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What is the best motorcycle battery out there?


Jaygermeister

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I have a yuasa and it’s only 2 ½ years old and it seems like its getting weak. Maybe it’s the 20 deg weather it’s never been in or maybe it’s not big enough. I felt its been on the week side since I got the bike last year and the cold weather finished it off.

So what it the best batteries on the market? I’m not taking a wait and see attitude with a batteries I’d rather just get another

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Do you keep it on a Battery Tender?

2 1/2 yrs. may not be so bad.

I tried a Interstate Battery brand, but it was no better, and barely cheaper.

Sadly, motorcycle batteries have a tough life, small, hot, lots of vibration, long periods of unuse.

I recently bought another battery for the H/D at the H/D dealer because it was the same price as the Interstate.

Yuasa seems to be the standard, although that's nothing to write home about.

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Do you keep it on a Battery Tender?

2 1/2 yrs. may not be so bad.

I tried a Interstate Battery brand, but it was no better, and barely cheaper.

Sadly, motorcycle batteries have a tough life, small, hot, lots of vibration, long periods of unuse.

I recently bought another battery for the H/D at the H/D dealer because it was the same price as the Interstate.

Yuasa seems to be the standard, although that's nothing to write home about.

Not on the tender that's for the jetskis, I ride the bike year around.

I may try this ............ http://reviews.batterymart.com/product-rev...45-Battery.html

Just wanted to see what the peep's thought.

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I've had good luck with both Deka and Diehard for several different bikes. I'm not the most faithful and diligent sort when it comes to battery maintenance either.

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Last spring the Bird's battery shit the bed. I researched a bit, and then decided to just slap a band-aid on it and buy a Wally World one.

When I popped out the old battery I discovered it was a Wally World one.... it came with the bike when I bought it back in 2005. Four years on a el-cheapo batt is good by me! Plus, who knows how long it had been in there prior to me buying the bike.

The bike doesn't live on the Tender, but it goes on it occasionally.

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Odessey batteries are gell-type and very popular with drag racers because of their deep-cycle properties and vibration resistance.

For street use, it's pretty hard to beat Yuasa. Not sure if Optima makes motorcycle batteries, but I know they make great car batteries.

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+1 for the Yuasa batteries, I have them in 3 of my 4 bikes.

I recently picked up one of those 1.5A Schumacher Battery Float Chargers from Walmart for ~$20, it works great and even comes with those permanent attachment leads so you can connect it easily without opening up the bike. It also has that high frequency mode to restore batteries that have started to degrade.

Funny enough, the battery problems I have experienced are more from problematic bikes than batteries. My VFR750 has a Walmart special, not even the higher grade motorcycle battery, some cheap one with a snowmobile on the box and it has given me no problems. My old CBR1000 Hurricane has a Yuasa but requires some cranking to get it started and I think I may have problems with that battery soon.

post-20371-1263054679.jpg

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I try to get a gell, or a glass mat one at least, but a cheap one works as good. Just don't like the idea of acid around my balls and a loose top or overcharging regulator. :icon_eek: :icon_eek: :icon_eek: :icon_eek: :icon_shifty:

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I try to get a gell, or a glass mat one at least, but a cheap one works as good. Just don't like the idea of acid around my balls and a loose top or overcharging regulator. :icon_eek: :icon_eek: :icon_eek: :icon_eek: :icon_shifty:

I learned my lesson with wet cell batteries. My old bike I had one boil over and corrode my swing arm.

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An AGM....

The Yusa replacement for your bike is a ... YTX12-BS

For specs, see here... http://www.batteryplex.com/motorcycles.cfm/m/YTX12-BS

For the same sized battery at a better price, see here... http://www.batteriesplus.com/showproduct.a...ersport-battery

If on the other hand you are like me and want more out of your battery, and you may run a few extra electrical loads, and you have an additional 1/2" of room in height (which the Bird does, but I don't know about your Busa), then I would suggest this...

http://www.batteryplex.com/motorcycles.cfm/m/YTX14-BS

and again, a slightly better price, after shipping is this...

http://www.batteriesplus.com/p-32749-xtrem...rt-battery.aspx

Now if the slightly taller battery will fit, and you really want the power, then you want this one...

http://www.batteryplex.com/motorcycles.cfm/m/YTX14HL-BS

Note the HL, this means High capacity and Low profile..... Very important !!!

