New walmart battery! ES5L-BS

[crzydood17]

So I have needed a new battery for my bike for a while.

We were picking up supplies for doing the side covers last night and I decided to finally get one.

Me and my buddy picked up this little AGM battery for his kickstart triumph t140 since it just needed something to power ignition while we kicked it.

I got curious and bought one for myself and I have to say this little battery is plenty for my GS.

Its so much lighter than stock and works beautifully. I have it strapped down now but I plan on putting in hard foam around the battery box to keep it in place. It's not exactly what you would call winter weather here in Texas but 30 mins after putting in the acid the battery had plenty of juice to start my bike like it wasn't even trying.

I have heard that with the larger ES12BS that the pos and negative are backwards leading to sideways batteries and all. This is not the case with the ES5LBS, the terminals match up and it just works.

Sealed AGM is definitely the way to go for a bike battery, unless your going to grab a Li-on battery.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-ES5LBS-PowerSport-Battery/16782693

Heres a link to the walmart website, I have seen it in almost every walmart I have ever been to.

There is a smaller ES4LBS but I would be scared that that thing would not have enough power to turn the bike over, this one seems to be plenty so who know.

I will probably have a little better idea of the cold cranking ability later once everything starts to get cold.

[adidasguy]

Be ready to push start. That is less than half of the recommended battery size. On a cold day when Phenix gets fussy, I'm glad I have a 14ah Shorai.

Quin came with one of those. A couple short rides and it isn't enough to recharge it properly.

Good luck!

[crzydood17]

I am used to the push starting, and I never really ride "short rides", I have a car for errands and the bike is for going out on fun days so once it starts I normally ride 20-50 miles at a 4000-6000 RPM minimum. Hell the old battery that had dropped a cell would start the bike most times after riding for a bit. Again, I have no cold weather evidence but so far it has impressed me and is a super small battery. If it stops being good during the winter meh, I have a brand new cage to keep me warm . The weight is the big factor, 4.5lbs is the shipped weight on the website so its probably 4ish pounds without the box and so on vs 15 or so for the old one. And the fact that it is a sealed AGM gives me some solace to know that I will not have to deal with a leaky battery!

[jestercinti]

It may get you down the road for a little, but won't last as long as a yuasa or shorai.

I recount a story at Mid-Ohio waiting for the demo rides. This guy with a Concourse 14 was talking about his battery dilemma. Every season he needs a new battery because Yuasa is too expensive. He just cannot justify paying $30 more for a battery. A Yuasa with the water level correct should last 4+ seasons.

Penny wise and pound foolish. It's like putting el-cheap-o gas in a Porsche.

[Funderb]

I'm confused, is it an AGM battery or did you need to put acid in it? AGMs are supposed to be sealed from the factory, are they not?

[Suzuki Stevo]

I'm confused, is it an AGM battery or did you need to put acid in it? AGMs are supposed to be sealed from the factory, are they not?

That's what I thought? I have an AGM battery in my Burgman 400, laying on it's side in the glove box since Feb 07' and because it causes me no grief I never have deal with any maintenance  issues other than charging with a BT while storing 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery#Absorbed_glass_mat
"AGM batteries differ from flooded lead acid batteries in that the electrolyte is held in the glass mats, as opposed to freely flooding the plates. Very thin glass fibers are woven into a mat to increase surface area enough to hold sufficient electrolyte on the cells for their lifetime. The fibers that compose the fine glass mat do not absorb nor are affected by the acidic electrolyte. These mats are wrung out 2–5% after being soaked in acids, prior to manufacture completion and sealing."

[DrtRydr23]

I am used to the push starting, and I never really ride "short rides", I have a car for errands and the bike is for going out on fun days so once it starts I normally ride 20-50 miles at a 4000-6000 RPM minimum. Hell the old battery that had dropped a cell would start the bike most times after riding for a bit. Again, I have no cold weather evidence but so far it has impressed me and is a super small battery. If it stops being good during the winter meh, I have a brand new cage to keep me warm . The weight is the big factor, 4.5lbs is the shipped weight on the website so its probably 4ish pounds without the box and so on vs 15 or so for the old one. And the fact that it is a sealed AGM gives me some solace to know that I will not have to deal with a leaky battery!

Just wondering why the weight matters to you.  Unless it is a race bike, or the bike already feels heavy to you for some reason, an extra 9 lbs of battery does not really effect anything on the street.

[Funderb]

thanks steve-o thats what i thought.


I imagine buying a REAL AGM battery will do three things:
Give you a long lasting battery, a lighter battery, and a battery that doesn't need a vent tube that always falls off.
However, a REAL  AGM is going to cost 75-120 dollars. There are sealed L-A batteries available at wallyworld, but they are the same old thing as the stock battery minus the vent tube.

[crzydood17]

AGM means Absorbed Glass Mat.

It means that instead of acid free floating around inside the battery, the acid is contained in a fiber glass matting that is squeezed up against the plates.

This battery is sold unsealed, once you add the acid and put on the caps, it is completely sealed and you should not remove the caps.

I like the smaller battery because it takes the weight from high up, the lower you can get the bikes center of gravity the faster the bike will flick over. Also, a few pounds might not sound like a lot but add in getting rid of air boxes and a lightweight exhaust and the numbers keep adding up. A lot of racers move the battery as low as they possibly can on the bike frame to lower COG.

Even if this does finally die, I have pushed my bike for months now anyway, at least now the bike has less dead weight.

[redhawkdancing]

However, a REAL  AGM is going to cost 75-120 dollars.

