Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: martin_14 on April 11, 2014, 02:02:49 AM
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starting the 6th year of my OEM battery and feeling it weak during the morning starts. Time to change it. Decision has been made, so don't try to talk me out of it ;)
Question is: should I go with the OEM battery, another battery, different capacity ratings, etc? Li-Ion? what's the folk's experience with this?
Thanks,
Martín
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Yes.
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Six years not good enough for you?
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Yes.
let me think... what was the word?... ah, yes: twit! ;)
so, I'll bite: "yes" what?
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Six years not good enough for you?
no idea, never had a bike this long... And not planning to sell 8)
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let me think... what was the word?... ah, yes: twit! ;)
so, I'll bite: "yes" what?
:) Yes to everything, of course, but as you've had good luck with OEM, I'd probably stick with it. It's like my wife trying a new hamburger recipe. We have a tried and true one that works great on the grill and tastes just as good and juicy warmed up. She wants to try something new that's invariably not as good as the original recipe. I hate change. Why angst over a battery? Purchase what has worked in the past and grill what you are familiar with and tastes good.
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:) Yes to everything, of course, but as you've had good luck with OEM, I'd probably stick with it. It's like my wife trying a new hamburger recipe. We have a tried and true one that works great on the grill and tastes just as good and juicy warmed up. She wants to try something new that's invariably not as good as the original recipe. I hate change. Why angst over a battery? Purchase what has worked in the past and grill what you are familiar with and tastes good.
How long should I grill a new battery and what seasoning give it the best taste? I agree with Jim though, the OEM battery served you well. Get a new one, it will be much more tender than your old one.
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Overcooking a battery could be lethal. Batteries are best served warm.
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starting the 6th year of my OEM battery and feeling it weak during the morning starts. Time to change it. Decision has been made, so don't try to talk me out of it ;)
Question is: should I go with the OEM battery, another battery, different capacity ratings, etc?
Mine is only 3 years and seems to be failing. I think it was permanently damaged because it sat depleted at least twice. So I am in the market for one too.
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I will be replacing mine soon and will go with an OEM replacement. They are the most cost effective.
You can get lighter weight batteries at signifigantly higher cost but what is the point of saving 2 pounds on a 600 pound bike?
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Ah, but with a lighter battery you won't be saying "Does this battery make me look fat?"
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Lighter means smaller which means more room which would be advantageous if you were traveling through Colorado.
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:thumbs:
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Lighter means smaller which means more room which would be advantageous if you were traveling through Colorado.
Well, if you saved the OEM battery CASE, and placed the new mini battery inside it.... it would be a better battery..... 8) to do a Colorado run.... but I don't know anything about that stuff..... :-[
as for new batteries, I'll resurrect these guys, price went up a bit, but delivery is uber fast, I got mine in less than 48 hours from calling in an order, website purchase may add a couple days.... I suggest calling them....
http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/sYTX14-BS.html (http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/sYTX14-BS.html)
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Overcooking a battery could be lethal. Batteries are best served warm.
With a little dielectric sauce.
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FYI, Just another option, pricey, lighter.....
http://shoraipower.com/products?action=vehicle&type=175&make=1057&model=7876&year=7876 (http://shoraipower.com/products?action=vehicle&type=175&make=1057&model=7876&year=7876)
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FYI, Just another option, pricey, lighter.....
http://shoraipower.com/products?action=vehicle&type=175&make=1057&model=7876&year=7876 (http://shoraipower.com/products?action=vehicle&type=175&make=1057&model=7876&year=7876)
Has anyone here purchased one of these lithium batteries? How do they perform after a year or two?
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I just bought an AGM replacement battery for my C14 for $49.95 to my door, in two days, from www.batterymart.com (http://www.batterymart.com)
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sorry to revive this thread, but I'm taking the bike for maintenance next week to the dealer (yes, I like/trust them) and still not sure I need a new battery. I'm reading 14.4V when riding, 11.9V when left over night. Bike starts fine when cold, it only takes a second (I mean literally 1 second, 1 and 1/2 tops) and I never had to push the button twice. Battery is OEM 2008.
What signs to look for? Or am I just being cheap/paranoid?
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Didn't you say it was starting weakly at the beginning of this thread? Now it's ok? Anyway, my 2002 C10 did over 5 years on it's original battery and I changed it because of the years on it. I think you would be wise to change it out on your bike with the number of years it has. If you've had good luck with the OEM then get that brand. I would. I changed mine (C14) at 3 years (nothing wrong with it) because I was going cross country and wanted to make sure that the battery would not be an issue. I would stop stressing out on it and just do it. We've given you some alternate battery resources but we don't know what's available in Germany. I'm sure the OEM battery is available there.
