Cheep battery vs. a good one | GTAMotorcycle.com

Cheep battery vs. a good one

Farook

Farook

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Change my battery today. This is probably why there are cheaper batteries. The build quality is cheaper and the mounting is cheaper. Performance-wise we'll see
 
Chinesium battery on the right - you'll get a year or two out of it if you're lucky,
 
I've always been bad for killing batteries, generally leaving my lights on etc. I've bought lots of Canadian tire batteries figuring that I will just kill it anyway, so not concerned with longevity.

With the canadian tire battery my sportster barely turns over, so if for some reason it takes a few trys to start, it will weaken the battery to the point that it will not turn over at all.

Last year I put a drag speciaties battery in just because I was at Classy Chassis and needed one. It was alot more money but it also is 100% noticeable in its ability to turn over the bike. Last winter I didn't disconnect, trickle charge, nothing, and it was strong as ever after taking a few trys to start up for the first time last Sunday.
 
Canadian Tire now sells 2-3 grades of powersports batteries, FWIW.

Are you guys judging these batteries based on lead vs brass terminals?
 
TwistedKestrel said:
Canadian Tire now sells 2-3 grades of powersports batteries, FWIW.

Are you guys judging these batteries based on lead vs brass terminals?
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I have found Canadian tire has the worst powersport batteries absolute garbage and expensive. The cheap china one usually last much better.

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My Motobatt AGM lasted 8 years and I neglected the **** out of it. Woulda bought another one but I got a good deal on a regular lead acid Yuasa. Let's see what happens.
 
The no-name "chinesium" battery lasted from bike purchase in 2017 until 2021. I had drained it a couple times with my headlight and never trickle charged it.
I have a Yuasa now and no complaints obviously.

China has very high quality manufacturing (aluminum extrusion, nuts and bolts, injection molded plastics that we've imported) but many local distributors buy their cheapest garbage. I've bought American-made trash too, not any better yet more expensive than Chinese trash imo.



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I've had great luck with the AJC batteries from "Battery Clerk". I haven't charged the battery for two years, even when leaving the bike out over the winter.

Actually sorry, the only time I had to throw it on a charger was when I left a parking light on overnight. Doh!
 
I don't know why people want to save a miniscule amount of $$, relatively speaking, and put a cheap battery in their bike. Must not value your riding time. How would you like to be suited up for a ride on a beautiful day, only to find a dead battery and your plans ruined. Or be 200 km from home on a great day, come out of a Timmies to find a dead battery and maybe hours spent waiting for a tow home.
 
Has anyone tried lithium batteries?

A great YouTube video comparing lead, AGM, lithium.

It seems like a great idea, as long as you can wait 30 seconds before zooming off on a chilly day.

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N234 said:
Has anyone tried lithium batteries?

A great YouTube video comparing lead, AGM, lithium.

It seems like a great idea, as long as you can wait 30 seconds before zooming off on a chilly day.
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We have Shorai Li-ion on our enduros. They crank well, even at temps around freezing, I've gone on some chilly late fall rides without a problem.

Also never had to "warm up" the Shorai using the headlight for 30 seconds. My headlight only turns on when the engine is running and the beast cranks cold every single time.

And the batteries are so light as well. Great for competition bikes when every gram counts. However, an additional 2000-2500 grams for conventional lead or AGM is not so much an issue on a 160 hp 600 lb adventure bike.

Plus I can skip lunch for a week and realize the same weight savings.

It's just that I don't like to skip lunch.

And it shows...
 
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Me and my bike weigh 600lbs, and I don't skip either of my lunches or either of my dinners.

But the main benefit is that I keep forgetting my lights on at meetups and lithium has deep cycle capability.

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ReSTored said:
I don't know why people want to save a miniscule amount of $$, relatively speaking, and put a cheap battery in their bike. Must not value your riding time. How would you like to be suited up for a ride on a beautiful day, only to find a dead battery and your plans ruined. Or be 200 km from home on a great day, come out of a Timmies to find a dead battery and maybe hours spent waiting for a tow home.
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Here's the thing though - brand new OEM powersports batteries frequently don't have much more warranty than the cheaper ones. And lead acid battery tech is pretty mature. I can definitely see the appeal of a good enough battery that costs half as much.

Most of the dead batteries I run into are not the battery's fault!
 
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Lightcycle said:
We have Shorai Li-ion on our enduros. They crank well, even at temps around freezing, I've gone on some chilly late fall rides without a problem.

Also never had to "warm up" the Shorai using the headlight for 30 seconds. My headlight only turns on when the engine is running and the beast cranks cold every single time.

And the batteries are so light as well. Great for competition bikes when every gram counts. However, an additional 2000-2500 grams for conventional lead or AGM is not so much an issue on a 160 hp 600 lb adventure bike.

Plus I can skip lunch for a week and realize the same weight savings.

It's just that I don't like to skip lunch.

And it shows...
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That's the complete opposite experience I had with my Shorai LFX14L2-BS12 in my 998, which is what they recommended back in 2011. It could barely start my bike cold (under 10c), and only after 5 or 6 attempts. I was always worried it wouldn't start at all, and the kickback from some of the failed starts eventually killed my starter sprag. Now I see they recommend the LFX18A1-BS12 for the same bike. Which model Shorai are you using, and is it the one they recommend, or did you upsize?
 
Relax said:
That's the complete opposite experience I had with my Shorai LFX14L2-BS12 in my 998, which is what they recommended back in 2011. It could barely start my bike cold (under 10c), and only after 5 or 6 attempts. I was always worried it wouldn't start at all, and the kickback from some of the failed starts eventually killed my starter sprag. Now I see they recommend the LFX18A1-BS12 for the same bike. Which model Shorai are you using, and is it the one they recommend, or did you upsize?
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When I was restoring an older Yamaha XV920R I had the choice of an 18AH or a 20AH battery - both fit in the box and the terminals were in the right place. Guess which one I chose ? Go for the most powerful you can fit with the proper hookups, you can't go wrong.
 
On my third battery on the 2009.
First came with the bike and lasted 4-5 years.
Second came from Walmart, and is still good as far as I know.
Third was an Energizer from Costco, that I bought last year.
The only reason I have a third is because the second one I bought was slightly larger, and won't fit under a Corbin seat.
 
Baggsy said:
On my third battery on the 2009.
First came with the bike and lasted 4-5 years.
Second came from Walmart, and is still good as far as I know.
Third was an Energizer from Costco, that I bought last year.
The only reason I have a third is because the second one I bought was slightly larger, and won't fit under a Corbin seat.
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Mind if I ask what size battery you got from Costco? I struggled to find one that fit.

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