Replacing with a smaller battery

[oohsam]

Hi All,
I've been searching for days for a smaller battery for my GS. I'm hating my big bulky battery.
Can anyone recommend a decent tiny battery that I can hide on my bike.

Cheers

 

[posplayr]

Hi All,
I've been searching for days for a smaller battery for my GS. I'm hating my big bulky battery.
Can anyone recommend a decent tiny battery that I can hide on my bike.

Cheers

this comes in three sizes. The lithium one in the middle is the biggest one of the three lithiums.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=1423080&highlight=lithium#post1423080

 

[oohsam]

Thanks!!

After more searching I stumbled on a few options.

I ended up buying this (about 10 mins ago)

To give you an idea on size...

That one displayed is a slightly smaller one, however mine has just one extra row, so its a little thicker (best battery for 1100cc's)

I spoke to the company they said that it will simply just slot in to where my old battery went...as long as the R/R and stator are working well nothing that wouldn't ruin a normal battery will ruin this.
This thing is exactly what I needed for my bike as my current battery took up alot of space.

If this doesn't work I'll go down the Shorai (as per previous post)...

 

[posplayr]

Batteries have come a long way; the lithium is one of the more advanced battries. That piture looks like a pack of NiCads. what is the amphours?

this will give you an idea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W3Tt0mgRHQ

 

[oohsam]

They are lithium ion phosphate.

More info here :

http://www.testsycl.com/FAQS.html

Tell me what you think.

 

[Adler]

They are lithium ion phosphate.

More info here :

http://www.testsycl.com/FAQS.html

Tell me what you think.

They named their company "testsycle"??? really?!?!

Anyone else see the issue with that?

 

[oohsam]

Hahaha i didnt even realise. Looks lile i bought the biggest testscycl they had!

 

[Agemax]

Thanks!!

After more searching I stumbled on a few options.

I ended up buying this (about 10 mins ago)

To give you an idea on size...

That one displayed is a slightly smaller one, however mine has just one extra row, so its a little thicker (best battery for 1100cc's)

I spoke to the company they said that it will simply just slot in to where my old battery went...as long as the R/R and stator are working well nothing that wouldn't ruin a normal battery will ruin this.
This thing is exactly what I needed for my bike as my current battery took up alot of space.

If this doesn't work I'll go down the Shorai (as per previous post)...

how much was it and can you buy thrm in the UK?

 

[gsryder]

You can get them just about anywhere.
They have some pitfalls
less cranking time....you will not use this battery to diagnose problems so your bike better be in good running order
they take a little more juice to charge not sure how much but its more
They are sensitive to heat more so than lead acid batteries
but they weigh less than 2lbs and are very small

All depends on what you are doing
Also they are supposed last almost twice as long as lead acid batteries

 

[gsryder]

I got mine from a local battery repair shop that repairs hand help battery tools in Ohio
Volt man batteries

If you check around at some local repair shops you can find the cells and they can make you a battery

It has to be the right cells though A123 - 26650

also make sure the capacitive discharge welding to attach the connecting bars and wires as again they are sensitive to heat and regular soldering can potentially damage the cells

 

[oohsam]

I paid 200 for my battery.
Plus 50 for delivery. Money well spent in my opinion.

 

[Guest]

Just came across this, looking at doing something similar on my 450.

There's an eBay mob that have them for about $US90, $US99 with quick connectors too I think.

 

[gsryder]

I paid 200 for my battery.
Plus 50 for delivery. Money well spent in my opinion.

OUCH!!!!! I understand the shipping but the cells only cost $9.00 each retail

9x8 (8cell battery for liter bikes) couple bucks for bars, wire, and assembly......I paid less than $100.00

All the ones you see marketed as light motorcycle batteries or whatever are just gouging the public.....they use those same batteries in the 18V dewalt drills. Shame on them!!!!!

this is where I got mine from, great people.
http://www.voltmanbatteries.com/servlet/StoreFront
There is video that shows them assembling battery packs for drills takes minutes...if that.
You would still have to pay the shipping but no sense in over paying for the cells.

