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Message started by Wake51 on 01/20/12 at 00:33:56

Title: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by Wake51 on 01/20/12 at 00:33:56

I'm a college student who takes advantage of some neighboring friends in a nearby apartment complex who own a garage. They generously allow me to keep myself and my roommate's bike in there for a low monthly fee to help pay the garage rent.

In December I left for winter break. I left my trusted friend and owner of the garage with the key to my bike. I told him, "Hey, if you get the urge to ride the beauty, go ahead, keep the battery charged, blow out the carbon, make sure the gas doesn't go bad." I handed over the key thinking I was doing a good thing for my little 2 wheeled lady.

Well my roommate left for break after me and they both took a turn on my bike before he left. He noticed that when my trusted friend would put my bike away, he had trouble finding the 'off' position and kept placing the key in the parking light position.

I live in Missouri, and it is indeed cold here, granted the average temp has been somewhere in the low to mid 30s. I get a message about 3 weeks into break, saying that my battery is completely dead, won't take a charge, shoulda put it on a tender, sorry bud. When I left it was in full operating condition. I'm just curious if semi-cold weather can cause a battery to go from working to flat out dead in a matter of a couple of weeks.

Fear not, I'm not charging the friend the replacement costs of the battery, as I'm unsure of its age, accidents happen, and he's doing me a favor with his cheap garage rates. However, I would like to discover what killed the battery, be it my over confidence that it didn't need a tender for 1 month of leave or if it was the accident of the care taker.

Finally, anyone know what is a good replacement battery? I would like a maintenance free so long as the cost difference isn't huge over an unsealed battery. I know it's pretty simple thing to find and is almost automated on most commercial sites, but I just wanted to insure there aren't certain brands/specs to stay away from.

Thanks in advance.

-Wake

Title: Re: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by Dj12midnit on 01/20/12 at 00:49:42

Big crank...

Title: Re: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by youzguyz on 01/20/12 at 02:18:21

3B356E6D32363B31362B5F0 wrote:

Big crank...

Title: Re: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 01/20/12 at 02:23:38

Forget about what killed the battery. Its possible it just died, its just as possible it was a victim of negligent volticide.

Title: Re: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by Savage_Rob on 01/20/12 at 07:31:54

I use an Odyssey and have no complaints whatsoever. However, the Big Crank came on the scene shortly after I bought my Odyssey and everyone I talk to and everything I read says it's just as good and costs less.

Title: Re: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by verslagen1 on 01/20/12 at 08:55:09

Yes, unless you're looking to strain your friendship... forgetaboutit.
age or accident, it don't matter it's dead.

BigCrank... you can stop worring about "break", it will hold it's charge for several months w/o charging. However leaving it in park overnight will kill any battery.

Hmmm... sounds like a mod coming on.

Title: Re: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by spacepirates on 01/20/12 at 09:55:35

for reference:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1265490069

I have *two* big crank batteries in three bikes (i switched the savage to a smaller battery so i could hide it on the muffler support) and like 'em a lot.

I think current prices for big crank are around $70 +/- a few, before shipping charges.

EDIT: after re-reading that post i just linked, be sure to ignore pretty much anything ever said by bill67. his bike runs on hopes, dreams, and spite for anyone who doesn't use red oil :-/

Title: Re: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by Boofer on 01/20/12 at 19:02:13

I'm looking at articles on the new Shorai batteries. I have the lead acid battery, but the new batteries promise to lose around 1% per month instead of the 5% per week from the lead acid. They are very expensive, so far, but weigh less and can be mounted about anywhere in any orientation.

Title: Re: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by Savage_Rob on 01/20/12 at 21:46:15

Yeah. The Shorai is the new lithium bike battery. The Odyssey and Big Crank are both AGM. They are maintenance-free and can be mounted at various angles too. However the lithium polymer is supposed to hold a charge when unused for much longer and are lighter weight. I have not done a side by side comparison of the two technologies as they pertain to motor vehicles yet. I would want to see the cranking amps on the lithium battery before investing in it. It is intriguing though. Most battery tech is moving in that direction, it seems.

Title: Re: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by Wake51 on 01/21/12 at 11:40:55

The main problem with ordering one replacement part is... well... if the UPS guy has to get out his truck and walk up to my doorstep ANYWAY....

Title: Re: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by Savage_Rob on 01/21/12 at 12:27:06

I'd definitely be looking into a lithium ion if I needed a replacement but it's about twice the price of a Big Crank right now, so that would be a big part of the consideration for me.

SHORAI LFX Lithium-ion Powersports battery (LFX14L5-BS12) (http://www.shoraipower.com/p-416-lfx14l5-bs12.aspx)

As an afterthought, I'd also have to look into whether my Battery Tender Jr. is acceptable for it. If not, I'd be looking at having to buy another charger too. Just a few thoughts.

Title: Re: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by runrun on 01/23/12 at 06:45:38

6654435452506A675A57350 wrote:

Savage_Rob -- I'm sure you'd need a special charger for the Shorai. I'm using an Anti Gravity 8-cell lithium ion in my Ryca, and its literature strongly warns against using any regular trickle charger. AG's chargers are about $60, and the battery was $179. Not cheap, but the battery is tiny and light: about 4" x 2" x 3" and weighs less than 2 lbs. It's specs are 300 pulse cranking amps and 240 cold cranking amps. And Scott Schafer at AG is great to deal with.

Wake-51 -- a decent battery shouldn't have died in a month, so I'd guess it was faulty or that it was drained by being left in park, or both. However, when you get a new battery it would be a good idea to see if you might have any parasitic drain on the battery even when the key is in the off position. With no alarm, clock, computer memory, etc., I can't think of anything on the Savage that should be drawing on the battery when the ignition is off.

Title: Re: Looking For Replacement Battery+Delimma
Post by Savage_Rob on 01/23/12 at 07:22:46

I was pretty sure it would require a specific L-Ion charger. Just thinking it through a bit. My Odyssey is still doing very well.