Battery upgrade for curvy?

[Honest_guy]

Hi there,

Recently been having issues with my battery in the cold, especially when running my grips and or speakers. Time for a change so what should I go for? Yuasa comes recommended but what is the most powerful battery I can fit? Can't risk getting stuck in the snow again :(

Cheers

[yorkie_chris]

A quality one will just work, yuasa is good. Make sure your charging system is in good nick.

[maviczap]

I got one of these after my last battery died, its got an extra set of terminals so makes hooking up accessories easier than the OEM.

Mines also plugged into the Optimate full time now

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Numax-Motobatt-Upgrade-Motorcycle-Battery-SUZUKI-650-SV650-99-02-YT12A-BS-/251229162272?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3a7e6ccb20

[TheRuffellator]

+1 for the motobatt battery's, had one on my 400 and it worked perfectly. Quite a few people I know use them and haven't had any problems.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[atassiedevil]

Motobatt battery every time.
When you feel the weight next to a standard lead acid cell, you understand what you're paying for.
Won't fit anything else these days and they have all sorts of trickery for long life.

Can't go wrong with one.

[wideguy]

I have a friend who upgraded the alternator on his V-Strom (1000cc). Maybe there's a more powerful alternator available for the SV too?

[yorkie_chris]

In my experience there's no need, I had silly lights (2x60w + 2x40w I think at one point), heated grips etc and with a stock alternator and good reg-rec it was charging from tickover upwards, well maybe 1500rpm.

I think you'd need to be drawing a lot of power, and wanting it to charge from tickover, before you'd need to change the alternator.

[embee]

Yuasa YTZ range is good, though I did have a dud new one once (dealer exchanged no issues). YTZ range has significantly higher cranking current than other versions.

I've heard many very good reports of the Motobatt batteries from satisfied users as the others say, probably a very good value for money choice. Will probably try one next time I need a new item.

As YC says, a quick check over the charging system is well worth the effort, clean terminals, clean fuse blades (including in the starter relay!), clean reg/rec connector etc. A cheap multimeter and 30mins will do the job.

[garynortheast]

Two years ago I bought a 35 quid gel battery for the curvy after the old Yuasa died. The budget gel battery is still on the bike. It starts the bike every time in all weathers, even after the bike has been stood unused for a couple of weeks in cold weather. I've never once had to hook the Accumate up to it in all that time.

[Honest_guy]

The bike is powering heated grips, usb socket, hid headlights and a 600 watt speaker system which really drains the juice. The fact that it is on 50k miles and 11 years on the same battery probably doesn't help. Ordered a new one now so hopefully no problems. Just a thought, is there any way to beef up the charging system on it?

[yorkie_chris]

600 fookin watts?
I think that might be more than the alternator is specc'd at, what is this pimp my ride lol.

Beef up the charging system... yeah decent wiring, modern MOSFET reg rec and spend your money on petrol and fags not stereo systems :mrgreen:

[Honest_guy]

I'll shake the dust off the multimeter, check the reg/rec is in good nick and go from there.

Yeah it's a fairly experimental upgrade I grant you, speakers are tucked inside the upper fairings so you can't see it from the outside, you can hear it from a few miles away though :D

If you hear "bat out of hell" approaching you at high speed on a summers evening near some twisty roads, it's probably me :cool:

[mep]

I changed to Motobatt and it's been great. It's advertised as having better starting power. Once had a duff new Yuasa too.

[Pete7]

The Motobatt ones are AGM rather than sealed lead acid (SLA). They will accept a faster charge than SLA, but do like to be kept fully charged to ensure a long life. Quickest way to wreck them is lots of short journeys with lights on in traffic so they don't get a good charge. Long runs or a trickle battery charger used regularly is the key.

Bit of a thread drift but I use AGM for engine starting on the boat. Since it sits on a mooring with no shore power I used to eat through batteries. Fitting 125w solar panels has meant the AGM starting battery is now fully charged and maintained on a float charge which makes a big difference starting an old diesel in cold weather.

Pete

[reidy]

I'd look for an agm (absorbed glass mat) battery, might be a tad more expensive but because of how they are made internally they naturally are more powerful, have a longer life, (usually) and have more cca than an alternative lead acid battery, they usually are lighter as well, I've got a yuasa fitted to my Sv650 and it runs real well, Defo recommend :)