 

[oohsam]

OUCH!!!!! I understand the shipping but the cells only cost $9.00 each retail

9x8 (8cell battery for liter bikes) couple bucks for bars, wire, and assembly......I paid less than $100.00

All the ones you see marketed as light motorcycle batteries or whatever are just gouging the public.....they use those same batteries in the 18V dewalt drills. Shame on them!!!!!

this is where I got mine from, great people.
http://www.voltmanbatteries.com/servlet/StoreFront
There is video that shows them assembling battery packs for drills takes minutes...if that.
You would still have to pay the shipping but no sense in over paying for the cells.

When you live in Australia, you get used to paying substantially more for basic products than everywhere else around the world.
It seems common that retailers fleece the public here. I did quite a bit of searching to get a cheaper price, but after much reading, I found that many batteries were not stable, and alot of them lead to exploding into fire if they were not done properly.

Testscyl guarantee that they do not catch fire/explode like the others. I wouldn't be comfortable putting together my own battery for my bike. Its just an area of physics I dont understand and one of things I'm happy to pay for a company who has done alot of RND on it. Other elements of my bike, i'm happy to 'backyard', but not the electrical. Especially when the battery is under my family jewls

Also, I could have saved about 100 bux and gone for the battery that was the next step down, they say it will easily start an 1100, but I wanted a bit more CCA's for my big engine.

Considering a lead battery for my bike is 180 AUD, I think this is pretty good (considering I'd have to spend that much for a battery that now lasts twice as long..)

 

[oohsam]

Just came across this, looking at doing something similar on my 450.

There's an eBay mob that have them for about $US90, $US99 with quick connectors too I think.

Couldn't find any on ebay...u got a link?

 

[Guest]

Sure do...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190529686660&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

One tip with eBay, don't just search ebay.com.au, search ebay.com as well, especially when looking for stuff like this. This one won't show up on ebay.com.au.

 

[Guest]

Actually this is eBay store of where GSRyder got his from, probably a little more reputable I would think:

http://stores.ebay.com.au/voltmanbatteries?_trksid=p4340.l2563

 

[oohsam]

Ah yes I see.

I wouldn't be comfortable making my own, but given I had the knowledge, why not hey..
I'm acutally quite excited to get this into the bike once its all running good. Happy to get rid of the battery and hide this away (which should be fairly easy)

 

[gsryder]

Actually this is eBay store of where GSRyder got his from, probably a little more reputable I would think:

http://stores.ebay.com.au/voltmanbatteries?_trksid=p4340.l2563

I can say nothing but great things about Pete at Voltman batteries.

He had never heard of using A123 cells for motorcycles before, so we did some experimenting

He first made me a 4 cell - didnt work and got hot, I sent it back he had a 8 cell in the mail to me the next day...NO CHARGE!!

I had a problem with the 8 cell a few days later not sure if it was on my end of a faulty cell or what it was exactly but it wouldnt hold a charge.

Called Pete told him what happened he mailed out another completely new one, again the next day.....NO CHARGE!!!!

He told me if I had another problem it probably just wont work and he would refund my money.

I have had this one in now for two or three weeks I dont remember exactly but it has been working flawless multiple rides short long in the rain no problems.

Again I cant say enough about their service especially since we were trying something kinda new.

If you call them ask for Pete tell him you heard about him on a motorcycle forum, I told him I would recommend him. I figure its the least I can do for all the help he gave me.

 

[gsryder]

Ah yes I see.

I wouldn't be comfortable making my own, but given I had the knowledge, why not hey..
I'm acutally quite excited to get this into the bike once its all running good. Happy to get rid of the battery and hide this away (which should be fairly easy)

Whatever you do DONT use the A123 battery to diagnose and trouble shoot problems they do not have the cranking capacity/longevity of a lead acid battery and you cannot use a standard trickle charger to charge them. I dont remember exactly but I think you need something like a 6amp charger or something bigger cant find where I put that info.
They take a little more to charge then a standard lead acid battery I am having some electrical issues on my bike but that is a whole other can of worms.
Standard bike with standard electrics should have no problem.

Just use your old lead acid battery or a car battery to get everything sorted first then install the mini battery