Best Motorcycle Battery? Lead-Acid v. AGM v. Gel v. Lithium
13 Lie 2019
411 419 Peržiūros
It’s all about that chemistry, baby. We put the best motorcycle battery types through a series of practical tests and see what cranks and what tanks. [Details below]
Lead Acid Conventional Batteries : frt9.co/7kuljt
Absorbent Glass Mat Batteries : frt9.co/tu848n
Gel Batteries : frt9.co/b7grb6
Lithium Ion Batteries : frt9.co/pnsqo2
Battery Tender Junior 800 Charger : frt9.co/4j01ze
Cinematographer & Editor : Aneesh Shivanekar
Gear up for your next adventure at fortnine.ca:
frt9.co/98au9e
Connect with us:
facebook.com/fortnine
instagram.com/fortnine
twitter.com/fortninecanada
A question about lithium batteries. Ok, modern ones will not burn if you charge it below 0ºC, but that is because they have some kind of Battery Management System (BMS) that stop the charge if something goes bad. But here comes the question: Is it any different when you are riding the bike under 0ºC?? I mean, does the BMS stop the charge and the battery will die while you are riding? Or why is different charging the battery with a charger than doing it while riding?
Good video but not a word about problably the biggest problem of the traditional battery: the risk to damage the bike with the acid. It can happens, and it does!
You just saved me from another financial Boo Boo! I do like the weight savings of Li. Thx Ryan👍
Is there any information regarding warmer climates. I'm in Texas, I ride a Duc 1098 and go through batteries every 2 yrs. I use Lead Acid conventional. I keep it on a tender when not in use. The bike runs very hot, the weather is nearly Satans butthole in the summer. Is there a better battery for this climate and the brutal heat my 2Banger produces? I was going to go Li but now I'm not sure. Thanks for the Video, Great data!
Just bought a new 2017 Honda rebel 300 and I’m not exactly sure what type of battery they installed? I’ve had it in storage since October and usually start it about three times in a month to keep things going but sometimes I wonder how long the battery will last since the weather is usually around 28-35 degrees.
why not to buy few cheap lifepo3 cells and make yourself a cheap batery that will kick ass?
What is the context and where if the clip at 7:40 from?
Shorai battery getting melted
So basically go back 150 years and you will find the perfect battery?
There's a lithium battery Amaron brand for sale in my country, Philippines, usual motorcycle riders avoid that brand because motorcycles who had Lithium battery burns up and is not recommended for tropical countries?
i think winner gel
Interesting but wonder, since Lit battery cannot be charge below zero how come I ride my ktm 500 exc-f in frezeeing temps and nothing blows up? while riding there is active charging on board, right?
Nice vid! Thx team F9!
5:40 doesn’t the hour in 1/(4h) have to go in the numerator?
Lithium is good for weight saving. But biggest concern is ... it can spark a fire for an extended charging time, which most motorcycles do that.
You telling me my normal battery lasts for TWO hours headlight on??? I don't run the headlight more than a few seconds terrified of discharging it lol
This is how classrooms should be. By the way, I am voting for Gel Battery all the way. Not the best in all the test but overall a real world ready upgrade to what I use before.
my 1yr old sealed lead is still cranking like new at 13.3v.. for $22 i have no complains..
12v related videos are great a look into power draw from all of different common accessories and lights would be cool, cant find a lot out there about bike alternators and other 12v power upgrades, things like bc-dc chargers, solar maintenance chargers, a look into fuses , common issues and fixes. Bikes are getting more and more complicated with even some simple dirt bikes having complex 12v electrical systems let alone proper touring bikes , what kind of 12v failures would lead to big issues for getting home?
It would be interesting to also know the expected longevity of each type of battery. Great video.
How does charging an electric car in the winter not cause them to catch fire?
