I was at a motocycle trade show this weekend and came across the Shorai battery booth. They are lithium based rather than the typical lead-acid batteries. The appeal to bikers is they are light-weight and the cold start doesn't pull as much power out of the battery. (That could be good for the GS500, I noticed it is a sluggish starter sometimes.) They are claiming they last longer do to no liquids (no sulfating when it sits, no gasses emitted)

Does anyone here have any experience with these batteries? I was thinking it could be worth it in the long run, even though they are pricey.

http://www.shoraipower.com/default.aspx

I guess you haven't searched the forums. Do a search on Shorai for lots of comments on them.
I have been a BIG promoter of them. LOVE THEM!
Have them in all my bikes.
So much more power for starting. So much reserve power. Quick recovery when bike refuses to start.
I got the 14a ones from BatteryStuff.com. About $150 but worth it - some people always complain about battery problems and are always buying cheap WallyMart batteries every year or have to always deal with a battery tender. Those are the people that wonder why I would pay extra $ for a Shorai when they can get a cheap battery for $35. For the extra $, I never have to worry about it again.
The first one I used I found I had sitting in my parts box for 9 months. Never charged. Never on a tender. Bike started right up better than ever. They really can last a year without charging!

Ha... yeah, I haven't searched the forums. I always think when something is new to me that nobody else ever heard of it before either. I will research this a little further, but I think I will invest in one of these batteries. Nothing stinks more than wanting to hop on and ride but the battery is dead.

 Battery stuff has free priority shipping going on right now. How do I know? I just picked one up because of this thread. Geez Erika, every time you post it seems like I'm spending more money.Thanks for the tip on the progressive springs.
http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/LFX14L2-BS12.html

I recently just bought a Shorai battery for a project. I was absolutely amazed how much smaller and lighter it is than stock. The only complaint I've heard about them are their start up performance in cold temperatures (below freezing).

I was OK when we were freezing last week. I started up the bikes because they missed me and needed some loving.

Lead/acid will also be weaker when cold. I think anyone in cold weather has experienced that with their car. When I was a kid, my dad would say to turn on the headlights for a minute or two when below freezing to warm up the battery (using the battery warms it up, not the heat from the lights). Then the car would start easier.

I've heard the complaint of below freezing for all batteries.

Quote from: Dizzledan on January 22, 2012, 03:41:25 PM
Battery stuff has free priority shipping going on right now. How do I know? I just picked one up because of this thread. Geez Erika, every time you post it seems like I'm spending more money.Thanks for the tip on the progressive springs.
http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/LFX14L2-BS12.html

Ha... I like doing all those projects in the winter that I wouldn't when it's riding season. Last year I changed a gasket on an old CB350 only to find that I had to rebuild part of the engine, leaving me without a bike to ride in the summer. Hence the purchase of my GS500 so I could have something to ride. I'm sure glad I bought the bike, but now that I found this forum, I caught the bug to tinker and make it a better GS500.

Quote from: Erika on January 22, 2012, 05:03:21 PM
e. I'm sure glad I bought the bike, but now that I found this forum, I caught the bug to tinker and make it a better GS500.

I've accepted that I'll do this on any motorcycle I ever own. I bought a truck in august and was happy to have a vehicle that could just sit outside without me throwing money at it. How silly of me, I joined a forum for it and every time I go on I find something else I swear it needs. Internet forums can be awful haha

definitely will be snatching one of these before this next riding season

I surfed the internets reading up more on this battery and I am still wanting to get one. I did notice there is a lot of talk about the battery functioning poorly in cold weather, but it seemed as though these guys didn't understand how the battery works. Some forums talked about tethering it to the charger to make sure it wouldn't die in the cold, but my understanding is that they didn't need to do that... the battery is still fully charged, it just needs to be warmed up a little. And for all I know, they were damaging it with the wrong charger, because some were complaining that the battery died completely. And some were calling it a lithium ion battery and comparing it to the battery in a lap top. So I guess I can't believe everything I read on the internet.

I dunno. Coming from kick starting a cold vintage bike with a weak battery, turning the headlights on for two minutes to warm up a cold battery is nothing. But Adidas Guy may have more experience with this cold battery issue? Have you ever had issues in 50F degree weather where you were stranded? For me, it may not matter if it's colder and it won't start since I don't really like riding when it's below freezing anyway.

Erika

There are two types of chargers. One is just a trickle charger. That one is OK.

The other type drains the battery then charges it. That is because some types of batteries lose capacity unless completely discharged once in a while. It is called "battery memory". using that type of charger will destroy the LiFe batteries. They even tell you that in the LiFe battery information.

Mine worked just fine at a little below freezing. All 3 bikes started right up.

Then, how many of us ride when below freezing? At 20 below freezing, your oil would probably be so thick that there would be no way you'll get your bike running.

Remember: people can always find something wrong with everything.

Yeah Adidas, what Erika is describing is what I heard as well. I read about most of the cold battery complaints on ADVRider (and those guys ride in EXTREME cold) but the President (?) of Shorai signed up to answer any questions. If anybody searches hard enough on www.dotheton.com, you will come across a thread discussing Shorai by a guy called T71Ford - he had a major issue with a faulty battery that Shorai helped resolve quickly.

When I asked T71Ford about his cold weather experiences, he said he would leave his headlights on for a couple minutes before even attempting to start - enough time to put his gear on pretty much.

which model shorai do you use addidas?


I see a few on amazon, I'm interested in picking one up

Shorai LFX-14L2-BS12 

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

Been thinkin' 'bout this all day.  Sorry but I just have to play devil's advocate here.   

