Battery Recommendations Needed

[SacDuc]

My new-to-me '93 900SS needs a new battery. Do you have a brand/size/type you just love?

Thanks.


sac

[ducpainter]

I still like the old lead acid YB16 AL2 that came stock in the earlier bikes. Any brand will work.

They're cheap, rugged, and last longer than the AGM batteries.

The downside is they're heavy and will spill acid if you tip it over.

[ducatiz]

AGM upgrades are available

Plus, you can down-size the battery if you upgrade the wires and don't ride in cold.

AGM option (one of several)..the PC680 as well (*and will outlast any wet acid battery):
http://www.tnrbatteries.com/MotoBatt/Batteries/MB16AU-Motorcycle-AGM-Sealed-Battery-by-MotoBatt.html

Use the YT12B-BS as a smaller option if you upgrade the wires (but some people don't and it works fine).  It has 12 Ah instead of 16, and 125 cranking amps instead of 200.

I refuse to use wet acid batteries anymore.  I am just unlucky, I always end up with the vent hose coming off or the battery cooking and spilling.  AGM batteries don't spill.

[erkishhorde]

This is all of the battery information have recently found.

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=44435.0

[Turf]

I'm a yuasa fan

that said, i'm going to be putting one of them there fancy nicad batteries in my M900 project when the time comes.

[triangleforge]

I'm a yuasa fan

that said, i'm going to be putting one of them there fancy nicad batteries in my M900 project when the time comes.

What kinds of nicad options are you looking at? One of my back-burner projects is to make the ST2 semi-naked (deleting the lower & most/all of the mid fairings) and the biggest hurdle to overcome will be relocating the battery. The YT12B-BS that Z mentions looks like one possibility, but there aren't a lot of good hiding places once the fairings are gone for any standard-sized moto batteries.

And to contribute something of use to Sac Duc, I've got a year old PC680 in the ST2 and loved it for a while - until the sketchy regulator completely gave up & the bike fully discharged the battery many miles from home. AGM batteries do not like that one little bit, and my relatively expensive new battery now isn't very good at holding a charge. If you go that route, make sure the rest of your charging system is in good order first and you'll be just fine.

[booger]

http://www.motowheels.com/italian/myProducts.cfm?parentcategoryid=915%7CBatteries%20and%20Battery%20Accessories&productID=6814&showDetail=1&categoryID=915|Batteries%20and%20Battery%20Accessories&vendoridtodisplay=0&filterFor=&collection=

[triangleforge]

^^^ That's really interesting; expensive, but interesting - though since the ST is for touring, the warning about removing the battery before washing the bike gives me a little pause... Thanks!

[koko64]

I'm running a 12 B BS gel type too (Yuasa copy). It has given 2 years trouble free service. If the late model SBKs use it I figured it should turn mine over. Can't spill and saves a few pounds. Just run good cables and have the option of having the headlight turned off when starting if you have high comp pistons. I packed the battery box out with foam and the wires reach fine. Temps here only reach Zero C in winter which is rare.

I'm gonna try a Speedcell battery when replacement is due.

[SacDuc]

This is all of the battery information have recently found.

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=44435.0

That was quite helpful. Thanks!

sac

[erkishhorde]

That was quite helpful. Thanks!

sac

Nice! Let us know what you settle on.