Topic: Battery Choice ??

[redrider736]

Looking for a small light weight battery to replace the stocker and to be relocated into a DIY tray to fit in between my frame rails..
My AirBox is gone and have plenty of room to do this...... Just looking for any suggestions to which brand of Battery I should look at..

[Don R]

A friend of mine has a kick only harley, he runs a dry battery from an emergency exit light. That's all I have, there are lithium batterys now maybe a trip to a parts store or two.

[redrider736]

Planning to run all electrics stock harness ect..
Looking at the Antigravitys http://antigravitybatteries.com/small-case-batteries/
Wondering if the 4-Cell would be enough to run my 78 550k ?

[tfrasca]

The Shorai Lithium Iron one I got has been working flawlessly.

[bs175dths]

Consider the stock battery's specifications and know the replacement battery will have to have similar specifications.
If you calculate what the replacement battery must operate, maybe you can calculate a smaller battery which can still suit your purpose.  In other words, if you don't use directionals or a horn, that is less current.  If you are running LED lights, they use less current.  If you don't travel far, that is less current, but may require a trickle charger to make sure the battery is fully charged before each use.
Keep in mind, the physical size of the battery has nothing to do with the capacity of the battery.
Lithium batteries are small, light and very, very expensive.  Not all batteries can be charged with the same trickle charger.  Your replacement battery may need a special charger.
One suggestion is to buy a brand name/quality battery.  You DO get what you pay for.

Good Luck

-Ride On

[Garage_guy_chris]

I downsized the battery on my CB450 from a 12 ah 165cca stock battery to a 7 ah 124cca battery.  the result is a battery that works fine running everything but is just barely sufficient for cranking. it will still electric start the bike but only if its above 50 deg out. any colder and its reduced capacity isnt enough.   Next time it needs a battery im likely to buy a lithium of some sort to try and get my electric start capability back.

[tfrasca]

The 14Ar Shorai I have has 210 cold cranking amps and would crank the starter a minute if it had to. It's good, and they make one with the same specs that's about half the height of the stock 550 battery.

[heyitsrama]

Yeah just ordered a Shorai battery last night for my 500k, I'm also going to changed out the regulator and rectifier
see http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=121646.0 for regulator and rect.

This is because per my understanding the lithium batteries are more finicky to charging fluctuations.....


Edit : link to battery order, that amazon prime tho.
http://www.amazon.com/Shorai-LFX14A2-BS12-Extreme-Lithium-Powersports/dp/B005EYM4JC

[redrider736]

Great Info Guys !!!

Yeah just ordered a Shorai battery last night for my 500k, I'm also going to changed out the regulator and rectifier
see http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=121646.0 for regulator and rect.

This is because per my understanding the lithium batteries are more finicky to charging fluctuations.....


Edit : link to battery order, that amazon prime tho.
http://www.amazon.com/Shorai-LFX14A2-BS12-Extreme-Lithium-Powersports/dp/B005EYM4JC

Dose my choice of Reg/Rec matter ? I have just ordered a Oregon VRREM7 Reg/Rec with a HondaMan fuse Box.

http://www.oregonmotorcycleparts.com/Reg_rec_units.html

[redrider736]

From the Antigravity Web-Site for there 8-Cell

"Best uses"
•Capable of every day use in bikes up to 750cc
•Great for use in all enduro bikes used for trail riding up to 750cc
•Race use for Enduro and MX electric start bikes up to 1000cc.
•Race and Track Day use in motors up to 1200cc. (High Performance motors should use Antigravity Batteries AG1201)
•Custom builds like cafe racers or small bore customs up to 800cc.   (Please note if you use older classic bikes from mid 1980s and earlier you should update the charging sytems to a modern voltage regulator)

http://shop.antigravitybatteries.com/antigravity-batteries-ag801/

[redrider736]

Going to order up a 8-Cell Antiygravity and cross my fingers it will like my set-up?