My girl and i will be "Gellin" real soon! only the best for my baby!!...♥️💯✊
Your fireball lithium example didn’t look like it was a lifepo4 like the one you’re testing lifepo4 won’t short and catch fire like that example
Need a new battery. I remembered Ryan did this video. Had to watch it a number of times to fully digest it. Incredible amount of relevant, useful information in a 12 minute video. And entertaining as usual for Ryan and the crew. They are truly talented, intelligent, thoughtful, and ground-breaking. I wholeheartedly disagree with what seems to be his choice at the end. He is a bit cryptic. Which he likes to be. And I am sure he recognizes and respects that different people will come to different conclusions about which choice they would make. Since I am in “not Canada”, so the Li charging excitement is probably not relevant, and I want the weight savings, I think I’ll give the Li a shot.
How is your sample size affecting your results?
Some old school Australian public safety advertising at the end there.
RED ALERT, RED ALERT, Science will not save us from Science. If the UN had a plan it would go something like this. 1. The worlds total population will have to except to not bring children into this world for the next 20 years. ( there are plenty of children that need love and a home ) 2. People that would like to end there lives should be legally and socially accepted.( euthanasia) (a persons dignified wright)😀 3. All wars must stop today. ( people get to go home to live in there own places ) 4. The automobile industry must stop producing Fossil Fuel power social vehicles ending 2017. ( people get to still have a job in the motor industry building alternative vehicles ) 5. All countries that can will need to produce there our products (reducing ocean travel fuel burn)( sustain a work force) 6. All global business will need to move investment to full blown Renewable energy supply. ( they and their investors still make money ) 7. All countries will need to grow billions of tons of Indian Hemp. The hemp will provide for a huge carbon store by making everything you can from it. Replacing all petrochemical products. (diversity will create contentment and PEACE and UNDERSTANDING. ) 8. Socially all drug addicts will be supplied with there drug of choice at a place of convenience. At a cost that will cover the cost. ( social rest,the end of the black market and the decline in overall drug use and deaths.) 9. The amounts of Fossil Fuels (burnt) in the country's that will still need them will be calculated so as to keep the atmosphere stable as the gasses are reduced. ( the second and third world people will still have their first world comforts and thus we all become one world people excepting all cultures.) Sounds great hey. 10. Understand that there is a lot more to UNDERSTAND and DO to save LIFE. The Scientific COMMUNITY have a colossal job in helping to do this. We need all of us to DO this, ALL OF US. And the list goes on. (Patience and faith in one another) Now for the HARD COLD FACT. We have all got to face the fact that MONEY has driven corruption to cause our fellow citizens to fail in the course of governing. ( the time has come for love and equality to drive sustainability and so allowing cultures to reclaim their heritage and the world to be at peace) GOVERNMENTS are failing and the CORPORATE system is too. Don't get me wrong we NEED Our governments and the Corporate SYSTEM, WE need them to work for ALL of us and do RIGHT by ALL of us NOW as well as THEM. And that goes for our Mother Earth. She is the mother to ALL of US and we all know an UPSET MUM equals unhappy Children...😔😤😩
Heat is brutal on the lifespan of Gel batteries...
4:15 Remember...That's 32 degrees Fahrenheit people...
actually the six pack style can be mounted upside down.
time to up date look at solid state litium batterys.
I wonder how well suited to lithium is the internal charging sistem of the motorcycle. Especially for older bikes, I mean it was surely optimised for the chemistry and requirements of the lead acid batteries. Would that hurt the lithiul battery in the long run and reduce the lifespan of it? Lithium is very picky to the voltage applied when almost full.. Abused lithium batteries tend to have incresed internal resistance as a result and that would afect the cranking current. Complex subject this.. I personally like Lithium batteries and would put one in my bike, but for now I would probably still go for a lead job untill we get more data from lithium users.
LOL !! Here I was feeling sorry for the 7 month winters I go through!! LOL
AGM for me, my battery is 5 years old and still going strong (though I use a smart charger during winter).
AGM for me too. The 9 year old battery in my maxi-scooter with 41,000 miles on it is still going strong.
