Anyone swapped over to a lithium battery?

[fencer]

What did you get and how is that working out?

[raYzerman]

I will let you decide, but throw out some stuff...... there has been discussion before, e.g., garyhouse's posts about his testing....... I had to boost a buddy's (or at least charge it some to wake it up) twice on a trip where we had 34F temperatures.
Cost - you can buy two AGM batteries for the price of a Li-Fe.
Cold temperatures - iffy starting at 40F or below, plus all that strain you'll be putting your starter through at low temperatures attempting to start. If you're not likely to see much 40F or below then go for it. Li-Fe's don't seem to be ready for prime time (at least Shorai), but there are others (more money).
Weight savings - who cares.
Life cycle - They claim 5+ years, but nobody knows yet. AGM's should last 5 years if properly cared for.
To me, not worth it.

[beemerdons]

I will let you decide, but throw out some stuff...... there has been discussion before, e.g., garyhouse's posts about his testing....... I had to boost a buddy's (or at least charge it some to wake it up) twice on a trip where we had 34F temperatures.
Cost - you can buy two AGM batteries for the price of a Li-Fe.
Cold temperatures - iffy starting at 40F or below, plus all that strain you'll be putting your starter through at low temperatures attempting to start. If you're not likely to see much 40F or below then go for it. Li-Fe's don't seem to be ready for prime time (at least Shorai), but there are others (more money).
Weight savings - who cares.
Life cycle - They claim 5+ years, but nobody knows yet. AGM's should last 5 years if properly cared for.
To me, not worth it.

+1, Gunny; half a dozen of the members of my BMW Club AZ Beemers tried out these Li-Fe batteries, every single one regretted it! It doesn't get that cold here in Arizona, but it does get down to 40F and sometimes 32F here in Phoenix and they could not get their K or R bikes started with these worthless Li-Fe batteries! fencer, save your money by staying with AGM batteries. JSNS!

[Auburn]

I will let you decide, but throw out some stuff...... there has been discussion before, e.g., garyhouse's posts about his testing....... I had to boost a buddy's (or at least charge it some to wake it up) twice on a trip where we had 34F temperatures.
Cost - you can buy two AGM batteries for the price of a Li-Fe.
Cold temperatures - iffy starting at 40F or below, plus all that strain you'll be putting your starter through at low temperatures attempting to start. If you're not likely to see much 40F or below then go for it. Li-Fe's don't seem to be ready for prime time (at least Shorai), but there are others (more money).
Weight savings - who cares.
Life cycle - They claim 5+ years, but nobody knows yet. AGM's should last 5 years if properly cared for.
To me, not worth it.

+1, Gunny; half a dozen of the members of my BMW Club AZ Beemers tried out these Li-Fe batteries, every single one regretted it! It doesn't get that cold here in Arizona, but it does get down to 40F and sometimes 32F here in Phoenix and they could not get their K or R bikes started with these worthless Li-Fe batteries! fencer, save your money by staying with AGM batteries. JSNS!

Same thing here, we were on a trip last year with friends. They were on their 2nd Li-Fe battery (it was a warranty replacement for the first one). I had to jump his bike twice with my 7 year old stock AGM battery due to cold weather. That same battery crapped the bed on them during a run to the border last month. Left them stranded. Fortunately AAA gives free towing within 200 miles, so they got home via the tow truck. The supplier offered to replace it the battery again. He is going to take the battery, but it is going into another bike and he is going back to the AGM battery for the FJR.

[wheatonFJR]

Fencer, if this is for your indoor vibrator where the temps stay above 40F...definitely go for it.

[0face]

Fencer, if this is for your indoor vibrator where the temps stay above 40F...definitely go for it.

That's some funny shit right there...

[ts3doug]

Several of my speed triple acquaintances bought Shorai batteries. The southerners seem to like them, others not do much. Having to turn on the headlights to warm up the battery before hitting the starter seems a tedious to me.

[FJR Flyer]

I've got the Shorai. I'm on the third one. First two have been replaced gratis by Shorai after talking to their reps at the bike shows. This most recent version I got in January. Rep indicated the previous one I had was three generations old. I will say the first two were deficient in the cold weather starting scenario. I ride year round. I've ridden down to 7 deg. The Shorai always started, but sometimes it was taking six cranks or so. I began to put a 100 watt light bulb under the bike with a tarp over it in the garage to keep it warm.

So after I got this latest generation from Shorai, I have not had any issues with cold weather performance. I'm surprised at the leap in performance improvement with this battery.

Shoria's customer service has been excellent. At least for me.

[disclaimer - this is not a paid post, I have no connection to Shorai]

[sacramentomike]

Piling another straw on this camel's back, on a trip a couple years ago with two friends, the one with a Shorai left his ignition on while we went into McD's. Battery was flat after lunch and we had to find somebody with cables to give him a jump (he had an AE). The rest of the trip starting in the morning was a problem for him, with at least one other hunt for somebody with cables. Conclusions: thumbs down on both the Shorai and the AE.

