Complete Electrical Failure

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Please report back on how this battery works for you. Does it require a special tender/charger?


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It's my third Shorai. I have never had a problem with any of these. Have them now in three different bikes. All of them have a lot more cranking power (CCA) than the stock battery at about 1/4 the weight.

My 2015 ZX-10R has had the longest run, going on two years now. The battery showed 13.2V yesterday when I checked it for the charged voltage. Very good. Another is in my track bike, hasn't been in the bike too long but I noticed it cranks much more vigorously than the stock battery. No issues so far.

I hope to get out for a ride today on the CB1100 to also check out the new handlebar position due to reversing the risers.

Shorai recommends their "intelligent charger" which also does an analysis of the battery and charges it to the higher voltage specification these LiFe batteries have, about 13.4V at full charge. ECU's like the higher voltages a lot better.

It is not absolutely necessary to use the Shorai charger, though, you could use a regular "smart charger" that shuts off after reaching full charge. They say to remove the charger after charging because regular chargers that will provide a "float" charge will not work to keep the battery topped off. You can use that kind of charger to give it an initial charge or recharge it, but disconnect it once the charge is complete. Once it's charged, the bike's charging system should keep it in good shape.

The CB1100 has a very good charging system with about 14.1V @ 2000 RPM so it's a good candidate for the Shorai.

The Shorai charger is about $85. Since I have several of these batteries it's cost-effective. I have a couple of other bikes with older lead-acid batteries and I'm thinking about replacing those, too, just as preventive maintenance. I was stranded twice on the CB1100, I am getting too old for that stuff.

The Shorai can go a very long time between charging if there is no parasitic draw. Most bikes made in the last few years have this so for storage you could disconnect the battery and charge it fully once, and leave it disconnected all winter without ever charging it. They actually recommend removing the battery and putting it in the refrigerator for optimal storage. So a nice cold garage ought to be just fine.

There is only one glitch I am aware of, some earlier batteries have cause complaints about cold cranking. The battery needs to be "warmed" for a short time in very cold weather (freezing or below) by turning on the high beam or some other load. It rarely gets that cold where I live so I cannot comment on it.

I have only good things to say about the Shorai batteries. They're about twice the price of a generic, Chinese-made powersports battery and 50-75% more than a Yuasa but given the reliability, very light weight, and increased CCA's I think they're a cost-effective item.