Shorai battery for KTM990/LC8

[Navin]

They have been great about replacing them, I'm just tired of having to go thru it over and over again. Getting to a race the morning after the bike ran great and having it fail to start because of the battery stinks. My friend raced the Nationals on a SXf450 and started having the mechanic bring an extra battery to the starting gate as the same stuff was happening to him! I'm sick of the racing pulse and boiling blood pressure at the starting lines. The Burg wasn't as bad the oter day, I just got fully suited up for a cold weather ride and "click-click". At least I wasn't 3 hours drive and $150 in fuel and entry fees deep for that one!

[ElJorgio]

i have had my shorai for about a year now, half of that time the bike was apart and the battery sitting in the garage unused. After putting the bike back together the battery worked right away, if anything it performed admirably. It lasted through the priming of my vacuum fuel pump. I am very happy with it. No problems here!

[twinrider]

So the lesson seems to be if you live in cold climates and ride in the 30s and below Shorais are a pita. Otherwise they're great. Just bought two, glad I live where it rarely gets below 0...

[Cougar8000]

Originally Posted by twinrider

So the lesson seems to be if you live in cold climates and ride in the 30s and below Shorais are a pita. Otherwise they're great. Just bought two, glad I live where it rarely gets below 0...

They are PITA only if you let your brain think this way. I have done 2 freeze test and now have no doubt that it will start every time, even if it means 2-3 cranks.

If I am looking for a quick get away I would bring a car with a driver and have him keep the engine running

[alpi]

Originally Posted by cyborg

The sense package is not monitored for it's own draw, but it draws about 8 mA at the 4 samples/sec xmit rate.

Cyborg, I am planning to implement your battery monitoring solution, since I'm especially concerned about eventual high temperatures that could spell disaster, and I was wondering: did the sensory rig own current draw required you to install it on switched power?

[ElJorgio]

[/QUOTE]If I am looking for a quick get away I would bring a car with a driver and have him keep the engine running [/QUOTE]

[Cougar8000]

Today I had to go and help out running gymnastics tournament that my son is going to take place tomorrow. It was around 29 when I left the house and about 31 on the way home. Both times bike has started from the first time. I did plug my Powerlet heated liner in for a couple of min before starting it.

[Navin]

I was picking up a new lead acid at my KTM dealer and we shared our stories about these new tech lightweight batteries. He has had the same problems I have, nearly missing the main at a local arenacross too. He is sticking with lead acid in cooler temps. He also fried his Ballistic Battery by trying to jump start the bike. Shouldn't have happened but the case got super hot, battery is toast.

Now I'm used to moving these Shorais around, the weight of a regular 7 series really caught me off guard but better it always works than what I've been dealing with.

[cyborg]

Originally Posted by alpi

Cyborg, I am planning to implement your battery monitoring solution, since I'm especially concerned about eventual high temperatures that could spell disaster, and I was wondering: did the sensory rig own current draw required you to install it on switched power?

alpi, I ended up pulling out the wireless battery monitor after I found the Shorai battery holds its charge very well. The monitor stuff was a bit too delicate for all the road slime that gets in there from daily commuting all year on the 990, especially in the rain. No I didn't have the sense system on switched power because it drew so little.

[alpi]

Originally Posted by cyborg

alpi, I ended up pulling out the wireless battery monitor after I found the Shorai battery holds its charge very well. The monitor stuff was a bit too delicate for all the road slime that gets in there from daily commuting all year on the 990, especially in the rain. No I didn't have the sense system on switched power because it drew so little.

I will probably end-up doing the same (retiring them to my kids RC model flotilla), after I monitor for a while the temperature inside the battery bay during high temps of the summer, and also after I have a better idea of how the G650X regulator/rectifier charges this LiFePO4 during various loads. I got mostly concerned about the fire hazard posed by previous versions of these Shorai batteries, although apparently they fixed that for at least 6 months.

[Multisurface Rider]

Originally Posted by cyborg

alpi, I ended up pulling out the wireless battery monitor after I found the Shorai battery holds its charge very well. The monitor stuff was a bit too delicate for all the road slime that gets in there from daily commuting all year on the 990, especially in the rain. No I didn't have the sense system on switched power because it drew so little.

It has been almost a year since you installed the new battery.

What are your thoughts on the battery? Besides the weight difference would you buy it again?

[dirtdiver]

I have the bigger battery in my bike and it works great in SOCAL for the last 8 months or so. They are going to be my go to battery.

steve

[wpbarlow]

I installed a Shorai last August in my SE. Hasn't been real cold until recently.

13 degrees last night, 23 degrees now. Last ridden 12/30 and not on battery tender. The bike is kept in an unheated/uninsulated shed.

First time I hit the starter all I got was a click

2nd time maybe 1/2 revolution and then click

3rd time same

4th time maybe a full revolution and then click

5th time same

6th time a few revolutions than nothing

I let it rest about 30 seconds

7th time stronger/more revolutions then clicking

I let it rest for another 30 seconds

8th time spun fast and started right up

After running for a few minutes (just to reach 4 bars) I turned it off and put the battery tender on-- it went to blinking (indicating charging but battery at 80% or more) in about 10 seconds; so the battery was hardly depleted.

[EastSideSM]

Originally Posted by wpbarlow

I installed a Shorai last August in my SE. Hasn't been real cold until recently.

13 degrees last night, 23 degrees now. Last ridden 12/30 and not on battery tender. The bike is kept in an unheated/uninsulated shed.

First time I hit the starter all I got was a click

2nd time maybe 1/2 revolution and then click

3rd time same

4th time maybe a full revolution and then click

5th time same

6th time a few revolutions than nothing

I let it rest about 30 seconds

7th time stronger/more revolutions then clicking

I let it rest for another 30 seconds

8th time spun fast and started right up

After running for a few minutes (just to reach 4 bars) I turned it off and put the battery tender on-- it went to blinking (indicating charging but battery at 80% or more) in about 10 seconds; so the battery was hardly depleted.

Walter, I have had some success with leaving the lights on for at least a minute before the first attempt. Try to crank a couple of times. Turn the key off for 30 seconds, turn it on again and try hitting the starter, it seemed to turn over after another 2-3 hits of the starter when I do it that way. Someone else had posted trying that and it worked a little better.

[wpbarlow]

Originally Posted by EastSideSM

Walter, I have had some success with leaving the lights on for at least a minute before the first attempt. Try to crank a couple of times. Turn the key off for 30 seconds, turn it on again and try hitting the starter, it seemed to turn over after another 2-3 hits of the starter when I do it that way. Someone else had posted trying that and it worked a little better.

That worked ok when it was in the 30's, b ut I wanted to try something different because I was mindful of what was opined about the light/electrics not drawing enough to warm things up, yet possibly depleting the battery. I'll try it that way again when it's colder.