What is the best, strongest battery to fit a MKIIA battery box with the stock plastic air box spinning a Alton?
- Thread starter jimbo
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A Shorai 18AH powered my 850/Alton for many years. It finally gave up and a new one will replace it.
jimbo
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in a small MK2A battery box? This one should fit and it has more than double the CCA as the STX14AHL-BS i have now but old charging systems and lithium's???
Antigravity Small Case 16-Cell 480CA Lithium Ion Battery - RevZilla
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Mart UK
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CCA is the correct way to compare, but CCA tends to rise with Ah. 14Ah may be your problem.
I also have an 18Ah. Two and a half years use, about 5,000 miles. Probably 150 to 200 starts, so far. Only started with the button. Always plenty of power for the starter and I ride with the (non-LED) dipped beam on. Always on a smart tender between rides.
I also have an 18Ah. Two and a half years use, about 5,000 miles. Probably 150 to 200 starts, so far. Only started with the button. Always plenty of power for the starter and I ride with the (non-LED) dipped beam on. Always on a smart tender between rides.
marshg246
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For the cNw e-start I recommend and generally install the Shorai LFX18A1-BS12. For an exact answer to your question I would suggest the overkill of the Shorai LFX21L6-BS12. Even the littlest brother to them the the LFX14A2-BS12 is plenty for a cNw e-start and an engine that starts properly.
jimbo
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I think it might be too long to fit
Shorai LFX21L6-BS12 Lithium-Iron Powersport Battery
Check out the deal on Shorai LFX21L6-BS12 Lithium-Iron Powersport Battery at BatteryMart.com
www.batterymart.com
heres the one I have that fits
marshg246
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I just double checked myself. With a 1/8" to 1/4" rubber pad underneath, the 21 will just fit.I think it might be too long to fit
Shorai LFX21L6-BS12 Lithium-Iron Powersport Battery
Check out the deal on Shorai LFX21L6-BS12 Lithium-Iron Powersport Battery at BatteryMart.com
heres the one I have that fits
Again, it's overkill.
My first major experience with these was supposed to be a simple MK3 frame change. Once all back together it had quite a few wiring, timing, carb, and engine problems to sort out. It had the LFX14A2-BS12. I had the bike about 2 months, and I have no idea how long it was sitting before trailered to me. I didn't trust my 50-year-old charger on a Lithium battery, so I never got around to charging it. I started the bike many times and in general it never ran long enough to charge itself. At first it was hard starting. By the time I was done it was starting on a 1/2 second push of the button.
That's why I say the 21 is overkill. If I ever install a cNw starter in my bike, I will buy the 14. I got tired of people not accepting my recommendation of a 14 and started recommending the 18 and refusing to take their money for a 21!
IMHO, any starter on a properly tuned Commando, including a Combat that needs a battery bigger than the 14 needs to be fixed or discarded!
marshg246
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Now I double-checked myself on the 18. It drops in with no issue. There is plenty of room lengthwise and it is smaller in width and height than a 12N9 Lead-Acid or AGM.
jimbo
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this one seems to be more powerful the the 21 Shorai and will probably fit
Amazon product ASIN B0BMSJR6YN
Amazon product ASIN B0BMSJR6YN
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I run a 14 AH Canadian tire Eliminator battery on the stock MK 111 . Mind you in good tune with D.D. starter and CNW primary stuff and bigger battery cables . 20W50 oil .
jimbo
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but you can kill them if discharged too much, and there is the question of old vintage charging systems being compatibleLithium batteries are light, powerful, do not need frequent charging, and are likely the future once prices come down. Be aware that they do not like temperature extremes, particularly cold.
This brand has served me well and is affordable:
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" and there is the question of old vintage charging systems being compatible"
FWIW: I installed a Shorai 18AH in 2008 in my stock 850 (OEM charging system/zeners). In'12, when I installed the Alton, I changed to a Podtronics. The battery gave up in 2019. It lasted longer by FAR than any standard battery ever did.
At one point, shortly after installing the batt in '08, I left the ignition on overnight, totally discharging it. I figured I now owned a rather light paper-weight but I charged it with a standard trickle charger and the battery worked perfectly for the next 10 years.
FWIW: I installed a Shorai 18AH in 2008 in my stock 850 (OEM charging system/zeners). In'12, when I installed the Alton, I changed to a Podtronics. The battery gave up in 2019. It lasted longer by FAR than any standard battery ever did.
At one point, shortly after installing the batt in '08, I left the ignition on overnight, totally discharging it. I figured I now owned a rather light paper-weight but I charged it with a standard trickle charger and the battery worked perfectly for the next 10 years.
jimbo
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I had two that didn't come back after a discharge, and tried everything including buying /using an expensive Shorai charger and an old school buzz box type
marshg246
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Not and expert - just paraphrasing things I've read.
AGM and Lithium batteries go to zero capacity long before what we would call fully discharged. In a Lead-Acid battery, fully discharged is basically zero volts. For AGM and Lithium (yes, I know they are nothing alike), zero capacity is somewhere around eight volts. As I understand it:
Lithium-ION batteries that get below that voltage and are put on a charger are very likely to catch fire. This includes a jump start and the bike charging the battery.
Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries that get below that voltage will not recharge without some very specialized methods and the really expensive ones have a internal disconnect to stop any further discharge so they don't become junk by going below that voltage.
AGM requires special treatment to get them to take a charge if they fall too low but most modern chargers have a recovery mode that works with them.
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Anyone tried the Hybrid-Lithium / AGM from MotoBatt?
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"Powersport-Lithium Hybrid AGM Batteries
Lithium Power like no other.
Phenomenal Pulse cranking Amps and Huge Amp hour capacity Designed specifically for Harley Davidson Big Twin, BMW Flat Twins, Ducati, Triumph and any powersports vehicle that requires mega power on start-up and big amp hour to run accessories.
No special charger required and designed for any charging system.
Safest lithium technology in the market Up to 5000 cycles!
Multi Terminal connections. 3 Year warranty from purchase"
Powersport | Lithium Hybrid AGM Motorcycle Batteries | Motobatt
www.motobatt.us
