Lithium-Ion
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 1,917
From: Unreconstructed
The point of this thread was to get insight on a Li-ion battery, not opinions with no experience, or regurgitating what all the old guys have to say about new-fangled technology and not to get scolded about not tending my battery. The battery needs to be replaced and for a measly 100 bucks more I can get the latest technology. I don't care about the weight, but if the Li-ion can go much, much longer without any tending that's what I want. For the record I DO have a tender, I just don't use it enough 'cause it's a PITA.
Thanks to you guys that posted some helpful info, you know who you are.
Thanks to you guys that posted some helpful info, you know who you are.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 934
Likes: 677
From: Ohio
Twin power lithium on my ultra, I've had it 3 years now and no problems
I don't use the charger until I park it for winter
Play my radio a lot in the garage, sometimes 30 -45 min and it never killed it.
Never cared about the weight until I dropped my bike.
I don't use the charger until I park it for winter
Play my radio a lot in the garage, sometimes 30 -45 min and it never killed it.
Never cared about the weight until I dropped my bike.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 622
From: IE, CA
Thread just popped up on another forum a couple weeks ago about his Lithium battery going up in flames on his bike.....
Sorry, Im no where near replacing any battery in my vehicles with anything else than an AGM....
Sorry, Im no where near replacing any battery in my vehicles with anything else than an AGM....
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,570
Likes: 599
From: Minneapolis, MN
Had a Anti-Gravity Li-Ion battery in my 04 hardtail sportster. Zero issues. I even left it off a tender over a MN winter and it still fired right up in the spring. I think you just need to make sure you buy a reputable brand, like anything else really.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 1,917
From: Unreconstructed
Here are my takeaways as I get ready to order my Lithium-Ion from HD:
- Don't buy cheap (goes for everything though, right?)
- Don't buy a 1st gen battery or any battery that does not have a BMS. The BMS prevents overheating, overcharging, and completely discharge the battery
- Install and maintain as directed, including using the correct charger
- Lithium-ion will deliver over 13 volts till the BMS cuts it off before complete discharge. The voltage does not decrease with the available charge
- Lithium-ion discharges at a rate of approximately 1%/45 days
- Lithium-ion has a discharge/recharge cycle capacity 2-4 times greater than a lead-acid battery (more than making up for any difference in cost)
- Lithium-ion batteries have far greater CCA than lead-acid
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 106
From: -)
Pretty much everything Yankee Dog said is true. And no, I haven't seen a fire. The only thing I can add to that from personal experience is they do not like the cold. When it is cold, they need to be "excited" to be able to give the full output. Running the halogen headlight for a while or several start attempts and then it will spin the motor. However, using the starter to wake them up is really hard on the starter.
I ended up replacing the lithiums in my two year round bikes with AGMs. I will say that I am still using the lithiums I pulled out of those bikes in my summer bikes and they show no ill symptoms. I guess I may have to wait for winter to see if they do the same thing (luckily they have kickstarters)
I ended up replacing the lithiums in my two year round bikes with AGMs. I will say that I am still using the lithiums I pulled out of those bikes in my summer bikes and they show no ill symptoms. I guess I may have to wait for winter to see if they do the same thing (luckily they have kickstarters)
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 1,917
From: Unreconstructed
Pretty much everything Yankee Dog said is true. And no, I haven't seen a fire. The only thing I can add to that from personal experience is they do not like the cold. When it is cold, they need to be "excited" to be able to give the full output. Running the halogen headlight for a while or several start attempts and then it will spin the motor. However, using the starter to wake them up is really hard on the starter.
I ended up replacing the lithiums in my two year round bikes with AGMs. I will say that I am still using the lithiums I pulled out of those bikes in my summer bikes and they show no ill symptoms. I guess I may have to wait for winter to see if they do the same thing (luckily they have kickstarters)
I ended up replacing the lithiums in my two year round bikes with AGMs. I will say that I am still using the lithiums I pulled out of those bikes in my summer bikes and they show no ill symptoms. I guess I may have to wait for winter to see if they do the same thing (luckily they have kickstarters)
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 966
Likes: 665
From: Rhode Island
More hearsay. What brand battery was it? Some bottom-of-the-barrel, cheap-*** POS from Amazon? How old was it? First-gen Li-ion? Was the owner a moron? Did it catch fire from overheating or overcharging? Was it properly installed and maintained? Did the bike itself have issues? Sorry, they just don't burst into flames for no reason. Did it have a BMS? First-gen Li-ion's didn't and that DID cause issues like fires but has been fully rectified from everything I've read like this https://www.motorcycle.com/products/...s-vs-realities for example.
Here are my takeaways as I get ready to order my Lithium-Ion from HD:
Here are my takeaways as I get ready to order my Lithium-Ion from HD:
- Don't buy cheap (goes for everything though, right?)
- Don't buy a 1st gen battery or any battery that does not have a BMS. The BMS prevents overheating, overcharging, and completely discharge the battery
- Install and maintain as directed, including using the correct charger
- Lithium-ion will deliver over 13 volts till the BMS cuts it off before complete discharge. The voltage does not decrease with the available charge
- Lithium-ion discharges at a rate of approximately 1%/45 days
- Lithium-ion has a discharge/recharge cycle capacity 2-4 times greater than a lead-acid battery (more than making up for any difference in cost)
- Lithium-ion batteries have far greater CCA than lead-acid