I wanted this battery when I replaced mine last year, but it was on Back Order, and they couldn't tell me when it would be in, so I went with the XTAX14-BS from BatteriesPlus.

I can tell you that 20 more CCA makes a difference.... and I LIKE IT !

Good Luck. :icon_biggrin:

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When I replaced the battery in the bird, the specs called for a YTZ12S.

However, the YTZ14S is exactly the same size (I put them side by side) and offers a bit more juice.

I believe it is for the ST 1300.

There was a whole can of worms over "Will the extra amperage damage anything?" and the answer is: No.

It draws what it needs.

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Anything but N`Ever Start from Walmart.

BTW,those Schumacher 1.5 amp chargers from Wally World are incredible POS as well,mine took a dump after year or two.On the other hand, more then 10 years old one from Sears still keeps going.

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My OEM Yuasa lasted 8-1/2 years on my old XX. I keep my bikes on a smart charger when I'm not riding them. I'll probably stick with Yuasa for replacement batteries unless something dramatically better comes along.

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When I replaced the battery in the bird, the specs called for a YTZ12S.

However, the YTZ14S is exactly the same size (I put them side by side) and offers a bit more juice.

Here is the Specifications page for Yusa Batteries at BatteryPlex.... I found it very helpful... and yes the batteries and their specs that you posted are on there.

http://www.batteryplex.com/motorcycles.cfm...-YIX-YTZ-Series

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Do you keep it on a Battery Tender?

2 1/2 yrs. may not be so bad.

I tried a Interstate Battery brand, but it was no better, and barely cheaper.

Sadly, motorcycle batteries have a tough life, small, hot, lots of vibration, long periods of unuse.

I recently bought another battery for the H/D at the H/D dealer because it was the same price as the Interstate.

Yuasa seems to be the standard, although that's nothing to write home about.

Not on the tender that's for the jetskis, I ride the bike year around.

I may try this ............ http://reviews.batterymart.com/product-rev...45-Battery.html

Just wanted to see what the peep's thought.

I had an Odyssey on a BMW for 4 years and then sold it. I had a ton of accessorys on the bike but never had any issues with the battery. I'd buy another one.

Russ

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An AGM....

The Yusa replacement for your bike is a ... YTX12-BS

For specs, see here... http://www.batteryplex.com/motorcycles.cfm/m/YTX12-BS

For the same sized battery at a better price, see here... http://www.batteriesplus.com/showproduct.a...ersport-battery

If on the other hand you are like me and want more out of your battery, and you may run a few extra electrical loads, and you have an additional 1/2" of room in height (which the Bird does, but I don't know about your Busa), then I would suggest this...

http://www.batteryplex.com/motorcycles.cfm/m/YTX14-BS

and again, a slightly better price, after shipping is this...

http://www.batteriesplus.com/p-32749-xtrem...rt-battery.aspx

Now if the slightly taller battery will fit, and you really want the power, then you want this one...

http://www.batteryplex.com/motorcycles.cfm/m/YTX14HL-BS

Note the HL, this means High capacity and Low profile..... Very important !!!

I wanted this battery when I replaced mine last year, but it was on Back Order, and they couldn't tell me when it would be in, so I went with the XTAX14-BS from BatteriesPlus.

I can tell you that 20 more CCA makes a difference.... and I LIKE IT !

Good Luck. :icon_biggrin:

I'll second Eric's suggestion. I did the same thing. The 14amp/hr battery spins the XX well.. YES!

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I had the original battery for my '03 Bird give up after about 1 year. I inquired about this at a local dealer. The head of maintenance also happened to own a late model bird and was well familiar with the issue. He stated that the batteries included with later model birds were more amperage, but smaller overall. Meaning that the plates were closer together. Additionally, there were some kind of electronics added to the later model battery. All of this added up to a less reliable battery. His recommendation was to use the battery for the original birds. The only modification necessary was to remove two rubber spacers at the bottom of the battery compartment to accommodate the the oem smaller battery. The older style battery had the side benefit of being half the price. I said sold. It's been working without a hitch for the past five years and still going strong.

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