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sorry to revive this thread, but I'm taking the bike for maintenance next week to the dealer (yes, I like/trust them) and still not sure I need a new battery. I'm reading 14.4V when riding, 11.9V when left over night. Bike starts fine when cold, it only takes a second (I mean literally 1 second, 1 and 1/2 tops) and I never had to push the button twice. Battery is OEM 2008.
What signs to look for? Or am I just being cheap/paranoid?
11.9v is too low, it should be over 12v. The 14.4v means that your generator is putting out the required voltage to charge the battery but the battery isn't able to store 12v any longer.
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Mine is only 3 years and seems to be failing. I think it was permanently damaged because it sat depleted at least twice. So I am in the market for one too.
I ended up just buying an OEM Yuasa YTX14-BS off Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WJX4BQ (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WJX4BQ) $69 with free shipping. It arrived Thursday- had to install the acid, let it sit 30 min, then charge it an hour, then rest two hours, then test voltage. Installed it on Friday. During that, I tested the "off/standby" current drain on the bike- it was 80mA for the first several seconds, then when the computer goes into full sleep, it was pulling 2.5mA, which seems reasonable to me.
Bike starts SO much better now. The old battery was fully charged... it has sat now for only 18 hours on my workbench, and it at 12.54V. I have seen worse.... like I said before, I think it just has much less depth to it. Anyway, the new battery should last much longer, since now I always use a Battery Tender Jr. (I have over the past year, but it was apparently too late for the original battery).
(New tire pressure sensors, new tires, new battery... I am on a roll. Now I just need to change the oils, tighten stuff up, and get that Throttle Tamer installed)
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snip...
During that, I tested the "off/standby" current drain on the bike- it was 80mA for the first several seconds, then when the computer goes into full sleep, it was pulling 2.5mA, which seems reasonable to me.
Is that 2.5mA after the red LED stops flashing?
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No, that is about 15 or 20 seconds after the larger current draw but still while the red LED is whittlin' away. The LED does not show up as a pulse of current so I suspect there is a capacitor feeding it and it is averaged out in the 2.5 milliamp standby current use.
Now the way to tell would be to shut the LED off and test it that way, which I have not done. For shame Brian, for shame.... ;D
Brian
Is that 2.5mA after the red LED stops flashing?
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I ended up just buying an OEM Yuasa YTX14-BS off Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WJX4BQ (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WJX4BQ) $69 with free shipping. It arrived Thursday- had to install the acid, let it sit 30 min, then charge it an hour, then rest two hours, then test voltage. Installed it on Friday. During that, I tested the "off/standby" current drain on the bike- it was 80mA for the first several seconds, then when the computer goes into full sleep, it was pulling 2.5mA, which seems reasonable to me.
Bike starts SO much better now. The old battery was fully charged... it has sat now for only 18 hours on my workbench, and it at 12.54V. I have seen worse.... like I said before, I think it just has much less depth to it. Anyway, the new battery should last much longer, since now I always use a Battery Tender Jr. (I have over the past year, but it was apparently too late for the original battery).
(New tire pressure sensors, new tires, new battery... I am on a roll. Now I just need to change the oils, tighten stuff up, and get that Throttle Tamer installed)
Max, there is a YTX14-14 AGM battery available at Battery Mart.com for $49.95 w/free shipping.
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No, that is about 15 or 20 seconds after the larger current draw but still while the red LED is whittlin' away. The LED does not show up as a pulse of current so I suspect there is a capacitor feeding it and it is averaged out in the 2.5 milliamp standby current use.
Now the way to tell would be to shut the LED off and test it that way, which I have not done. For shame Brian, for shame.... ;D
Brian
Or wait 24 hours after you shut the bike down, keeping the ammeter connected of course.
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This is the same AGM battery sold at AutoZone for $109
I got it for $41 delivered.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231172565275 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/231172565275)
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You guys got wayyyy toooo much time on your hands.
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No, that is about 15 or 20 seconds after the larger current draw but still while the red LED is whittlin' away. The LED does not show up as a pulse of current so I suspect there is a capacitor feeding it and it is averaged out in the 2.5 milliamp standby current use.
I was going to say something similar. My meter is pretty fast, and I never saw any change at all with the flash of the LED.
