XS650 Lithium Battery advice

[LasCruces]

Howdy. The 7.5 year old AGM battery on my old XS650 finally gave up the ghost entirely. However, years ago I had installed a permanent-magnet alternator with updated solid-state rectifier/regulator, and it will start with the kicker. Frankly, I use the kicker at least 90% of the time, because I like it and it takes me back to my youth. So I'm thinking that instead of getting another large AGM battery sufficient to crank the bike, that I could get a smaller (thus cheaper) battery to operate turn signals, horn, lights, etc., while running, with no need to crank the bike with the electric starter. Or for about the same $$ as a large AGM battery, I could get a small, very light Lithium battery for the same purpose. My modern rectifier/regulator should charge it properly and my limited experience with Lithium batteries on other bikes (and used for electric starting) indicates they'll last a very long time and would prove to be an economical investment.
Any thoughts, recommendations or warnings? Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[AUTOMAN]

7+ years on a lead bike bat. is outstanding!
Why lithium? How would your modern reg/rec know what to charge to?
Read up on lead and lithium terminal voltages.
Also, which lithium? ION/FePO4?


If the AGM did not leak and lasted that long why would you not replace?

 

[LasCruces]

Thanks for responding. I did consider all of what you mention above. First, I've wanted to remove the starter for years, but have procrastinated until I had an excuse to do so. The kicker is always the first means I use to start the bike, and it always starts in 1-2 kicks. I only used the electric starter a couple of times a year just to see if it works (which it does). So, since the rather large and heavy AGM battery is dead, I figure I could use a smaller AGM battery, but still sort of large and heavy, or a very small lithium (LiFe) as the power source for turn signals, horn or lights when I use them (not often because I don't ride at night, and I have a switch which turns them on/off). The cost between AGM and lithium in these small sizes isn't much different. So I have very little need for the amperage, size or weight of a standard or AGM battery. I had a lithium battery in a DR650 for over 10 years, and it was still working when I sold the bike. That was electric-start only, with no kicker. I figure if I install the lithium battery in my XS, and eliminate the electric starter, it should last me until I'm too old to ride (now in my mid-70s). A little weight loss (should be over 10 lbs between the starter and battery) will help me get it onto the center stand a little easier. And mainly, I just want to try it and see how it works out. This bike hasn't needed maintenance for many years and is as reliable as a rock. I figure I can put a little time and effort in making these changes and won't have to touch it again for years, except for oil changes.
As for charging, I installed the permanent-magnet alternator and solid-state rectifier/regulator at the same time I put in the battery, well over 7 years ago. I believe the electronics are suitable for charging the lithium battery, shouldn't overcharge or undercharge. Maybe it's just an exercise in futility, but at least it will keep my hands busy for a day or two, and might net me some gains.

 

[AUTOMAN]

Let me get this straight....
You are bored
You want to save weight
You are wanting a LiFePO4 bat

good on all accounts, just monitor bat volts and keep below 14.80vdc and above 9.6 volts.

 

[LasCruces]

I finally removed the starter (more difficult than anticipated due to difficulty getting to the 4 bolts which hold it on, and properly inserting the freeze plug). But that's done and sealed. So I went for a new battery which will NOT have to crank the starter. As mentioned, I had already installed a permanent-magnet alternator and solid-state rectifier/regulator. I walked into a local Batteries Plus outlet with my old battery, looking for a compatible fit. A similar AGM battery with equivalent cold-cranking capacity and amperage was about $115 with exchange, plus tax. So I figured I didn't need cranking capacity (no electric starter) and only minimal amperage to keep the ignition going, and occasional use of turn signals or horn (I don't ride at night, and I keep my lights switched OFF). They had their own house-brand LiFePO4 batteries (made in China). The original sized battery was $230, but a much smaller battery, X2P-LI-5, was about $110 including tax. It measures about 4"X4"X2.5" and weighs about 1 lb (yes, you read that right). It has a little button on top with LED lights that indicate charge status (red, yellow, green). I put some foam spacers into my battery compartment to compensate for the smaller size, attached the cables, and it kicked right over and started. Even before the bike started, the dash lights, brake lights and turn signals came on strong (didn't try the main headlights before I started the bike). With the bike running, everything works as it should, including Hi/Lo headlight, horn, etc. I checked the charging rate going into the battery from the alternator, and it showed about 13.8-14V when revved up. Perfect. 3 year full warranty.
The electric starter weighed close to 8 lbs, and the AGM battery almost 13 lbs. Since the new battery weighs 1 lb, I figure I dropped about 20 lbs total off the weight of the bike. I can tell the difference when I put it on the center stand - no more tempting a hernia. I think the money was well-spent for the weight loss and the LiFe battery, BUT removal of the old starter was a pain in the rear and wasn't an absolute necessity, just something I wanted to do.

 

[AUTOMAN]

Keep it under 14.8v.
I use 1/2 of a full wave diode bridge(FWB) to cut 1.4v off my battery charging.(35amp with heat sink housing)
Every Si diode is about .7 volt drop, but must size accordingly.

 

[gggGary]

NOCO NLP14 Lithium I've put about 4 in bikes now. Including an XS650 or two. Plug and play no chicken sacrifice needed. One starts my 1200 Buell also.

 

[Bjorn]

Im running a Anti-gravity 801 LiFePO4 battery. 240CCA, I've had my years with the Kickstarter only. But I'm now back to the E starter. The battery is starting the bike great. My charging system is Vape with modern Reg/Rec.

Running it for about 1,5years now. So far so good.