That Shorai battery sounds great...I mean what's not to like?

Let's start with the price.....$150 or so...Holy crap!  This must be a good battery!

So I went to the website to see what all the fuss is about...I mean modern, state of the art technology...I'm all for that!

So here's the Bullet points on "why I gotta get one of these batteries", (from the company)..

Ultra light weight  (they didn't mention small size, but they are smaller than regular)
Zero Sulification
Holds Charge One year
Mil spec case
Faster cranking
No gasses, lead or acid
Environmentally friendly
2 year warrenty

That is all really wonderful...sounds great to me..can't find anything to complain about those points..

But, let's go down the list one by one..

Ultralight weight...OK saves 4 lbs over my battery...My bike weights like 400 lbs, and me 190 lbs, and my gear is another 20 and I carry another 20 on the rear seat.....so saving 4 lbs does what for me?  And small size?  Well the battery box is big enough for my battery already.  No gain.

Zero Sulfication....sounds great....yes sulification is what usually brings a lead acid battery to its demise.....after 3 or 4 or 5 years!  I can throw out and replace quite a few sulificated batteries, before I get to the price of one Shorai!  Like 20 years worth!  And tey don't reallymention the actual lifespan of the Shorai....No gain.

Holds charge one year.....Yep...so?  I only need my battery to hold a charge until the next time I ride...like overnight....a lead acid battery when fully charged will hold a charge a long, long time...
No useful improvement..

Mil Spec Case...Ok so its got a nice case....so does my battery have a nice case....haven't had one problem ever due to the case...so no improvement here either..


Faster cranking....OK...this seems like a big advantage....so maybe it does "crank faster"..but I'm pretty sure the speed of the starter motor is governed by the volts...and same volts in my battery..so same cranking speed....But here' the important thing.....My battery starts my bike first push of the starter button...every time.....so what's lacking?  How can you improve on that?  Still no improvement...

No Gasses, lead, acid......Ok again this all sounds nice...but it is merely different construction..Gasses, lead, and acid have never caused me any problem whatsoever...so why do I need to not have them?

Environmentally friendly...granted the materials may be less toxic...but Lead acid batteries are recycled....lead manufacturers use like 90% recycled lead in all products....

2 year warrenty.....you can get any battery with 2 year warrenty..some with 3, 4 or 5...


My 3 year old lead acid battery and been used almost daily since new....21,000 trouble free miles...when it craps out I will buy another one for $40 and go for another 3 or 4 or 5 years...

I call this an example of a solution, where there exists no problem.  My lead acid battery has never caused a problem of any kind.....so why do I need a $150 solution?

Again, I am not saying there is anything wrong with the Shorai battery, except it's cost and its value is not there.   If a Shorai battery cost $40 would I buy one?  Probably.....

If I was rich and didn't care about money would I buy one?  Maybe...

But being the cheap old bastard I am...no way!

Cookie

Everybody is entitled to an opinion - if the Shorai doesn't fit your needs/wants, that's fine too.

The small weight and size is ideal for custom applications and also on race bikes where weight is always a concern. A guy on ADVRider used all the extra space to carry more/better tools with him. There are a LOT of people that don't ride their bike every day, so a battery that holds a good charge for longer periods is helpful.

I'm not saying Shorai is the first, but they are bound to come down in price over time.

I just replaced my Scorpion battery with a NAPA lead acid type. Same brand of battery that was in the bike when I bought it. Had I bothered to check the fluid level of the original it would probably still be in my bike today.

Quote from: twocool on January 24, 2012, 05:27:15 PM

If I was rich and didn't care about money would I buy one?  Maybe...

But being the cheap old bastard I am...no way!

Cookie

Bingo! you hit the nail on the head.


Its for people with some disposable income.  I know its not a big upgrade, but nevertheless it does perform better. 

Oh and also, when the starter is cranking, its pulling amps.  So this battery would be better than a normal stock one if it advertises more cold cranking amps than a regular one. 



Are you really still using a lead acid batteries?  You are showing your age, at least get a sealed acid battery.  Is it annoying refilling it and sometimes spilling it around? 

Quote from: NickyNumbers on January 24, 2012, 08:28:14 PM

Quote from: twocool on January 24, 2012, 05:27:15 PM

If I was rich and didn't care about money would I buy one?  Maybe...

But being the cheap old bastard I am...no way!

Cookie

Bingo! you hit the nail on the head.


Its for people with some disposable income.  I know its not a big upgrade, but nevertheless it does perform better. 

Oh and also, when the starter is cranking, its pulling amps.  So this battery would be better than a normal stock one if it advertises more cold cranking amps than a regular one. 



Are you really still using a lead acid batteries?  You are showing your age, at least get a sealed acid battery.  Is it annoying refilling it and sometimes spilling it around?

My stock battery has never failed to start my bike on the first try...how can you top that with any battery?

Sla does have advantage over not sealed..and costs about the same...

Explain again what I would get for the extra $110 that I don't get now and can't live without...

With age comes wisdom...Every kid wants to be the first one on the block to have the next mew thing....$300 sneakers come to mind too..

Cookie

Quote from: Big Rich on January 24, 2012, 06:07:34 PM
Everybody is entitled to an opinion - if the Shorai doesn't fit your needs/wants, that's fine too.

The small weight and size is ideal for custom applications and also on race bikes where weight is always a concern. A guy on ADVRider used all the extra space to carry more/better tools with him. There are a LOT of people that don't ride their bike every day, so a battery that holds a good charge for longer periods is helpful.

I'm not saying Shorai is the first, but they are bound to come down in price over time.

Interested in a bridge for sale?

Cookie