Acid/lead, gel or lithium battery? Best Option

[newbie1993]

Picking up a new battery soon and just trying to get the best for my gs. Thanks for the input!

NEWBIE

[robfriedenberger]

I've heard good things about lithium, but the cost factor.............I've had a Bike Master Gel battery in mine and love it so much better than lead acid batteries. I ride all year around so if its 100F or 20F I'm riding the gel  starts my bike every time

[Janx101]

if you can afford the legit lithium battery get that ... apart from that a reputable gel/AGM battery .. you will never regret it

[twocool]

There is no "best"  each has pros and cons....depends on what is your fancy......

"gel" is a term which is used mostly incorrectly.....the battery is actually called AGM...  absorbent glass mat...........there is no "gel" in 'em....


Cookie

Picking up a new battery soon and just trying to get the best for my gs. Thanks for the input!

NEWBIE

[The Buddha]

Yea one more AGM vote ...
Ofcourse is you find a broken down tesla, you can liberate a few batteries out if it and slap it in the bike ... Those are I think Li-ion.
Cool.
Buddha.

[cbrfxr67]

I vote everstart from wallyworld,......

[newbie1993]

There is no "best"  each has pros and cons....depends on what is your fancy......

"gel" is a term which is used mostly incorrectly.....the battery is actually called AGM...  absorbent glass mat...........there is no "gel" in 'em....


Cookie

Picking up a new battery soon and just trying to get the best for my gs. Thanks for the input!

NEWBIE

just so I don't use the wrong term. Trugel and agm are the same thing ?

NEWBIE

[twocool]

Short answer:   YES

Long answer:

AGM refers to a (generic) construction and use of materials in a battery..."absorbent glass mat"

"Trugel" is a trade name for Bike Master brand batteries......Don't confuse "trugel" to mean "this battery is truly a gel battery".   Bike Master Trugel uses absorbent glass mat materials and construction.  (AGM)  They do claim however to have some "proprietary" electrolyte, "nano-gel technology".....again this is some trade name.....so it's hard to tell whether they use a different electrolyte, or the same as everybody else.

I can assure the Bike master does not actually make  these batteries...they are made in some factory somewhere, under contract.....same factory which makes many brands...

Bottom line is BikeMaster trugel makes the exact same claims as all the other AGM batteries,  regarding vibration resistance, leak proof, sideways mounting, no drain hose, strong starting etc...

In marketing, you have to have some buzz words, to try to set yourself apart from the competition, "trugel" "nano-gel technology" are the buzz words here...

It looks to be a very good, high quality battery....I believe they are competitively priced...would be a good choice ...as would any other brand of AGM battery.


FYI....a "gel" or "gell" or "gelled electrolyte" battery is basically an old fashioned lead acid type battery, which has had gelling  agents added to the electrolyte to make it thick.   These batteries are typically used for deep  discharge applications, like in campers, or boats....

Information for consumers sometimes comes form the engineering department....sometimes from the marketing department.  Try to find the former.....the latter...don't take too seriously..

Cookie









NEWBIE
[/quote]
[/quote] just so I don't use the wrong term. Trugel and agm are the same thing ?

NEWBIE
[/quote]

[twocool]

FYI

http://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/gel-vs-agm.html

quick explanation of differences in battery types...

Note that AGM are sold 100x compared to "gel"
Note that gel requires special charging technique, and modification to regulator...

Plenty more info available on the Internet...

Cookie

[newbie1993]

I bought a shorai lfx lithium battery

NEWBIE

[yamahonkawazuki]

Iirc Addy uses shorai as well

[newbie1993]

I hear they are really good

NEWBIE

[adidasguy]

We are trying a Mirai battery. They have better terminals than Shorai - and two for + and two for -. Handy for connecting accessories.
Though you do have to flatten out the tab on the positive lead due to larger terminals. Overall though both are riced about the same and are the same rating.


Whatever you select, do not get batteries with drain hoses that you have to fill with acid.
Also, insure the terminals are in the correct place: both on back of battery with + on right and - on left corner.
I've seen many GS's with the wrong battery and it is not that hard to get the right one.

[newbie1993]

I made sure I bought the correct battery. Matched the model number to gs500e fitment

NEWBIE

[adidasguy]

We've been using them for 3 years now. All our bikes get them.     
LFX14L2-BS12  I assume. That's what we use. ready to use right out of the box. No need for a battery tender.

all LiFe batteries are sensitive to cold below 40 degrees. You do the trick to warm them up if it gets that cold. I've started bikes in 25 degree weather.

You start 5 seconds. Wait 10. Repeat. Then wait 30 seconds. Then she fires right up. Remember - only when really cold. and ALL LiFe batteries work like that. Whether Shorai, Ballistoc, Mirai or other brands.

They hold a charge for a year so if you have a battery tender, it will collect dust. And here's the statement about chargers (if you need one):
*Must only be used with a lead-acid battery charger without desulfation (recovery) feature*

[newbie1993]

 Yep that's the model. They come with the cut to fit material so they can fit in the gs battery holder right?Don't lithium batteries have their own special charger?

NEWBIE

[adidasguy]

Those do not.
Just don't use one that drains it to de-whatever some do to lead batteries.
You shouldn't need any charger.
There is a special "balance charger" that Ballistic makes, but I have one only because we do sometimes really drain a battery when working on non-working bikes and forget to turn things off for a day or two. Then, usually letting  them self-recover for a day is all they need or we put one in a running bike and let it recharge that way.

and yes, all that stick back foam is to fill up the battery box. Raises up the battery then holds it in snug as a bug in a rub or a kitten in a blanket.

[Janx101]

... pecan in a pie.... sausage in a sandwich... pip in a peach .. $5 in a rabbi's fist!?... ummmm... firm as a foamy sticky holder thingy!! 

[twocool]

Cool....

The only down side to this battery IMHO is the price!

Old saying:  Buy the best, and you only cry once!


Cookie

I bought a shorai lfx lithium battery

NEWBIE

[Leadberry]

I'm gonna go against the grain on this one.  I have a 5-or-6-year-old cheapo lead acid battery on my bike that's still going strong.  Leave it on the bike in the garage in the winter; don't bother to bring it inside or put it on a tender.  It still does what it's supposed to do: start the bike.  This is just one of those situations where, unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket, spending more for "premium" is really pointless IMO.