Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C10, aka Kawasaki Concours - The Original => Accessories and Modifications - C10 => Topic started by: Tele130 on April 17, 2012, 08:45:10 PM

Title: What battery do you use?
Post by: Tele130 on April 17, 2012, 08:45:10 PM
Got home after a 7 day trip to find the orginal battery in my '06 has passed.

Gel?  Maintance Free?  Lead Acid?

http://www.bikebandit.com/2006-kawasaki-concours-zg1000a-motorcycle-electrical-parts/n1056?m=149139 (http://www.bikebandit.com/2006-kawasaki-concours-zg1000a-motorcycle-electrical-parts/n1056?m=149139)
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: Mettler1 on April 17, 2012, 10:22:51 PM
 This is what I have.

  http://www.interstatebatteries.com/cs_eStore/Products/RT/PID-FAYTX20HL(MotorCycles).aspx?dsNavigation=Ns%7eproduct+Type%7c101%7c1%7c%2cN%7e38-2147384750-4282938582-4294486998&Title=Cycle-Tron+Plus+High+Performance+-+310+CCA+-+18+AH (http://www.interstatebatteries.com/cs_eStore/Products/RT/PID-FAYTX20HL(MotorCycles).aspx?dsNavigation=Ns%7eproduct+Type%7c101%7c1%7c%2cN%7e38-2147384750-4282938582-4294486998&Title=Cycle-Tron+Plus+High+Performance+-+310+CCA+-+18+AH)
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: sas mayhem on April 18, 2012, 12:28:37 AM
And I have had this one for about a year now. And no issues.
http://www.tristatebattery.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=+ETX20L++DEKA+PowerSport+Batte&osCsid=ts5g8ps0con0kbdf3kehk5lja0&x=8&y=8 (http://www.tristatebattery.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=+ETX20L++DEKA+PowerSport+Batte&osCsid=ts5g8ps0con0kbdf3kehk5lja0&x=8&y=8)

Cheers
Ron
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: Electroken on April 18, 2012, 04:16:08 AM
My Deka ETX20L is on its sixth season. I don't even charge the thing during the winter.
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: Outback_Jon on April 18, 2012, 06:39:32 AM
My Deka died after 13 months.  (12  month warranty.   >:( )  Within a half hour of charging, it reads 11.5V.  Not so happy with them at the moment.  But the place I bought it from has offered to let me return it, and they'll test it and set it aside for the Deka rep to see if they'll honor the warranty anyway.

So, now I'm using a battery pulled out of a Harbor Freight jump starter.  Works well, and the claim on the jump starter is 400A, which surpasses the 310A of the Deka.  Only change to the bike is longer screws in the front of the tool tray.  (Which I haven't even done yet.  ;D )  For $40 for a sealed battery, it seems like a good deal.

I had another Deka in a Honda CB750F that I was quite happy with.  Guess I just got a bad one this time around. 
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: mdr on April 18, 2012, 08:24:15 AM
I'm using an AGM battery from Batteries Plus.  Mind the wrap...

http://www.batteriesplus.com/products/558-CC/4518-Motorcycle-Batteries/136419-Kawasaki/ZG1000--A-Concours/1000CC-1986-to-2006/1.aspx (http://www.batteriesplus.com/products/558-CC/4518-Motorcycle-Batteries/136419-Kawasaki/ZG1000--A-Concours/1000CC-1986-to-2006/1.aspx)

No acid sloshing around, packed tight to resist vibration, etc...

For info about the different types of batteries, more than you'll probably want to know, Bill Darden's page is here:

http://www.batteryfaq.org/ (http://www.batteryfaq.org/)

Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: Outback_Jon on April 18, 2012, 11:04:47 AM
I'm using an AGM battery from Batteries Plus.  Mind the wrap...

