After about a year and a half of constant use my lithium battery has finally died I'm an advocate of these light weight wonders. During it's service I've never needed to 'optimate', but in the last weeks I've noticed the cranking power reducing. If the blade is not fired up in the first couple of turns it's game over. Luckily I do have a Oxford x3 that will charge it up(in a few mins!) but the battery just doesnt have much in reserve anymore ,the AmpHours have just seems to be depleted. It will reach nearly 14V after a charge or long run but will deplete to just over 12V after a engine turn over Ok if already warm but likely to be dead after a week end. Bought a Moto batt as a replacement, cant really recommended them unfortunately. Good cranking power but the terminals are slightly wider than OEM ( and the lithium) meaning the battery is very tight fit especially in the cramped ABS. In hindsight lithium are great for great for casual use and racing but for day in day out commuting just don't have the longevity. If you are after a replacement just buy the equivalent Yuasa
Interesting stuff,do you reckon the battery would have lasted longer if you had used an optimate? Am looking to replace my battery soon as its tested weak a couple of times,had to fully discharge and recharge it twice now and not wanting it to fail,especially away from home.
These are well handy.. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Porta...304?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27eb8ed280
never thought of that! especially with the lithium this would work really well. Got one of those heavy duty jump starters but not very portable!
Same, saw one of these some months back, hard to believe it started my mates merc van! Another guy has the expencive one but that cheapo looks great to take away or use as a phone backup etc. p.s it was the cheapo that started the van.
Maybe but I think the final nail in the coffin was when I broke down the other week. (Clutch cable snapped leaving me stranded on the M4) Whilst on hazards it totally drained the battery in about an hour, luckily in the daylight, if in the night time this would have been dangerous. I now keep a cheapo cyclist rear light because of this. I read that this full drain can be quite damaging to lithium, but that's just randomly of the web. Been monitoring the voltages lately, anything between 13.6 to 14 while in idle, then around 13.2-13.4 after a few hours rest ,then after a unsucessful engine start or two low 12s high 11s. At this point there's not enough juice even to run the initiate the ignition diagnostics! I can't measure it but I think the CCA is now reduced and Amp hours majorly depleted. TBH the cold hasn't helped, this particular battery does require some cold starting techniques, on really cold days you need to run the lights for a bit to 'warm' up the cell but you are also using charge so when the battery is not in a good state its a bit of a catch 22, don't warm it and it wont start, over warm it and you flatten it! Been worried about getting home after filling up with fuel etc so ditched it an bought a lead acid. Would buy another lithium though, but that would be when the blade becomes a bit more of a track bike/week end blaster, but as a commuting work horse I'm sticking with Lead acid.
Will maybe just look at a high quality normal battery,would save me having to get a lithium optimate too so some money saved. Those Yuasa batteries you mentioned,are they one of the best?
Amazingly it would seem so. I have a old school large jump pack but after seeing one in action I am tempted for £40..
LiPo battery packs are getting SO good now you can even get a battery powered MMA welder! Amazing! Makes me laugh, thirty years ago I could have said "Dad, what about a portable arc welder that runs off a battery..." LOL, "Don't be daft lad, you'd need 20 or so 12V batteries and each would have to be the size of the QE2!" lol
Dont let me put you off lithium, theyre great. Yuasa is OEM, motobatt on the spec sheets is much better higher cca and amphours also much cheaper. The problem is honda left a very small space for the battery (especially the ABS with the extra plumbing) if the terminals are not exact its a really tight squeeze. I found the motobatt terminals a couple of mills wider causing the earth and positive to interfer with the surrounding gubbins. Great battery though starts the engine in 2-3 turns easy.
It's the ABS model I've got and got a datatool alarm fitted,although it's only 2 year old. I normally put it on the optimate if I'm not using it for more than a few days and always when stored over winter. Problem is if I leave it off the optimate for 3 to 4 days then when I do connect it tests weak. Not gonna get another OEM battery so maybe still consider a lithium or a motobatt.
I've got a tracker and left in for 3 weeks on the lithium, started first time without any use of an optimate. I was very impressed. Not sure but my particular lithium is one of the more budget makes, the pricier one I think have BMS (battery management systems) which control the load and charge on each of the cells which increase performance and longevity. The Motobatt for sure is a great performing battery but on the ABS you will find it a tight fit between the earth and fuse box and when you replace the seat. This is on the 09 ABS though yours may be different. As for a chargers look at the oxford oximiser x3, does lead acid and lithium and even car batteries so worth the investment.
Cheers,gonna have a look at the shorai lithium batteries and will look at that charger too. Don't mind still using the current battery for day runs but don't know if I could trust it for a weekend away.
Feck it, after rereading this thread, its a no brainer.......should have just bought another lithium!!!!
lol, I use and supply SHIDO batteries, love them. I sum up LiPo batteries by saying:- "all the nice materials used in bike's now, Titanium, Tungsten, Carbon, Kevlar, Billet aluminum and so on and we still use LEAD as a power storage device, battery tech was unchanged for around 150 years before lithium batteries came along in the last couple of years." Not that I rub it in at all
ABS http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CBR...pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item2c97944561 NON ABS 8-14 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CBR...pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item4191530616 Don't mind supporting the chaps at BTR (I hold a trade account with them)
Arthur, Ouch that salt you have has extra sting...... Anyone after a hardly used motobatt.... Its limited edition yellow
