| Author | Message | ||
     Hangetsu |
Anyone out there have experience with the Shorai Lithium Ion. battery? I've got one on order through Amazon, cheaper than an OEM replacement. The reviews I've seen have been mixed between "best battery ever owned" to "biggest mistake ever made". Any personal anecdotes out there? Cheers! Alex | ||
| Froggy |
One came stock on my 1190SX, in terms of being a battery it is a piece of junk. If it is anything cooler than a warm outside (like 50°F, it is difficult to start the bike). It requires a $85 charger to properly charge it (because the battery wasn't properly engineered), and hope your voltage regulator doesn't fail otherwise the battery will explode. They have been proven to lie about their output specs, so don't be surprised that it falls short of expectations. Also, I'm not sure how you got it for less than the price of the OEM battery, the Shorai LFX21A6-BS12 is the one that they recommend for XBs is $200ish, the smaller capacity batteries are cheaper but will struggle even more to start the bike. Pretty much any other Lithium battery, or even Lead, is a better option. (Message edited by Froggy on February 06, 2017) | ||
| Tribe29 |
I have been using the antigravity 12 cell without issue down to about 35 degrees. No experience with the shorai. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Froggy, Your experience is similar to some of the worst I have heard. But I have heard some decent reports as well. I guess I will have my own experience. The LFX21A6-BS12 is the battery I ordered. I found one on Amazon for $117. I also bought the charger for $65. It may be an expensive lesson, but I wouldn't have taken the chance if I had to pay the full $220 that the battery retails for. Rest assured I will be reporting my experience here, good or bad. Thanks for the input. A- | ||
| Mark_weiss |
I have Shorai batterys in two bikes. It is true that cranking power decreases in cold weather. When it is below 40, the Ulysses often requires a double press of the starter button but the voltage never drops so much that the clock resets. Letting the headlight burn for about 30 seconds before hitting the starter button definitely helps in colder weather. I have not found a need to use a special battery charger (I do top the battery about once per month if I am not riding daily). I spoke with Shorai representatives at the AIM Expo and they said that their cell balancing charger was really only intended for batteries that sit for months at a time. They did recommend the newer generation of Battery Tenders that stop charging completely when the battery is topped over the ones that maintain a very small constant charge. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
My Shorai was shelled by my regulator going south but Shorai gave me another(with much prodding)larger one that I put in my 97 Electraglide. My son's bike has a Shorai that has performed flawlessly. I've got by with a battery tender. Froggy is always, "it's the best or it's the worst" from my experience on this site so I'd take his word with a grain. The replacement battery I put in my Harley spins that sucker like a top. That battery almost but not quite fits the Uly otherwise it would be in the buell. | ||
| Ourdee |
My turn? If you are a fair weather rider and never below 50 degrees. You may be lucky. I used one on a 200 cc machine. I went with a larger rated one than stock. My buddies push started me at work when cold weather choked it. I then put a kick starter on the bike. And it started after sitting for days at 22 below 0 f with the kick starter. It started at below 40 f with the kick starter. If you have a kick starter i would only then recommend it for use below 40 degrees f. Please do a write up with pics of your kick starter install. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Well, I have no intention of installing a kick starter. A pretty senseless and costly move when compared to the $100 it would take to go back to a lead battery. On the cold starting issue, I am a daily, year-round rider. I rode year-round in Boulder, CO and I'm doing the same here in OR. The Buell is my only vehicle. Shorai recommends "warming up" the battery by letting current flow through it for 30 sec. to a few minutes on cold starts. I wonder if those here who are complaining the loudest followed those directions. But I will know myself soon enough. Unfortunately, I won't know as soon as I thought, because when I went to the garage to start my morning commute, I was greeted by my drive belt, laying like a flattened snake, on the floor. 5 to 7 business days for a new belt and a weekend to install it. So it looks like it will be a week or so before my new battery will be put to the test. Only 10K on this belt, and I ride very conservatively. ;-( A- | ||
| Froggy |
Yea sometimes I do get a bit extreme on my point of view, I just hate how a company that is deceitful and selling dangerous products doing as good as they are because of marketing. I do have experience with two other Lithium batteries, so I knew there would be reduced performance in the cold and the trick to warm them up. Even still, the Shorai falls short of the competition. Back when my Speedcell battery was new, I could start the XB12 down to around 30°F without any warmup. $117 is a great price for it, I hope it works out well for you. Don't let it go flat, Lithium batteries don't handle deep discharge as well as lead, and going flat even once can ruin the battery. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Thanks for the advice, Froggy. This battery is kind of an experiment for me. If it works out, great! If not, it won't be the first time knowledge and wisdom came to me at a cost. They usually do. Cheers. Alex |