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Max, there is a YTX14-14 AGM battery available at Battery Mart.com for $49.95 w/free shipping.
I knew it wasn't the best deal, but I had other stuff to order from Amazon, plus I already have an account, plus I needed it before my trip yesterday (which actually turned out to be today).
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Well, if you saved the OEM battery CASE, and placed the new mini battery inside it.... it would be a better battery..... 8) to do a Colorado run.... but I don't know anything about that stuff..... :-[
as for new batteries, I'll resurrect these guys, price went up a bit, but delivery is uber fast, I got mine in less than 48 hours from calling in an order, website purchase may add a couple days.... I suggest calling them....
http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/sYTX14-BS.html (http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/sYTX14-BS.html)
I ordered one from these guys a week ago and it still hasn't arrived yet. Luckily I am in no hurry but if you are looking for fast delivery I can't recommend them.
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I ordered one from these guys a week ago and it still hasn't arrived yet. Luckily I am in no hurry but if you are looking for fast delivery I can't recommend them.
I highly suggest you call them....
when I made my order, I called, and asked if it was in stock, I pretty much do that on everything I order when it is an "emergency--I need it quick", or if I simply don't want to give my charge card out online...
anyways, when I called them the battery was in stock, so I just placed my order via phone...
as I noted, it was at my Ohio home in less than 2 days.
they ship USPS Priority mail... I wouldn't blame them, but I would blame the mail....
call. ask them for the tracking number.... my bet is the USPS screwed up, and your package is coming back from visiting Maine, and Florida....
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I did call them on April 18th. They offered a tracking number but I declined writing it down. The purpose of the call was just to make sure they got the order (which they did) because it was placed online. So I know the battery was in stock and shipped. I just don't have it yet.
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FYI, Just another option, pricey, lighter.....
http://shoraipower.com/products?action=vehicle&type=175&make=1057&model=7876&year=7876 (http://shoraipower.com/products?action=vehicle&type=175&make=1057&model=7876&year=7876)
It's my understanding that the Shorai batteries are not ideal for bikes that have things *running* while off. Clocks, flashing red LEDs in the gauge cluster....
May not be an issue in a daily driver?
Would you really notice a lighter battery in a 600+ pound moto?
Replaced with AGM from O'Reilly. Had to have it so I bit the bullet. Dirty Grrrl is my daily driver/do it all fun time machine! ;-)
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It's my understanding that the Shorai batteries are not ideal for bikes that have things *running* while off. Clocks, flashing red LEDs in the gauge cluster.... [...]Would you really notice a lighter battery in a 600+ pound moto?
Yeah, the weight thing doesn't hold much weight for me (har har har).... I think the advantages would be mainly the energy density and possibly longer life. But I don't think it is worth the price difference as a lead acid replacement for non-electric vehicles. That is why I haven't bothered looking at lithium.
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I ordered one from these guys a week ago and it still hasn't arrived yet. Luckily I am in no hurry but if you are looking for fast delivery I can't recommend them.
I did call them on April 18th. They offered a tracking number but I declined writing it down. The purpose of the call was just to make sure they got the order (which they did) because it was placed online. So I know the battery was in stock and shipped. I just don't have it yet.
Alrighty then... called Friday, posted Sunday...? you say you can't recommend them for fast shipping, and you decided not to track your shipment.... :thumbs: :thumbs:
that Colorado Gold must be some good stuff man..... (http://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/smoking.gif)(http://s3.amazonaws.com/advrider/bmwrider.gif)(http://advrider.com/forums/images/smilies/bandit.gif)(http://s3.amazonaws.com/advrider/choppa.gif)(http://[url=http://advrider.com/forums/images/smilies/Stoned_anim.gif])
:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
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I am simply not in a hurry. My point is they currently do not have fast delivery times and I just wanted to make others aware. My order was placed on 13 April and as of today, 22 April it has not arrived yet.
Tracking a shipment doesn't make it come any faster. But I did find out it was out for delivery today via UPS. Perhaps their shipping times have increased because someone reported they shipped via USPS but this order was sent UPS. That means 7 business days after the order was placed from Oregon to CO.
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Didn't you say it was starting weakly at the beginning of this thread? Now it's ok? Anyway, my 2002 C10 did over 5 years on it's original battery and I changed it because of the years on it. I think you would be wise to change it out on your bike with the number of years it has. If you've had good luck with the OEM then get that brand. I would. I changed mine (C14) at 3 years (nothing wrong with it) because I was going cross country and wanted to make sure that the battery would not be an issue. I would stop stressing out on it and just do it. We've given you some alternate battery resources but we don't know what's available in Germany. I'm sure the OEM battery is available there.
