Is anyone running a battery that is just a wee-bit smaller than stock?

CoconutPete · Jun 28, 2016

For an electric start bike:

It seems to be "all or nothing" out there.
People either run the stock battery or they are running the $250 ultra-small one.

Is anyone running a battery that's just a bit smaller? Mainly shorter really.

I'm considering attempting to build a battery box - starting with the very back portion of a factory battery box (just the portion where the solenoid sits) and then do a small/simple square battery box on the front of that, finally finishing off with a bracket that ties to the frame. This would look a hell of a lot better if there was just a tad bit more room, particularly in the depth department.

wrenchjohns · Jun 28, 2016

check interstate they have all kinds of smaller powersport batteries that have guts enough for kick only

buzzword · Jun 28, 2016

perhaps consider buying the setup that @fox23 is selling in the classifieds... great deal

Cyclehead · Jun 28, 2016

I changed to an AGM battery years ago. It has lasted much longer than Lead/Acid batteries. (I was having to replace them every spring). Car club guys are starting to use LiFePO Lithium Iron batteries now. They are much smaller with the same output. I haven't tried any of them yet.
Just pecking around, this one is absolutely tiny but lists 130CCA, for $100.

fredintoon · Jun 28, 2016

CoconutPete said:
For an electric start bike:

It seems to be "all or nothing" out there.
People either run the stock battery or they are running the $250 ultra-small one.

Is anyone running a battery that's just a bit smaller? Mainly shorter really.

I'm considering attempting to build a battery box - starting with the very back portion of a factory battery box (just the portion where the solenoid sits) and then do a small/simple square battery box on the front of that, finally finishing off with a bracket that ties to the frame. This would look a hell of a lot better if there was just a tad bit more room, particularly in the depth department.

Hi Pete,
if you want to stay with a lead/acid battery I'd remind you that Yamaha are cheap bastards and already used the smallest battery they thought would work reliably to get an e-start on a cold morning.
Perhaps you could switch to a smaller lead/acid battery if you were prepared to kickstart on cold mornings and hope you'd be able to get an e-start if your hot engine stalled in traffic?

CoconutPete · Jun 28, 2016

I don't care if the battery is lead acid, gel or plutonium, as long as it can crank my bike.

That Shorai looks decent and at $100, it's less than I expected. With similar specs, the skeptic in me is just wondering if it will really crank the bike? The bike lives inside and inside is in NC, so there are (low) limits to how "cold" this bike gets.

fredintoon · Jun 28, 2016

Hi Pete,
once they get the tech right a plutonium battery could be very small. Alas that the 1/4Ton of lead shielding would make it impractical.
I specified lead/acid because they cost less than the modern alternatives and I thought that you were cheap like me.
And although ~60ºF is warm enough for a pleasant ride, oil at ~60ºF is still "cold".

CoconutPete · Jun 28, 2016

Buzzword. Fox23 included some very good info in his build thread: "It would probably work better on a minimalist set up with less electronics".

While my wiring is drastically simplified from when I got the bike, I still have a "full setup" on it with blinkers etc. So that's why I wasn't considering it.

buzzword · Jun 28, 2016

CoconutPete said:
Buzzword. Fox23 included some very good info in his build thread: "It would probably work better on a minimalist set up with less electronics".

While my wiring is drastically simplified from when I got the bike, I still have a "full setup" on it with blinkers etc. So that's why I wasn't considering it.

gotcha! makes sense.

fox23 · Jun 28, 2016

Yea, I think that the Ballistic 8 cell is a nice battery, just didn't have enough capacity to crank over the engine many times. Which isn't that important when your bike is tuned properly, but mine was fresh off a engine/carb rebuild with new air filters and exhaust, so I had plenty of tuning to do.

Is anyone running a battery that is just a wee-bit smaller than stock?

CoconutPete

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wrenchjohns

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buzzword

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Cyclehead

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fredintoon

Fred Hill, S'toon.

CoconutPete

1979 XS650 Special

fredintoon

Fred Hill, S'toon.

CoconutPete

1979 XS650 Special

buzzword

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fox23

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