Which battery-agm or lithium?

[semmyroundel]

Hi, I did do a search on battery but the entries were so varied I thought I'd post the question.
Given that I intend to visit Central Asia, I'm tempted to buy an agm battery as I'm worried about charging in areas they might not know about the lithium.
Having said that, it might only be a high current charger available as in car charger which im told will damage the battery, and not a specific motorcycle charger .
Ive also heard about lithium that have a circuit enabling charging with a regular charger.
What do you all think is best?
TIA

 

[cbecker]

If charging is your only concern, could you buy the Lithium specific charger from Shorai or whatever and bring it with you? I'm also wondering what scenario would lead you to need a charge on a road trip, although admittedly I've never travelled through Asia.

I've had Lithium batteries only in a couple of my bikes if I don't ride them daily (I've barely ever put any of my bikes on a tender) and I don't generally ride them in very cold weather. I love that they almost always start strong (I've only had them hesitate when it's cold), but doubt I realistically notice the weight difference which I think is the main advantage. I've had AGM batteries in any of my daily riders over the last decade.

 

[semmyroundel]

If charging is your only concern, could you buy the Lithium specific charger from Shorai or whatever and bring it with you? I'm also wondering what scenario would lead you to need a charge on a road trip, although admittedly I've never travelled through Asia.

I've had Lithium batteries only in a couple of my bikes if I don't ride them daily (I've barely ever put any of my bikes on a tender) and I don't generally ride them in very cold weather. I love that they almost always start strong (I've only had them hesitate when it's cold), but doubt I realistically notice the weight difference which I think is the main advantage. I've had AGM batteries in any of my daily riders over the last decade.

Thanks does that mean you'd prefer a lithium anyway? I do have a charger for lithium as my Harley has a lithium on it, but s you say shouldn't be a problem on a long trip

 

[Sierra1]

I think there are pros & cons to both. I have my 3yr 10mo old AGM, that I've killed twice; still working fine. It stays on an Optimate 3+ when I'm not riding. So, I'm fan. There's others that would go lithium.

 

[WJBertrand]

I’ve done several long trips (3000-5000 miles) with a lithium battery in mine. Other than initially charging it (some manufactures ship only 30% charged) it’s never been on a charger in almost 3 years. I did accidentally leave the key in “P” position overnight and had a dead battery in the morning. I just jumped it with a portable jump pack that I carry and let the bike’s charging system take care of the rest. Unless you have a charging system failure there’s no reason to think about the battery.


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[Sierra1]

. . . . Unless you have a charging system failure there’s no reason to think about the battery.

Or . . . . don't ride, and don't use any type of tender. Just talked to my FJR kid. He's never replaced the battery on his '14, and always forgets to hook up the 'Tender; rides a lot. I assume it's an AGM, but there's always that chance that the previous owner changed to lithium in the 10 months that he owned it.

 

[cbecker]

Thanks does that mean you'd prefer a lithium anyway? I do have a charger for lithium as my Harley has a lithium on it, but s you say shouldn't be a problem on a long trip

If I had to choose one forever it would be AGM, simply due to the slight stress I experience when a cold Lithium battery needs to warm up. It happens rarely, but when it does I'm always second guessing during the 20-30 second warmup whether the bike will even start.

But for a 2nd more "recreational" bike that I only ride on nice days which also tend to be smaller and lighter bikes for me, where the weight savings has a greater proportional impact, I would probably take Lithium.

 

[semmyroundel]

Thanks for your replies. In the end I ordered an XTZ12S yuasa. I suppose it's what is intended for the bike.
I'll get it delivered tomorrow, so will post my findings.
Regrettably the givi crash bar needs at least loosening to get the battery out.

 

[MFP]

Thanks for your replies. In the end I ordered an XTZ12S yuasa. I suppose it's what is intended for the bike.
I'll get it delivered tomorrow, so will post my findings.
Regrettably the givi crash bar needs at least loosening to get the battery out.

Not sure if you are aware about going with a YUASA XTZ14S instead.
Same size battery as the 12S but with 20 more CCAs (cold cranking amps)
which helps the big girl turnover more smoothly on start up.

 

[semmyroundel]

Great, i wish someone had mentioned that previously.
When I saw it, I didn't look at measurements, I assumed it was bigger physically

 

[Travex]

Nice trip you have in mind. In my case I'd opt for the more conventional and proven over the newer and higher tech with the intention of being able to more easily administer charging in the very unlikely event of a battery drain on the road (barring operator error).
I've squeezed a lithium jump booster into my loadout and have only used it to help others thus far, but it's always there for me and that's good assurance when riding distant and alone.

MFP's suggestion is sound, but your choice of the 12S is solid enough and should serve you as well as it has most others since the release of the S10. Regular charging (when possible) with the appropriate charger is essential to long battery life.

 

[bimota]

yuasa 14s been on my bike now 3 yrs superb at starting the bike first time compared to the 12s

rob

 

[Sierra1]

Great, i wish someone had mentioned that previously. . . .

Don't worry about it. Yes, the 14s better, but, the 12s will do fine. Mine is still the 12s. Just do as Travex suggests, and use a charger.

 

[semmyroundel]

I have an Oxford Oximiser 3X that has a motorcycle charge current of 0.86 amps and a maintaining current, for those in the uk that know that particular product.
I do believe that'll do the trick nicely.
Good points about the 14 over the 12 Yuasa, maybe next time....but appreciate the info, at least someone looking at this thread will have a heads-up.

 

[holligl]

You do pay a premium for the Yausa name. There are many no name knockoffs (like Battery Sharks or Mighty Max) for a fraction of the cost and they will normally last three years easy. With part of the money I saved, I invested in a Lion jumpstarter pack which you can also use for USB charging and easily fits under the high mounted seat. I also installed a permanent easy access jumper cable. I've not had to use either since installation, but nice insurance in the event you do a stupid kickstand kill and forget to turn off the key.

In my experience, you get plenty of slower start warning when the batteries start to get weak.

I did not find any low cost Lithium alternatives when I was recently looking for batteries.

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[OldRider]

Yuasa batteries are the best, no doubt about it. You can find examples of knock off batteries lasting for five years and examples of a Yuasa battery only lasting two weeks, but if you take a thousand Yuasa batteries and a thousand knock off batteries and track their life span, the Yuasa's will win by a mile. I've seen Yuasa batteries and the others sawed in half and the Yuasa's have a lot thicker, heavier plates. From a personal stand point, I've been selling Yuasa batteries for 48 years and I've tried tens of other brands and nothing else comes close to the Yuasa quality.

 

[jbrown]

I typically get 8 or more years from a Yuasa, and 3 years or less from a no-name equivalent that cost half as much.

 

[semmyroundel]

Just an update on the battery situation.
I have no previous experience on start times with the 1200ZE that I bought with 6000 miles on it, but all I can say is that my XT660X that I previously had, started almost instantaneously upon pressing the button.
The S10 took rather longer ( about 3 or 4 secs compared to 1-2 secs of the XT660X).
However, on replacing the above battery, 12s, it starts much more quickly, not as fast as the other, but quick enough to prove that the battery had a part to play.
So I'm happy now, next time I'll buy the 14s.

 

[Travex]

Thanks for the follow up and good to hear of your success with it. It's also been my experience that twice the lungs requires about twice the time to start. Admittedly, the S10 sounds like a slow crank, but other than a single non-start (not due to battery) on a Gen1, it's never failed me.