Battery advice please...

So, I'm off to do foolish things in cold weather on the XT.

I want to give it the best chance to start and so I want a decent
battery to replace the (probably) 2-3 year old one that's in the bike.

The stock is a GT9-B4 and I can't see anything else fitting in the tray.
(150 x 70 x 105mm).

I'm thinking that the Varta battery is probably a 'better name' than
Yuasa? (plus it seems to be offering 9 rather than 8Ah).

Anything else I should look at?

 

wrote in

this

http://www.tayna.co.uk/YT9B-4-Westco-Motorcycle-Battery-P3375.html

click the other makes and compare the cold cranking amps - AGM batteries
are much more efficient than most other types. Also, they won't leak
when you do a platypus drift.

 

I got one of these:
http://www.westcobattery.com/battery_page.php?bid=44&vid=1&mid=857

From here:
http://www.tayna.co.uk/YT9B-BS-Westco-Motorcycle-Battery-P3376.html

I decided to go on cold cranking for some reason....

The corresponding Yuasa and Westco both have 115 amp cold cranking.
The Varta is only 80 I think.

 

Have a look to see if it will take a slightly taller battery, in which
case a GT12-B4 may fit. I've checked the dimensions in my books and
there's only a height difference of 30mm. It may be worth looking at
the charging system to see if it will be up to charging a 12A/h battery
at the same time.

It's a common upgrade on a Bandit 600, which has an identical battery
box to the 1200 but with the addition of a rubber pad in the bottom to
compensate for the lower height GTX9-BS battery instead of the 1200s
GTX12-BS. They share the same generator and a virtually identical
wiring system so the charging system is well up to it on them.


--
Lozzo
Versys 650 Inter-Continental Hyperbolistic Missile , CBR600F-W racebike
in the making, TS250C, RD400F (somewhere)
BMW E46 318iSE (it's a car, not one of those 2-wheeled pieces of shite
they churn out)

 

Thanks.

Hmm... The Yuasa YT9B-BS seems to be the same spec.

But if I can manage to get another 26mm height in... then I could go
with the YT12B-BS or similar with a CCA of 190...

 

I suggest giving The Battery Shop in Swindon a call with the
dimensions. They really seem to know their stuff, & make battery packs
from scratch if they can't get something to do the job.

http://www.thebatteryshop.co.uk/

 

Height difference is 30mm between the 9 and 12. You could aways do what
I did on my SV650 and cut a rectangular hole in the bottom of the seat
pan to take the taller battery. The foam was thick enough so I never
felt it.

--
Lozzo
Versys 650 Inter-Continental Hyperbolistic Missile , CBR600F-W racebike
in the making, TS250C, RD400F (somewhere)
BMW E46 318iSE (it's a car, not one of those 2-wheeled pieces of shite
they churn out)

 

The little Westco in the MX5 is certainly proving worth its price since
I junked the alarm. Cranked it in to life instantly after sitting
outside in the snow for a couple of weeks unused.
--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Aprilia Shiver Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

What he said.

 

Is an Odyssey PC-310 the right size? If so I wouldn't look any further. You
just can't beat them. I'm afraid it's around £100 but you can afford it!

You might remember my R100RS sat in the airport car park on IoM for nearly 6
months. I took my Clarks Jump Start pack with me but it might as well have
been left connected to an aircraft starter pack. The PC-680 was healthy
enough to power the lights and horn and it kicked off 2nd press of the
button.

 

Unfortunately the PC-310 won't fit.

However based on measurements this morning... this should:
http://www.tayna.co.uk/YT12B-4-Westco-Motorcycle-Battery-P3378.html

So that's 200CCA and 12AH.

I don't think the higher capacity (up from 8AH) being an issue for the
charging circuit if I fit it fully charged, I'm just hoping it gives
me a better chance of starting in the morning and more 'reserve power'
should I need it.

Bit of a pain really because I'm going to have to discard the battery
restraining 'lid' thing and I've fitted the relay and 'power
distribution system' (screw-connector block...) to this and have
secured the cables with hot-melt glue.

Oh well... it's only time.

 

I can see it's a sealed unit. Is that an alternative technology solution
with higher cranking amps like the Odyssey? It's a lot cheaper.

 

It's AGM. The only downside being that if it goes totally flat you have
to get cunning to resuscitate it to the stage that one of the new style
electronic chargers (well a pikey Aldi one ayway) will continue to
revitalise it. Had to do it twice before I finally had the ancient
Clifford alarm ripped out of the MX5. It seems to have survived the
experience.

I don't see higher capacity being an issue for the charging circuit.
Just take a bit longer. I had a FOAD leisure battery on the camper van
that always managed to re-chargee after a decent run.

Cold cranking amps is were it's at for starting. Plus a few more AH
might get the bike a bit further if the charging circuit goes tits up.
There's something to be said for true CDI/Flyweel magneto ignition in
those circumstances as long as there is some daylight left or other
people to ride shotgun.

--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Aprilia Shiver Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Re AGM and charging, throw your jump start box in parallel and bob's your
auntie

 

Indeed. Or a less sophisticated old style needle on a dial ammeter
charger for just long enough to jolt it back to a glimmer of life
Frankenstein stylee. It does then take a fair old time (as in 2 days) to
trickle charge it back to full capacity with something a bit more
sophisticated as they warn you when buying one from MX5parts. But if
fully charged before going in to service that's not an issue.



--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Aprilia Shiver Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

@news.zen.co.uk:

Same technology as the Odyssey and has a very good reputation at half to
two thirds the price. US made like the Odyssey rather than cheap Chinese
shit.

 

When, exactly?

Well, not exactly to the minute, but to the day would be nice.

 

I think we depart from Harwich on the 4th Feb and get back on the 20th
but I may be a day or so out either way.

Are you going to come and wave us goodbye?

 

Oh, I thought it was imminent.

Don't bank on it.

 

and carefully observe the colours