Hi all,
Slowly winding up for the new season, and noticed that the battery on my 2003 Gen1 is on its last legs. I fully loaded it a couple of days before, but then on the D-day it cranked the engine over just a few times before giving up. A reload later it started fine, then OK at the gas station (D+10 minutes) and then just barely at another after an air pressure check (D+15m).
Time for a new battery apparently (this one lasted 4 years).
My alternatives are:
- Original Yuasa YT14B-BS gel battery. 110-130€, depending on the source.
- There are now also Lithium-Ion (LiFePO4) batteries for the Gen 1. These are physically smaller so they need some padding around them, 2-3 kilos lighter, are claimed to have a longer lifespan, and also have significantly lower capacity (4 Ah - 12.6 Ah for Yuasa). Require some care with the charging equipment, higher voltages can apparently damage both the battery and what is around it... Price range for example from Louis.de is about the same.
- Other suggestions are welcome.
What kind of experiences have you had with various batteries? Those Yuasas have been good, but seem to be going up in price all the time.
I am an irregular-but-intensive-rides-type, so at least this time I am going to also put a semi-permanent battery charger on the bike when it's standing. There I am considering either charger with a maintenance function, or using normal "smart" charger with a timer I have so that it would give, say, a 1-hour 1A boost to the battery maybe 3 days a week. Nothing is as frustrating as suiting up fully and then getting 3 revolutions out of the battery on a hot summer day. The battery spends winters safely indoors.
Cheers,
TN