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I've been having starting issues with my bike and I suspect it's the battery so I'm trying to decide which battery I should get. Last time I bought one for this bike was about 1.5 years ago and it was a fill yourself lead acid battery from an online store. Seeing as that didn't last as long as I would have expected I thought I might need to spend more money this time to get a higher quality one. So, have any of you tried an Antigravity battery on your 1200 sportster? How many cells (8, 12, or 16)? Would you recommend it? Why or why not? Would you recommend buying a HD battery? Will a battery from Batteries Plus or Oreilly work just as well?
Just trying to get some feedback from people more experienced than me when it comes to Sporties.
The HD AGM battery seems to be about as good as they get for a sealed battery. Last one I bought was ~$110.00.
If you go with the Antigravity, you'll want the 16 cell if you have a 1200. Last I looked IIRC, they were ~$280.00.
I just swapped mine out, and after looking around, there was about 10 dollars difference in comparable batteries and the HD one here local. (I didn't want to wait for delivery.) Mine has paused every time I've started it, but now it cranks right up. Blew me away.
I have a 16 cell Antigravity battery with 480CCA that I bought from DK Customs. Unless you have an 883, you will need the 16 cell AG battery....good up for every day use up to 1600cc.
Bike starts right up everytime...no hesitation. It is light and small so other things can fit in the battery compartment and I no longer need to zip my battery cover.
The HD AGM battery seems to be about as good as they get for a sealed battery. Last one I bought was ~$110.00.
If you go with the Antigravity, you'll want the 16 cell if you have a 1200. Last I looked IIRC, they were ~$280.00.
Why do you recommend going with the 16 cell? I noticed some places say the 12 cell was good for up to 1300 in every day use, but others just rate it for 1100 of every day use. I noticed that the CCA of even the 8 cell is just as much as the HD battery, why does the 8 or even 12 cell not work? Just trying to learn a little.
I just swapped mine out, and after looking around, there was about 10 dollars difference in comparable batteries and the HD one here local. (I didn't want to wait for delivery.) Mine has paused every time I've started it, but now it cranks right up. Blew me away.
So your bike had a hesitation until you went with the HD battery? I've heard similar things from other guys that had the same issue with no HD lead acid batteries.
Shorai Lithium Battery. You can get one to fit whatever stock size (or not) you wish. I love mine. 14 pound lead/acid to 4 pound Shorai. No brainer. No tender, no maintenance, no worries. Best money spent for sure.
You probably did not check your lead/acid cells frequently. They dry up fast.
John
Last edited by John Harper; Jul 17, 2016 at 09:52 PM.
I needed to replace the OEM battery on my Custom in April. Got the 12-cell Antigravity, as someone gave me an Amazon eCert, so it was cheap. At 360CCA it cranks right up every time. Haven't had to use a battery tender on it. BTW, if you need to get a tender, get a Lithium-Ion specific tender.
I went with the Big Boar 300 cca agm battery, (100 cca more than stock) stock batteries are barley adequate in a 1200, I am thinking trying the Antigravity next.
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Battery replacement
