Gel Battery Question(s)?

[nemo]

Okay so im doing my first cafe build on a 74 cb550 and I want to hide to battery under the bump of my seat...I plan on using the stock battery box and welding it to the frame with some typeof brackets. I intend to set it horizontally or at an angle within the bump. Can you guys give me some suggestions on a good battery to use??...by the way im using the stock wiring system and i dont plan on getting rid of any wires etc. if that'll help. thanks

 

[Tim]

If you're willing to invest a bit extra, I'd seriously consider a Shorai battery. You can get the 12ah version to match the stock CB550 spec, with about the same cold cranking amps (155 Shorai vs 165 stock) but it's smaller and much much lighter. Or you can jump up to the 14ah 210cca version which is about the same size as stock but still way lighter.

They hold a charge a year, and you can position them any which way you want.

Shorai 12ah - 5.83" L x 2.60" W x 4.13" H - 1.6 pounds

Shorai 14ah - 5.28" L x 3.15" W x 6.30" H - 2.3 pounds

YB12A 12ah - 5.31" L x 3.19" W x 6.31" H - 7 pounds


http://www.amazon.com/Shorai-LFX14L2-BS12-Extreme-Lithium-Powersports/dp/B005FIUJ0S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1335751299&sr=8-4

 

[nemo]

Thanks for the help Tim...those batteries are insanely light! a little pricey but you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[nemo]

will the 10 less CCA than stock be troublesome

 

[smokeythebear]

You probably aren't using all of the cranking amps your battery can provide anyways. Since the lithium battery has a higher nominal voltage vs a traditional lead acid your bike might actually crank faster.

Unless you are really trying to shave weight off your bike and since you are already using the stock battery box, why not just replace your stock battery with an identically sized gel cell (SLA sealed lead acid) which will behave exactly the same as your stock battery except it can work upside down?