$54 shipped.

http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/sYT10L-A2.html

[DrtRydr23]

I like the smaller battery because it takes the weight from high up, the lower you can get the bikes center of gravity the faster the bike will flick over. Also, a few pounds might not sound like a lot but add in getting rid of air boxes and a lightweight exhaust and the numbers keep adding up. A lot of racers move the battery as low as they possibly can on the bike frame to lower COG.

Even if this does finally die, I have pushed my bike for months now anyway, at least now the bike has less dead weight.

I get that you want less weight, I just don't understand why.  It does not sound like you are putting this bike on a track.  I get that lighter=faster, and maybe better steering, but who cares unless you are racing.  It won't even matter that much during spirited street riding unless you are racing on the street, which is a terrible idea.  Also, the possible difference in steering probably will not translate to any noticeable difference in drivability anyway unless you are running pretty unsafe speeds for street riding.

Also, as far as lower CGs resulting in better steering, I'm not so sure about that.  A lot of cruisers have lower CG's and handle like pigs, whereas most sportbikes and dirtbikes have relatively high CGs and handle much better.  Rake and trail also have a significant effect, though are not an issue if you are just reducing bike weight.

I'm not knocking your battery choice, just trying to figure out why someone who isn't tracking their GS would want to push start their bike for 9 (seemingly irrelevant) pounds, rather than just thumbing the starter with a more functional (though heavier) battery.

[seamax]

Can you install AGM batteries on it's side or underside down since it is sealed or is it not recommended?

[crzydood17]

AGM batteries should be able to be mounted anywhere.

So a high center of gravity mean that it takes longer for the bike to go from lean to strait to lean again.

Think of it like a lever, the more weight you have closer the fulcrum (contact patch) the easier it is to move the weight with the far end of the lever (normally the rider).

With a chopper your also dealing with nothing designed to handle. Large rear tires, small front tires, huge massive engines, and the insane mass. A soft tail is nearly 800 pounds alone + rider + gear + bags.

Also the design of a chopper is cruise in a straight line with the ability to corner at mild speed. A sports bike is basically designed for speed.

And I do spirited rides through the country, and I keep up with SV650s all the way up to some CBRs/GSXRs.

[Funderb]

$54 shipped.

http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/sYT10L-A2.html

look at that! there's the power of the internet for you. Thanks dude, I know where my next batt is coming from...

All in all though, that agm is still going to be twice as expensive as a L-A battery, (mine was 30 bucks, same as OEM from battery depot) However, prices are coming down on agms, so maybe someday soon they'll be el cheapo.

This battery is sold unsealed, once you add the acid and put on the caps, it is completely sealed and you should not remove the caps.

that's weird, i've never seen an AGM that requires that you add acid. Every one i've seen says "fully charged out of the box" Are you thinking of sealed lead acid flooded type?

[crzydood17]

$54 shipped.

http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/sYT10L-A2.html

look at that! there's the power of the internet for you. Thanks dude, I know where my next batt is coming from...

All in all though, that agm is still going to be twice as expensive as a L-A battery, (mine was 30 bucks, same as OEM from battery depot) However, prices are coming down on agms, so maybe someday soon they'll be el cheapo.

This battery is sold unsealed, once you add the acid and put on the caps, it is completely sealed and you should not remove the caps.

that's weird, i've never seen an AGM that requires that you add acid. Every one i've seen says "fully charged out of the box" Are you thinking of sealed lead acid flooded type?

For fucks sake, read the damn link it says its AGM. I can tell you only that I filled the cells and now the caps are locked on. Why when ever anyone posts anything on this damn forum does everyone nit pick every god damn detail to death. The battery works, it was 40 degrees here this morning and it worked, hell it worked well enough to start the bike 3 times when it was cold. If you want the battery get it if not go away. Its a battery, its cheap, it works and its light weight. I nor anyone else should have to freaking defend a product that they like because you either don't like it or don't want it.

[Funderb]

I'm pretty sure I just made crzydood have a total Jack Nicholson "You can't handle the truth" moment.

My bad dude, I'm not nitpicking, just confused. As far as everything goes, Im just here to ride your coat tails and see how it works out for you, as I am always a fan of cheap.

I apologize if my quest for information came off... dickish. I never meant to suggest that you are mistaken in your purchase.

[crzydood17]

Fair enough, I am sorry for my outburst, I just hate when people get questioned on things that are answered or are subjective. I bring only the good word of a small lightweight battery that was powerful enough to work very well on my bike. Not to argue the weight arguments or the effects on performance nor the definitions of AGM and Sealed. After seeing the veritable shaZam! storm that Adidas got for posting about his spark plugs it seems to be a common occurrence that anything new or strange is bad.

As a side note as to why this battery might work better for me than expected, I have a kill switch for my headlight so I don't draw as much power as a normal GS when cranking over. I also have LEDs everywhere else and not much draw anywhere from any accessories.

[adidasguy]

FYI: 2006+ the headlight turns off when you pres the starter.
I have a simple relay mod to do the same thing for older bikes. Someday I'll post it. (Trey aka Purple Bike Build aka Dora has it so I know it works)

[bigfatcat]

However, a REAL  AGM is going to cost 75-120 dollars.

$54 shipped.

http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/sYT10L-A2.html

I bought this battery back in December '08 - maintained with a battery tender - only lasted 3 1/2 yrs ... just fyi ymmv.

[jestercinti]

FYI: 2006+ the headlight turns off when you pres the starter.
I have a simple relay mod to do the same thing for older bikes. Someday I'll post it. (Trey aka Purple Bike Build aka Dora has it so I know it works)

Dora?  I recall Suzi, Trey, Junior, Quin...but Dora?  Don't remember Dora.