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

Dj12midnit wrote on 01/20/12 at 00:49:42:

+1

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.

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  

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.

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)

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.

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.