Topic: Battery Source

[jbailey]

I found another source for Maintenance free Batteries.  I have a 1975 550 and maintenance free batteries are just becoming available.  One source I have posted before was:  http://www.bikebatts.com/index.php/cPath/1_59_148
However, they seem to always be out of stock and shipping is steep unless you spend over $55.

The new source is:  http://www.batterystuff.com/batterySearch.php?theType=Motorcycle&theMake=Honda&theModel=CB550%20Four,%20K,%20SS&theYear=1975&m=1#result
I haven't tried one of these yet, but since I got one year out of my last battery, I am definately going the Maintenance Free route this time.

[scondon]

 I have a Yuasa in my 750 and can say that it is a good MF battery. Can be ordered at just about any nearby cycle shop if you have the right #. Nice thing about brick and mortar shops is there is no shipping charges

[jbailey]

The 550 takes a different battery.  This battery is for the 550 and also 450, 350, 400 etc. and is not available in Maintenance free form from your local dealer.

I agree that it would be swell to be able to walk into any local store and say to the nice man, "I will take a maintenance free battery for my old honda 550".  Unfortunately, at this time the best we can do is order a cheap Chinese one from the internet.  However, I feel this would be an improvement over the lead acid ones I have bought so many of over the years.  If you get two or three years out of the old batteries, you are lucky.

[scondon]

If Yuasa makes it, I can order it from my local shop provided I have the correct part #. Haven't tried the specific battery you are talking about but the 750 specific MF, which is not in the catalogues, wasn't a problem to get.

 Not posting this to dispute ya, jbailey. You know for sure about the 550 battery's. Just posting in case anyone reading is thinking of buying an unlisted battery

    Is it the top posts or the physical size that makes the 550/750 batteries different?

[eldar]

I think the size may be slightly smaller for the 550 but the main thing is the terminals are switched.

[ntakebay]

I ordered Scorpion sYT12C from batterystuff, and am waiting for its arrival.  Their customer service seems to be good so far: I asked a question, and they replied immediately within 1 hour, and shipping was quick.  We'll see how the quality of the battery is.  I couldn't find AGM/MaintainanceFree Yuasa in the exact size (12N12A-4A-1 or YB12A-A) for 550.

[jbailey]

I will be getting one too.  I assume it should outlast the cheap Lead/Acid ones I've had.  I got two seasons out of one battery, but only one out of most.  The Yuasa L/A is too expensive and proabably wouldn't outlast even a chinese Maintenance Free.  Time will tell.  Let me know your impressions.

[NH_CB550F]

I ordered one as soon as I read this post Thanks jbailey and they had it here in 4days by Friday via USPS Priority to boot, Woot Woot !
This is just what I'd been waiting for. I'd Bought a great bike but it came with a tired and dated battery.
A nice clean 13.06V on delivery and today's ride was just incredible as a result ! I actually could use the electric starter this morning for the first time since buying this bike !
My existing battery that came with the bike was a tired 5+ year old Yuasa Yumi-Micron and after sitting on the charger all night would do 12.5 volts at best.
After turning on the ignition w/o the headlight (mine has a switch) the battery was already weak and you could see the headlight dim between revs once I got her kick started.
The bike would run but you could see that the charging system had a lot to do with it.
For $57. shipped and not having to hang that old battery off of the charger day in and day out and not to mention the performance it is well worth it just in convenience alone.

Thanks again jbailey.

This site/forum is awesome !
 

[fuzzybutt]

got my AGM battery at advance auto 2 years ago. 74.95. i got a size larger than what was stock and i enlarged the battery box to fit it.

[jbailey]

What size did you get?  Do you have a 550?  And, how did you make it fit?  I thought about modifying the tray, but coldn't find a maintenance free battery that was anywhere close in size to the original.  I would still rather go with the correct size maintenance free before I take a whack at my battery tray.  I just wish Yuasa and the others would make one our size that was available locally for the convenience.  If these batteries are good quality, maybe dealers will stock them.

[NH_CB550F]

The 750 12V14AH batteries used in the early CB750's are being made in the AGM size by the major domestic manufacturers because those same size batteries were used in the 750 nighthawks up through 91-2003 according to the YUASA cross reference.
Whereas these older smaller batteries used in the CB550 (12N12A-4A) and smaller displacement bikes were last used in the late 80's in the V45 Hondas long before AGM tech batteries existed so the battery manufacturers no longer created upwardly compatible batteries for these bikes because no one used them any longer in production bikes.
The 750 batteries are close in size but are about a third of an inch .33" too high and deep  which doesn't sound like much but it will when you see how tight an already very tight battery box in these CB550s are as well as trying to get your side cover to fit over it.
I'd considered doing the "force-it" method with a 750 battery which is taller and deeper but why bother to hack up your classic bike if for $50 bucks you can get a correct fitting maintenance free battery ?
And until Yuasa gets off their duff and makes an equivalent for our old bikes ...This AGM battery rules !

[jbailey]

Well, after posting this about three weeks ago, I finally got around to ordering myself a battery.  I haven't had the 550 running since last fall and feel really bad everytime I go out to the garage, especially when i wheel the other bike out for a ride!  I have a new tire to mount on the back and hopefully will have her running next week.