "gel" cell battery is generally not rated for the high current that is required to turn a starter, so is not found in vehicle batteries.

Most of the time, when I hear someone call their battery a "gel" cell battery, it is merely a sealed, maintenance-free battery or, at best, an AGM type of battery.

Yes, "gel" batteries are fully-optimized with a special charger, but you can use a regular charger on them if the battery is low. It may not bring it up to full potential, but it won't do any worse than your bike, which won't take it all the way up, either.

An AGM battery can also be charged by a "regular" charger/maintainer.

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