Topic: Options for smaller battery(ies)?

[SClay115]

I really, really don't want to put the battery box back onto my project bike. And have seen pictures of people mounting two flat batteries underneath the seat. What cells are around for such a job? My ride is going to be kicker only, so there won't ever be that huge draw from the starter...thoughts?

Steve

[Jinxracing]

Steve,

I spoke to Ron Evans at www.batteryspec.com and he was able to set me up with what I think is going to work out for my application....cheap too!

This is the model:

http://www.batteryspec.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?action=link&product=150

He's a nice guy and is into motorcycles; I told him he might be getting some calls from members here on the forum.

[Tim2005]

I was wondering about this too... this one is smaller than stock, so should be lighhter,  yet still is 12ah. Anybody tried it?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12v-12ah-SLA-Mobility-Batteries_W0QQitemZ170085608551QQihZ007QQcategoryZ75068QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

[Chris Liston]

Looking thru that site.  Can you get a sealed battery for our bikes if the dimensions match? or close to our dimensions?

[Jinxracing]

Looking thru that site.  Can you get a sealed battery for our bikes if the dimensions match? or close to our dimensions?

I'm no battery expert, but according to the guy I spoke to, the only difference between an AGM "motorcycle" battery and the AGM one I'm looking at is the style of terminal. He said a good solder connection with heavy 6 gauge cable should work out fine. When I asked him about the price, he told me that if it were marketed towards motorcyclists the same battery would be priced at $50.

[SClay115]

Jinx, I'm assuming that is enough to power most things right? I have a 350 twin(gasp, wrong section!  ) And I've heard that the charging systems on them are pretty poor. Or at least, that's what I hear...

Steve

[Jinxracing]

Jinx, I'm assuming that is enough to power most things right? I have a 350 twin(gasp, wrong section!  ) And I've heard that the charging systems on them are pretty poor. Or at least, that's what I hear...

Steve

Actually, from responses I got in a different post about that particular battery, it doesn't look like it's going to have much juice. Strong enough to crank the engine over a few times and keep everything running I'm guessing, but that's about it. I'd recommend talking to the experts on this one...I'm rolling the dice by buying that battery, it may not even crank the engine over once. But for $16, I'll take the chance. 

[SClay115]

Hey Jinx, wondering if you had any long term updates on that battery you are using? I'm at the 'battery fitment' stage on my build, and am starting to shop around. And that one you had posted fits the dimensions perfectly.

Steve

[Scirocco88]

Have you heard/thought of the Bat-Pac? I've personally never used it but I plan on picking one up.

http://bat-pac.com/

The concept is simple enough and if you're going to run with just the kicker it seems like it should work for you. Plus it'll fit under your seat easily.

[SClay115]

Yeah definitely an interesting option. Seems like it's not so much of 'battery' but a voltage stabilizer, which works for me! As it will be kicker only...might have to give this one a shot..

Steve

[Bodi]

If the 350 twin has a permanent magnet alternator the bat-pac should work. With the field coil type alternator on the inline SOHC-4 bikes it will not work, at all, period.

[SClay115]

Really a slick idea. Hard to think about not really having a battery at all, but hey, sounds like a fantastic theory ya know?

Steve

[Jinxracing]

Hey Jinx, wondering if you had any long term updates on that battery you are using? I'm at the 'battery fitment' stage on my build, and am starting to shop around. And that one you had posted fits the dimensions perfectly.

Steve

Hi Steve, I haven't actually got mine up and running yet, but Huero Loco has and sounds like he's having great results with it. Look at this thread:

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=21387.0

BTW, I'd heed Bodi's advice about the battery eliminator kit. There has been a lot of talk on the forum about them in the past and the consensus is that they just won't work on most (all?) SOHC Hondas.

[SClay115]

That battery is the $hit. I use it everyday, no problems. Open rear frame. Gangsta.

That is all I need to hear. 

Steve

[Bodi]

The bat-pac won't work on our SOHC4 inline Honda bike engines. I am doubly unsure about the GL1200 - it has an oddball regulator system and may have a PM or self-exciting alternator that would work with the bat-pac but is it an SOHC4?... it is definitely a four and it only has one cam operating intake and exhaust valves but technically there are two (single) cams. I would include it as a single cam engine although the boxer motors are very different from the inlines.
Possibly you could adapt a PM alternator from a 450 twin or other engine and use the bat-pac if you really really want to go battery free. Or talk Terry out of a magneto.

[SClay115]

Well it's actually going on a 350 twin. I posted it in here as a general question. But the twin uses a generator setup similar to most modern sportbikes. So it would probably work. The setup is built into the left side cover, with the permanent magnet on the crank itself.

Steve