Lithium Batteries

[koko64]

Some questions to consider.

1. Does the bike have devices on board that draw current at rest?
2. Do you need a battery that light for weight savings? (Great bang for buck weight savings).
3. Does your bike sit for a long time like a race bike?
4. Does the Lithium battery have an in built fuse in case of over charging?
5. Does the lithium battery have an outer case that resists heat, fire and protects the battery, and does  the case contain the contents in case of a failure?
6. Does the lithium battery have a built in balance charger or do you need a special charger for it?
7. Are you aware that these things are quite different to normal lead acid batteries in how they behave and should be cared for? Do it wrong and you can burn down your bike, garage or house.
8. Lithium batteries like to warm up in cold weather. While conventional batteries start strong and get weaker, Lithium batteries get stronger as they warm up. Subsequent cranking improves as the battery warms up. Some let the bike sit for 30 sec with the head light on before cranking to warm the battery up. It is strangely the opposite of what you would do with a conventional battery.

[koko64]

I can vouch for the quality of Shorai Li batteries after the one in an M900 survived a fire and withstood burning fuel. I don't get any kick backs on these batteries, I just use them for myself and customers (pay retail too) . The battery took charge and started a high comp 944 the next day.

I spoke to a battery shop owner recently who divulged some testing of Li batteries. Every one he tested by shorting them out or by excessive overcharging caught fire creating molten Lithium lava. We have heard the stories. He said that one of his large suppliers had been testing to create their own Li battery and were struggling to make one safe enough to withstand failure. I will share the company's name via PM. I asked him if he had tested the Shorai and he said he had never heard of them. Make of that what you will.

[koko64]

Fire survivor still cranked well with a charge.

[koko64]

I reported back to the national distributor/dealer and he was very pleased. These batteries cost a lot more than the competitors and I commented that the "military grade carbon composite case" must cost most of that. These batteries need a specific Shorai charger which are not cheap but they do also have diagnostic and storage functions.

[NAKID]

I reported back to the national distributor/dealer and he was very pleased. These batteries cost a lot more than the competitors and I commented that the "military grade carbon composite case" must cost most of that. These batteries need a specific Shorai charger which are not cheap but they do also have diagnostic and storage functions.

I had a Shorai on my S2R1000 from 2013 until I sold it late last year. Never needed a charge, started the bike no problem every time. It even sat for 6 weeks while I recovered from surgery and it still started right up. I never put it on a charger/balancer.

[koko64]

I have had two bikes with Shorai batteries and had positive experiences with them.

[Nekkid Tim]

I have had two bikes with Shorai batteries and had positive experiences with them.

Good to hear as I just installed one in each of my Ducatis!

[Slide Panda]

One more notion to add to the list - do you live in a cold climte/ Ride often when temps are 40 F or below?

Starting up off a lithium battery in colder temps is a bit different than ye-olde lead acid.

[koko64]

I'll add that to the list in the morning.

[DarkMonster620]

this is interesting,

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/lowdown-on-lithium-ion-motorcycle-batteries-mc-garage-video?src=SOC&dom=fb

[koko64]

Good article. I note that Shorai batteries can be charged up to 15.2 V according to the included literature. Maybe 14.5-14.8 is to give a margin. Not sure.

[danaid]

  I had one of the original Shorai batteries, it gave me trouble because it was under sized. Shorai sent me a free replacement after the warranty was over and it has been running strong for years.

 I also have a first gen Shorai charger that kinda works after unconnecting, reconnecting several times, they wouldn't take it back.

 I might try an EarthX brand next time as it has the built it balancing and charging electronics built in.

[Speeddog]

I've been running a Shorai in my 750 for a little over a year and 4000 miles.

Not a very demanding application to crank over a 750, but I have drained it flat twice, and it's come back just fine.

[danaid]

 My Shorai battery was discharged under 20% capacity, the Shorai charger will not charge a battery under 20% capacity and will flash a dead battery code. I had to put it on a trickle charger for an hour which raised the battery over the  20% capacity so the Shorai charger could begin to charge it. Something I learned from YouTube!
 The new, deltran battery tender for lithium batteries, will sense and charge battery's discharged to 8V!

[koko64]

Yep. I do the same manually so to speak. A good all type lithium charger may or may not safely do the same. My electronics buddy will make one up to my specs so I dont have to watch it like a hawk!. I manually bring em back by putting a 4amp car charger on while attached to a voltmeter. I disconnect every time it hits 14.8 - 15ish V. I come back five minutes or so later (after another few sets on the weights) and connect up again and so on. I keep doing this "interval" charging until the battery will take the Shorai balance charger.

The Shorai diagnostic function throws a fit when it senses over discharge or over charging. I bet the Shorai guy has his own equipment to do what Im doing like a good Multi unit Li charger does except I bet more adjustable for max voltage cut off and time interval settings.

It doesn't waste my time during a workout, but I want my own version made. I brought back that burned battery in a safe place an with extinguisher handy. I wasnt sure how it was gonna go. My electronics mate half joking described it as a "psuedo desulphfication process" for Lithium batteries.

Dont do this at home kids. Seriously.