Well, dropped the bike at the dealer yesterday. He asked me a few questions regarding how the bike starts, etc., and told me not to replace the battery. It's just fine and there's no reason to spend money on a new one. I have to admit that he has a point in that I'm a long distance driver, so when I start the bike I usually empty a tank. My relatively high mileage (50k miles) doesn't mean the same use of the battery than a bike that is used for commuting. He only has another C14 regularly for maintenance, and it has "only" 35k miles.
Still, he's testing the battery overnight and replacing it if necessary, as per my instructions.
I also ordered the Pirelli Angel's GT (A spec for the rear) which have just been approved by the TÜV in Germany. Except that I ordered the 55 for the rear ;D I still have a few miles left on both front and rear, but in a week or two I'll be mounting the new ones and see if they are any different. They sure should, since the profile is much more round (less parabolic) than the ST's, so turn in and counter steering should be a whole different story.
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I am simply not in a hurry. My point is they currently do not have fast delivery times and I just wanted to make others aware. My order was placed on 13 April and as of today, 22 April it has not arrived yet.
Tracking a shipment doesn't make it come any faster. But I did find out it was out for delivery today via UPS. Perhaps their shipping times have increased because someone reported they shipped via USPS but this order was sent UPS. That means 7 business days after the order was placed from Oregon to CO.
Glad to hear you should be receiving you battery today, and thanks for the headsup on how long it took to get to you.
I had mine, in OHIO, 48 hours after ordering it.
It was delivered USPS Priority Mail.
I have no idea why they shipped UPS, unless you specified it in your order. And yes, they, (UPS), do take 7 full business days to deliver, counting from the day after pickup. Sounds about right, seeing as they don't pickup on Sundays.
The website still ships VIA USPS Priority Mail, I need a battery for another bike currently, and I just made a call to them, and asked.
It is as noted on the website.
(http://www.batterystuff.com/images/product-display/Free-Shipping-Expedited.jpg)
Currently shipping an Adventure Power Battery Via USPS
" *BatteryStuff understands the importance of getting a replacement battery right away and usually ships all batteries the same day as ordered if received before 1:30pm (pacific), however USPS does not guarantee delivery times with priority mail. "
" Price includes FREE PRIORITY MAIL DELIVERY 48 STATES "
I also understand you were not in a hurry, my point was addressing the commentary about blaming the supplier about shipping matters they have no control over.
I'll let you know how long it takes to get my other battery.
thanks again for letting us know.
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It's about time for a new battery for me. When you order one online, what do you do with your old battery? Throw it in the river? :yikes: Just kidding. Do you have a recycling service nearby? I buy my batteries at a local parts business and they take the old one for no charge.
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almost every autoparts store will take them no charge (they charge you a core charge if you buy a battery without turning in your old one nowadays...), and most tire places also...
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New battery just received was at 70% so I charged it to 100%. Installed it in the bike along with a battery trickle charger (which I didnt have on the bike before)
3 hours later it shows the battery is still charging. Switched the trickle charger with one on another bike and same thing. But my other bike shows charged with either trickle chargers.
Turn on the key and battery shows 11.5 volts. Start it up and within a minute battery is at 14.3 or 14.5 volts.
Normal? When should the new battery register as being charged?
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If you "charged it" using a high amperage charger (6-10 amp rate) for a half hour, and the meter on that charger showed it was charged, it likely was not fully charged. The meters are notorious for not giving true amperage values...
When you stuck the "trickle" (Battery Tender brand?) on it, and it was only charging at 1 to 1-1/2 amps, it would require about 4-6 hours to push that last bit in.
The 14.5v you are seeing on the bike is the voltage being pushed from the generator to the battery terminals, not what is currently the voltage of the battery. Hitting the kill switch while in the voltage mode will show what the bat is at.
I ran thru this myself last weekend, and questioned it.
cleaning all the cables, and mating surfaces after that, and doing a deep cycle charge made everything correct for me.
if you put it on trickle overnight, it should be fully charged by tomorrow.
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Thanks:) I was kind of thinking the same thing since the charger brought it up from 70 to 100 in about 5 minutes.
Hopefully tomorrow morning will show it fully charged.
Edited: All is well as it showed fully charged about 3 hours after this post.