Where did the battery go?

[RoseCityCafePunk138]

I am going to take off my airbox and put on some filters but wanna know where most people hide their battery. I am also getting a cafe seat and was thinking about sticking a mini battery in the rear but have one question. Are the mini batteries enough to run a normal bike? I wanna keep my headlight, brake light and turn signals and electric start. I am going change my brake light into LED to save some juice but I still wonder if I am gonna drain that little battery. Any other good spots to hide the battery?

 

[Big R]

If you are keeping the electric start, you pretty much have to keep the stock sized battery. Once you figure how much room will be under your seat, you can fit the biggest battery possible.

 

[joe_russo31]

If you are keeping the electric start, you pretty much have to keep the stock sized battery. Once you figure how much room will be under your seat, you can fit the biggest battery possible.

If I'm willing to live with always kickstarting the bike, can I go to the physically smallest battery I can find just to try to clean up the looks of the bike but keep the electrical system intact without any hassles?

 

[Big R]

Ya, the electric starter is a battery killer (along with a weak charging system). I don't know how to figure the amp/hours you need, but it's probably below 8, above 4.

 

[joe_russo31]

Ya, the electric starter is a battery killer (along with a weak charging system). I don't know how to figure the amp/hours you need, but it's probably below 8, above 4.

Thanks... I might try that instead of messing with a capacitor to replace the battery. Sorry to hijack....

 

[hurley209]

you can even run a capacitor instead of the batt, about 3 or four kick and the bike will fire right up.

 

[joe_russo31]

you can even run a capacitor instead of the batt, about 3 or four kick and the bike will fire right up.

I've gotten a bit confused regarding running a capacitor in place of a battery.... Do you literally just wire it up directly in place of the battery or are there other wiring changes to be made? I've been looking at the ones on ebay that are the old Triumph/BSA/etc style, or are there others readily available that can be used easily?

 

[boingk]

You can run a capacitor in place of the battery simply by reoplacing the battery with one. You'll need around a 10,000 pico amp capacitor though apparently.

I would just run a small battery to be honest. I found that on my Aprilia RS125, it only needed a 3Ah battery. It kept its electric start and all road lighting and worked fine for 12 months. That would be the smallest battery I could suggest from experience.

Cheers - boingk

 

[mysta2]

you can even run a capacitor instead of the batt, about 3 or four kick and the bike will fire right up.

... and then it will die every time it drops to idle. I tried to run a Bat-Pak on my 1975 CL360 and I can attest that it will not work. Someone else can explain the difference between the charging system of a BSA or a Triumph (which the capacitor will work on) because I don't understand it. I just know that you can not just run a capacitor in place of any battery in any old bike.

 

[Saki]

I've been looking into lithium batteries for my kz since its electric only on the start. They are a little costly but pack quite a bit of power for how small they are.

 

[66replica]

I'm picking up one of the smallest ones this guy sells:

http://www.build-stuff.com/x-cell.htm

If that size won't work with electric start, I'll get rid of the electric start. I'd rather kick it and have a disappearing battery

I'll report back here or on my build thread as soon as I get the bike done enough to start.

 

[Steve Zodiak]

I noticed they are batteries for racing which probably means "total loss" ignition. I don't think charging Lithiums with a "normal" on bike set up would be a good idea. Lithiums' need some for over overcharge protection.

 

[bradj]

quote 'Someone else can explain the difference between the charging system of a BSA or a Triumph (which the capacitor will work on) because I don't understand it. I just know that you can not just run a capacitor in place of any battery in any old bike'.


lol if a triumph or a bsa work just give them a few min they break again. no reason to be alarmed the brits cant build cars eather i know im not helping at all, those capacitor really will not work on you kz the batt and stater on a well designed bike from japan flatens out your rpm it is not a big deal on a trimph becouse there a glory fied hit and miss, revamped tractor tech
it may suck but keep a batt

 

[stevene]

Check out the ETX9 AGM battery.
6 1/2" long, 3 5/8" wide, 3 1/2" tall.
8 ampHr, 120 CCA.
Fits snugly under Benjie's cafe seat.

Best-

stevene

 

[66replica]

Check out the ETX9 AGM battery.
6 1/2" long, 3 5/8" wide, 3 1/2" tall.
8 ampHr, 120 CCA.
Fits snugly under Benjie's cafe seat.

Best-

stevene

Nice! Unfortunately, I'm running a two up seat I built so I don't have much room under the seat.

 

[RoseCityCafePunk138]

I'm picking up one of the smallest ones this guy sells:

http://www.build-stuff.com/x-cell.htm

If that size won't work with electric start, I'll get rid of the electric start. I'd rather kick it and have a disappearing battery

I'll report back here or on my build thread as soon as I get the bike done enough to start.

ya, let us know how it goes cuz I'd like to keep the functionality of my bike and electric start but hiding the battery would be better

 

[RoseCityCafePunk138]

Check out the ETX9 AGM battery.
6 1/2" long, 3 5/8" wide, 3 1/2" tall.
8 ampHr, 120 CCA.
Fits snugly under Benjie's cafe seat.

Best-

stevene

awesome, this is exactly what I thought but didn't know how to set it up. thanks for the photo to go with!

 

[RoseCityCafePunk138]

I stuck an Odyssey PC545 under my tail piece. It's half the physical size than the stock "recommended" battery. It even has more amperage.

if you have an electric start and turn signals, were you able to keep them? did you have any issues having more amperage than before?

 

[Swapmeet Louie]

quote 'Someone else can explain the difference between the charging system of a BSA or a Triumph (which the capacitor will work on) because I don't understand it. I just know that you can not just run a capacitor in place of any battery in any old bike'.


lol if a triumph or a bsa work just give them a few min they break again. no reason to be alarmed the brits cant build cars eather i know im not helping at all, those capacitor really will not work on you kz the batt and stater on a well designed bike from japan flatens out your rpm it is not a big deal on a trimph becouse there a glory fied hit and miss, revamped tractor tech
it may suck but keep a batt

This makes no sense...

An absolutely ignorant statement.

People often ridicule things they don't understand. This would be a perfect example.

Back to the previous post:

Most bikes Run really well on any battery over 3.5 amps. If your running an electronic ignition, the bike will require in "most cases", a battery w/ 5+ amps. Find the smallest "in dimension" that meets your stock battery specs @ a minimum. (i know you were just looking for ideas on where to place the battery. Don't mean to tell you how to build a watch, instead of just giving you the time)

Capacitors will not work on a stator/alternator type charging system. They require a magneto. Which produces a charge @ any rpm. Hold one in your hand, and spin it even slowly. See what happens.. haha Ok, don't! it'll put you on your ass.

Louie

 

[RoseCityCafePunk138]

I only have electric start and it works well. I do not have signals anymore, but there wouldn't be an issue if I did.

I also got a higher amperage charging system even though the stock system would have been adequate.

awesome! thanks.