[blrfjr]

Ive got the cheapest pos battery there is and I like it better than a shorai. JSNS

There is no normal life, there's just life.
Bryan

[wheatonFJR]

I wanted the lithium ion batteries to be good. But too much bad user experience means it will die a consumer death because of such poor consumer experience.

Even if they work great now, they will have to give them away to get people to try them.

[extrememarine]

Aren't these typically marketed for sport bikes / track bikes? They are being marketed for everything, but where they have an advantage is in a track bike; it only needs to start the bike and run the electronics. If you live in SoCal or TX, you might be fine.

[MrZappo]

If these things have this major problem of having little to no power when cold, does anyone know if electric cars with similar batteries suffer the same affliction ? Strange that this is not talked about with cars using Lithium batts ...

[ionbeam]

If these things have this major problem of having little to no power when cold, does anyone know if electric cars with similar batteries suffer the same affliction ? Strange that this is not talked about with cars using Lithium batts ...

The chemistry of the motorcycle batteries we are talking about is LiFePO4 (Lithium iron phosphate), the car batteries are Li-ion (LIB).

The car battery has better energy density -- more watts per pound, does not have the cold weather problems of the LiFe batteries but the Li-ion has fire, charging, # or recharges and depth of discharge issues that the LiFe does not. The LiFe battery is safe and has a longer life.

The Li-ion batteries can be mixed with cobalt, carbon used in the negative electrode and can have other chemicals added to the mix to 'tune them up'. The difference is the car battery is used for a long steady discharge, whereas the LiFe battery is intended for high current spikes during starting and still have good steady current supply.

For those that like to hurt themselves over thinking the batteries :

LiFePO4
Specific energy 90–110 Wh/kg (320–400 J/g)
Energy density 220 Wh/L (790 kJ/L)
Specific power >300 W/kg

Li-ion
Specific energy: 100 to 250 W·h/kg (360 to 900 kJ/kg)
energy density: 250 to 620 W·h/L (900 to 1900 J/cm³)
Specific power: 300 to 1500 W/kg

[wheatonFJR]

If these things have this major problem of having little to no power when cold, does anyone know if electric cars with similar batteries suffer the same affliction ? Strange that this is not talked about with cars using Lithium batts ...

The chemistry of the motorcycle batteries we are talking about is LiFePO4 (Lithium iron phosphate), the car batteries are Li-ion (LIB).

The car battery has better energy density -- more watts per pound, does not have the cold weather problems of the LiFe batteries but the Li-ion has fire, charging, # or recharges and depth of discharge issues that the LiFe does not. The LiFe battery is safe and has a longer life.

The Li-ion batteries can be mixed with cobalt, carbon used in the negative electrode and can have other chemicals added to the mix to 'tune them up'. The difference is the car battery is used for a long steady discharge, whereas the LiFe battery is intended for high current spikes during starting and still have good steady current supply.

For those that like to hurt themselves over thinking the batteries :

LiFePO4
Specific energy 90–110 Wh/kg (320–400 J/g)
Energy density 220 Wh/L (790 kJ/L)
Specific power >300 W/kg

Li-ion
Specific energy: 100 to 250 W·h/kg (360 to 900 kJ/kg)
energy density: 250 to 620 W·h/L (900 to 1900 J/cm³)
Specific power: 300 to 1500 W/kg

Now we're talkin'!

[fencer]

The reason I asked here was I posted a question of longevity about them on WERA.

The got a great response, even 8 years from 1 fellow.

But, this is the response I got from a MFG on Wera on the Ballistic Evo

To be honest, I would recommend a lead-acid battery.

Advantages of a LiFePO4 battery is higher cranking amps, less weight, and higher static discharge efficiency.

Disadvantages are less amp/hours (capacity over time), and cold weather performance.

If you have a 650lb touring bike (no need for lightweight battery) that you might ride year round (cold weather) and has a lot of stuff drawing off the system...a lead acid battery with better cold weather performance and more amp/hour capacity may be a better choice.

I seem to go through a battery (yuasa) every 2 years and was after longevity. Bike is store in a heated garage with my vibrator

[Bust]

Turn the fukin vibrator off when it's next to the battery for fucks sakes! You're shaking shit loose in there.

[HotRodZilla]

Turn the fukin vibrator off when it's next to the battery for fucks sakes! You're shaking shit loose in there.

That's Bust's way of asking you to send the vibrator to him. He's gonna tandem that sumbitch to two truck batteries and see if he can shake his fillings out.

[wheatonFJR]

I seem to go through a battery (yuasa) every 2 years and was after longevity. Bike is store in a heated garage with my vibrator

Wow! You make a vibrator last 2 years!

Amazing!

[fencer]

I seem to go through a battery (yuasa) every 2 years and was after longevity. Bike is store in a heated garage with my vibrator

Wow! You make a vibrator last 2 years!

Amazing!

Of course!
http://www.viberider.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;