Subscribe to the forum and get your free Halfords trade card. Then buy an AGM Yuasa from them. The one for my bike is about 43 squids that way
If you modify the bikes charging circuit you could fit a Lithium and benefit from the weight savings. There a very few downsides to this decision. If you want a cheaper, but very good alternative Motobatt and Yuasa are both excellent choices. Odyssey Batteries are very good, but pricey in the UK.
Need to be very careful with lithium. So many I have seen that simply won’t flip the motor over when it’s cold. Even expensive ones in winter if bike has been outside.
Lithium batteries can "go to sleep" if no current is taken. Simply operating something like the rear light (normally directly connected with no semi-conductors or other electronics that needs to wake up). After a few seconds it should come to life. Once current has been drawn for a few seconds normal service can resume. Lithium batteries are more susceptible to poor performance at low motorcycling temperatures. This is a good site for information.... and if you can't sleep. http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_at_high_and_low_temperatures
Got lithium batteries in all of mine....this is the first year I've been through the winter with them....no issues so far (cold starts also) hyper started perfectly in -1 I've got one optimate lithium charger which I jump between all of my bikes just to top them up. All of them have Bluetooth monitors on them so I can see the state too.
By the sound of it you are keeping them all awake. For example we have several makes (Makita, Dyson and Milwaukee) of Lithium batteries in our works van. If we haven't used a battery for a few weeks (like the Dyson) and it's been cold we may have to flick it on and off 4 or 5 times then it comes to life. All our batteries display the same reluctance over the last 10 days or so.
Sunday update. Huge Ducati power smile is restored after the bike firing up with a freshly charged battery.
Well, im constantly aware that all of them have stuff running on them that will eventually flatten them, so, as i say i tend to just cycle the optimate around them. I dont "garage" them as such during the winter....i can do winter weather, just cant do rain or salty wet roads so, within a calender month theyll all get ran......my work place is only 10 miles away with is enough of a distance to get the engine turned over and warmed up. Plus, id get withdrawal symptoms if i went longer than 2 weeks without having a pop on one of them (2 weeks being the summer holiday which im dragged off on a summer holiday bored shitless on a beach somewhere) - usually climbing up the walls to get home by then...
Hi there, Well done getting your bike started again. Now, going a little back on this, I would say to avoid starting your bike in the garage and leaving it idling. It doesn't help the battery at all and contaminates the engine oil. Any petrol and diesel engine needs to reach certain temperature to burn the moisture from fuel and oil during starts and such process only happens when you are riding/driving. I used to do that in a old multi 620 during her first winter with me, firing her up every week. After 2 months doing that, I noticed the milky colour in the oil sight glass. It is recommended to changed the oil after winter anyway, but just do not leave it idling. I am not expert, but the explanation I had from a mechanic friend made sense after some extra searches. Also, if the battery recovered well, get yourself an optimate and keep it plugged in to your bike, it will only charge when necessary. After draining a battery from my R1 (4 years), I used an optmate every night and kept the same battery for another year until selling the bike. I know you mentioned there is no power in your garage but if there is a possibility to sort this out permanently, it will worth. Enjoy you multi, ride safe.
Thanks for all that info. I have been out for a 20 mile trip to get everything moving again. I’m presuming I had flooded the engine trying to start it yesterday as it was spouting out an amazing amount of fumes in the shed this morning so it was only idling for a couple of minutes. Gave me a good excuse to clean the bike once I had it out. I’ve been looking into getting an outside socket for the house so I can run a lead to the shed. I’m keen to use an optimate of my own since it worked so well.
Never had it on multi but my 848’s both flooded really easily on cold or hot start. Was a bit of a knack sometimes
If you want really eager starting, team up your new battery with a starting circuit cable kit from @Exige on here. The OEM cables are marginal when new and build up resistance over time so that much of the energy from the battery goes into heating up cables that won't carry the current properly. A high capacity cable kit will really get your motor spinning - best money I've spent on my bike...
As you recently bought it and it's a 2013, I wonder if it's the original battery? I would do as a few have suggested and start your ownership off with a new battery as then at least you will know that is one thing that shouldn't need replacing as it's already done.
Apparently the cables are a worthwhile investment.. Not seen the need myself but then dont have starting issues.