http://www.batteriesplus.com/products/558-CC/4518-Motorcycle-Batteries/136419-Kawasaki/ZG1000--A-Concours/1000CC-1986-to-2006/1.aspx (http://www.batteriesplus.com/products/558-CC/4518-Motorcycle-Batteries/136419-Kawasaki/ZG1000--A-Concours/1000CC-1986-to-2006/1.aspx)
Those look like the Dekas, rebadged.  Mine was a "Big Crank", which is also a rebadged Deka.
Title: This forum is dead dead dead
Post by: Uded2me on April 18, 2012, 02:04:26 PM
d e a d
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: F-106 on April 19, 2012, 07:03:10 AM
Damn Doug, 6 years on the stock battery. You must be doing something right. I had the stocker in my old Valkyrie for 7 years. Replaced it before i sold it to the new owner. let us know what you decide on.
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: Outback_Jon on April 19, 2012, 08:19:09 AM
Damn Doug, 6 years on the stock battery. You must be doing something right. I had the stocker in my old Valkyrie for 7 years. Replaced it before i sold it to the new owner. let us know what you decide on.
I did everything wrong and my stock (2006) battery is still in useable condition.  I replaced it last year (5 seasons of use) because I abused it so badly.  (Rarely checked water level, twice found it with about 1/2" of water left in all the cells - yet still started the bike just fine)  But I put it in use for my electric start generator.  Works fine there, and I can easily check the water level. 
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: mdr on April 19, 2012, 09:11:01 AM
Checking the 'water' level is why I switched to an AGM battery.  You don't have to check it.  I always hated pulling it out of the box just to check (I can never tell just looking down the caps).  I did have to shim it a little with some old rubber gasket material I had laying around.
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: Tele130 on April 19, 2012, 09:53:56 AM
I broke down yesterday and purchased a Bike Master Premium Maintenance Free battery from my local Kawi dealer (I try to help the local guys once and a while ;D).  Once I added the acid and pressed the non-removal caps in place it was at 85% charged.  Put it on the battery tender last night and it was fully charged this morning.  One year warranty backed by the dealer.  So far, so good. :thumbs:
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: Ron Dawg on April 19, 2012, 05:15:09 PM
AGM from Advance Auto parts. had 15% coupon with instore pickup.
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: Uglydog56 on April 19, 2012, 09:13:42 PM
I'm running a walmart agm.  I know they aren't the best, but my bikes only ruin batteries on Sunday nights.
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: Furbo on April 29, 2012, 02:01:24 AM
Odessy - the biggst one that would fit in the space. Dont intend to ever need another.
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: Outback_Jon on May 08, 2012, 03:21:23 PM
My Deka died after 13 months.  (12  month warranty.   >:( )  Within a half hour of charging, it reads 11.5V.  Not so happy with them at the moment.  But the place I bought it from has offered to let me return it, and they'll test it and set it aside for the Deka rep to see if they'll honor the warranty anyway.

So, now I'm using a battery pulled out of a Harbor Freight jump starter.  Works well, and the claim on the jump starter is 400A, which surpasses the 310A of the Deka.  Only change to the bike is longer screws in the front of the tool tray.  (Which I haven't even done yet.  ;D )  For $40 for a sealed battery, it seems like a good deal.

I had another Deka in a Honda CB750F that I was quite happy with.  Guess I just got a bad one this time around.
Gotta give an update and a HUGE "Thank You" to the folks at batterymart.com  They just informed me that they are going to honor the warranty and will be sending my new battery shortly.  I'm only out $10.85 that it cost me to ship in a USPS Flat Rate box.  (Got my money's worth out of that postage!) 
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: Outback_Jon on May 11, 2012, 04:25:13 PM
Got my replacement battery from batterymart.com today.

Should have kept the parts from the Harbor Freight jumpstarter that I took the battery out of.  Could have reassembled it and thrown it into the wife's car.  Could have claimed it was a Mother's Day present.   :o  Oh well, guess I'll just have to use it for my ham radios.   8)
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: crossj_2002 on May 25, 2012, 05:20:22 PM
I'm running a Motobatt AGM that Murph used to sell.  Been on it for 2 years now.  No complaints.
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: MizzouMike on May 25, 2012, 05:25:57 PM
I'm running a Motobatt AGM that Murph used to sell.  Been on it for 2 years now.  No complaints.

I picked one up this winter, and love it.... I was going to order another just like it for the Yamaha...  Guess I missed the boat???  I really like the dual post, I am running the aux fuse panel off of the rear posts so it doesn't get in the way of the factory battery leads.
Title: Re: What battery do you use?
Post by: Lodogg2221 on May 26, 2012, 12:39:29 PM
Im using an AGM Super Start from Oreilly Auto Parts.
Got it last Spring I think, and didnt charge over the Winter.  Fired right up....

Cant say Ive ever had issues with batteries on any of my previous bikes either though. 
Had an 03 Z1000 that had the factory battery in it when I traded it in 08.  Never a tender on it in the Winter either.
I always seem to have issues with other peoples batteries though...

I picked the Oreilly because they were the only ones that had an AGM in stock for the C10, and I dont like waiting on batteries in the mail.