Battery advise needed

[BG DUKE]

Hello!

I need to change the bike's battery, because the old one was leaking and it made a lot of damages, but the fault is all mine
Anyway it's perfect reason for repainting the frame and engine covers too 

Now on the question. The bike is 1998 M600 and the suitable battery for it is with the following specs: 16 AH; 120 CCA and dimensions 205x72x164mm. But with this characteristics i can only find the old style battery which is acid spill friendly 
Another choice is to buy battery which is suitable for the newer models: 12 AH; 190 CCA and dimensions 151x70x131mm.
It's maintenance free, smaller and lighter than the other type, with more Cold Cranking Amps too, which sounds very convincing to me, but it's capacity is a lot lower (12AH against 16AH).
I can mount it stable to the filter box, but the low capacity is bothering me.

Any help will be highly appreciated   

Thanks in advance!

[koko64]

I ran a gel battery. It is the battery for the late model desmoquattros. Someone else will remember the code. It served me well and is now in a buddys bike. .I recently got a Shorai LFX 18 battery and it cranks stronger than any battery I have tried in my Monster and saves 5kgs over the stock lead acid battery. The Shorai is expensive however.
My Monster is a hi comp 900.

[pslinux]

I recently killed the battery in my '99 M750 and replaced it with this beast. http://www.impactbattery.com/motobatt-mb16au-sealed-yuasa-yb16al-a2-upgrade.html

It's sealed and maintanence free and offers more CCA and capacity, which is what you're looking for.  Downside is the cost, but it was worth it for me.  They offer free shipping over $50, it comes with a little charge so it won't take long to top it off, and use Spring2012 at checkout as a discount code for an extra 10% off.

So far so good but I've only had it for a couple weeks.

[Thermite]

Hello!

I need to change the bike's battery, because the old one was leaking and it made a lot of damages, but the fault is all mine
Anyway it's perfect reason for repainting the frame and engine covers too 

Any help will be highly appreciated   

Thanks in advance!

No advice on the battery but use baking soda & water to neutralize the spilled acid residue before you do repairs.  Treat it until you don't get any more foam.

[AdmiralKit]

12AH will be more than enough power if your bike generally starts with little fuss or you're just a warm-weather rider.  After I had a similar leaking battery issue on my M750, I ended up running a sealed battery with 125CCA and 7AH (I think recommended was again the 16AH with 160CCA), and for the year and a half I used that battery I never had a problem... I eventually changed it out because the poles were reversed and the jumper I'd made to make it work fell apart. 

If I were you, I'd only really be concerned if you had secondary concerns about the alternator or voltage regulator failing, if your bike can be a pain to start, or you do lots of rides where you may not be able to find someone to help you out if something gave out.  If your bike is like mine and starts on the first attempt or three and you ride near populous areas, 12AH will be PLENTY of capacity.

[Glass_Darkly]

I recently purchased a Motobatt gel for my m750 it's fully sealed. It  seems to work really well and it holds the charge great. I got it as replacement fOr the old yusa one off eBay for about £45.00 I think.

[BG DUKE]

Thank you all 

Yes Motobatt is direct replacement battery. It was my best choice, but I can have it for more than a twice of the price of maintenance free Varta YT12B-BS or something similar.

I used baking soda to neutralize the battery acid, but it was to late for the battery box.  It was melting under the rubber padding. I already purchased used one to replace it. It seems to be a common problem with the late models, because I saw few others with the same issue.

The bike starts and runs great and i never had any electrical problems with it.
I'm having dual headlight, which means constant double consumption 65+65W. I will install power switch to turn off one of the bulbs in daytime riding. I hope that will help with low capacity battery, which can be the 12AH model.

I'm just waiting for few more confirmations of my choice 

[ducatiz]

You have the same problem as a lot of SS owners, that battery is weirdly shaped.

You can cross reference the original part number : YB16AL-A2

Motobatt is probably the only option.

Bikebatts.com has it for 107 with free shipping.

[AdmiralKit]

Thank you all 

Yes Motobatt is direct replacement battery. It was my best choice, but I can have it for more than a twice of the price of maintenance free Varta YT12B-BS or something similar.

...
The bike starts and runs great and i never had any electrical problems with it.
I'm having dual headlight, which means constant double consumption 65+65W. I will install power switch to turn off one of the bulbs in daytime riding. I hope that will help with low capacity battery, which can be the 12AH model.

I run dual headlights at 55W each, and had no problems with the battery I was running.  Remember, when you fire the bike up you're generating power from the stator, wihch ought to be producing several hundred watts.  You'll probably need to swap the fuse for your headlights (15A wasn't enough for me if I was running brights, but 20 seems to be fine).

[Howie]

I run dual headlights at 55W each, and had no problems with the battery I was running.  Remember, when you fire the bike up you're generating power from the stator, wihch ought to be producing several hundred watts.  You'll probably need to swap the fuse for your headlights (15A wasn't enough for me if I was running brights, but 20 seems to be fine).

You need to make sure every wire, connector, switch etc is capable of carrying 20 amps before putting that 20 amp fuse in.  Also, our bikes do not put out a lot of wattage until about 3K RPM.

[Desmo Demon]

You have the same problem as a lot of SS owners, that battery is weirdly shaped.

You can cross reference the original part number : YB16AL-A2

That is the same size battery (16AL) as what came in our '98 ST2 bikes. With both, I converted to the more popular-sized 12B battery used in the newer model ST, SBK, and other Ducs. For the ST2, the conversion is easy because Ducati used the same battery box and simply changed a battery post bracket, retaining bracket, and added a plastic spacer. I also use the newer battery in my Ducati Paso, and I made spacer blocks to battery secure it in the battery box. I plan on converting to this same battery in both of our GSXR bikes and my Bimota when they all need a new battery - the wife's R1 uses the same battery from the factory.

Any battery that is smaller than the OEM is easy to use by using spacers and a securing system, if needed.

[BG DUKE]

Hello again 

I allready ordered suitable maintenance free battery, which will fit nice in the bike and will have better parameters than the original one. It's made by Unibat which is Italian company.



Now on the specs:
- model: CP18-12;
- voltage 12V;
- capacity: 18AH;
- cranking power CCA: 260A;
- dimensions: 181 x 76 x 167mm;
- plus connector orientation: R;
- weight filled: 6kg.

I'm not sure that they are available in the USA, but they are good alternative of the Motobat sealed batteries for the pre 2000 Monsters. Also it cost me not more than 85 dollars to have it