Lithium hates cold weather, better have a heated garage
I've found that it doesn't matter the battery but how it's stored, charged, riden and how long it's been activated. If you don't let it sit for months, you can get a few years out any battery. Lion don't like cold like AGM. AGM is the best because it's durable, cheaper than liOn and it's the same lifespan than any other chemistry
"Curer of global warming" that made me laugh hard!
Love your vids well explained and you pitch these real world tests perfectly for the average money saving Joe. Awesome.
How could you forget the biggest reason to go with lithium? They're the only batteries that aren't damaged by being fully discharged so they last the longest in the real world if you mess up.
Fiberglass burrito
I think lithium bat is fully charged at 13.6v
Well, let me think.....floaded no way. Lithium ion no way(potentially dangerous) Gel maybe. Agm yeah thats for me.
"...because Canada..." Love it! Yet another insightful analysis. Thanks for confirming my disdain for expensive acronyms...
Bullshit, acid can leak out the overflow tube and rust the damn frame and everything it touches and aren't that much cheaper, MOTOBATT Gel best battery available, only like £50
I know it saves time but if you want a more comprehensive test you should use the same light bulb and or resistor to draw the energy from the battery. Even though they are the same light bulb they may draw different amounts of current. Especially over 4 hours.
I learned so much, but those are small gas cans!
What he doesnt mention is the bikes charging system is completely different than his little "battery tender". In the real world, use the type that came with the bike.He doesnt mention if a bms is built in to the li-po .AGM,FLA and Gel lead acid batteries all have different peak Charge voltages required for long-life.These voltages are set by the bikes regulator and non-adjustable.A li-po with a good bms would take alot of maintenance out of my life and a good bms means it would disconnect the battery before it killed itself from low voltage and protect itself from to high a voltage.For reference my Mazda b2200 has an FLA in it from Walmart that is 18yrs old and it still starts.!
you dont need to buy a battery if you dont need a battery, kick starter gang
honestly, i would love to have a Lithium Battery because of the compactness, but because of the cold weather downsides of them the best option for me became Gel Batteries.
Can a "battery trickle tender" be used on a lithium bike battery?
Yep! You just need to buy one with a lithium setting (i.e. fortnine.ca/en/battery-tender-junior-800-12v-80a-lead-acid-lithium-charger-022-0199-dl-wh
What charger do you recommend to charge a lithium battery?
Agm wins price to performance
I would mount a lithium battery the same physical size as the stock battery and never have starting issues again.
What? No Hunger Games sky images? LOL
@FortNine Also remember that lead acid is used because it works well in high temperatures as well. Like engine compartments.
Personally, I’m partial to AGM. Zero maintenance, decent performance, middle of the road pricing, and most importantly, no risk of FIRE OR EXPLOSION. Maybe in 10 or 20 years I’ll consider lithium, but for now, I’ll keep by acid battery.
Thanks again, Ryan
Had an $80 Yuasa AGM in my EX500. 6 month riding season each year. Charger/maintainer used. otherwise treated it like a flooded lead-acid unit. When it died, I was ready to complain - until I found the receipt. It had been in service for nine long years. OK, AGM it is. Made in Reading, PA. Imagine that.
ltworlds.info/home/vaizdo-ra-as/saKGu66botGsd5c.html How would this fare?
Lithium is superior in everyway. That battery is a particularly bad example and I'm not sure why.
wow, sure makes things less confusing... thx
Shorai lithium turned my R1 ECU into a brick. Shorai accountability....0.
I guess he likes sulphuric acid on his goolies...
Good stuff Fortnine. I really liked that video 👍
Which is the best battery in summer Summer
Great detail mate! keep in mind Li has a limitation of taking energy given to it, generically with a limited amount of exceptions, but nothing that will change beyond a standard deviation - relatively cannot absorb anything greater than the capacity of the cells per hours.
I went from lead acid to Lithium in my previous motorcycle (I never should have sold it with that battery in it). The best advantage was weight and size. I ended up with over half of my battery tray for space for extra tools. I felt extra tools or supplies was by far worth the extra money, especially when on the side of a low traffic road.
I live at 7000 feet and it gets cold. Lithium is terrible for me
I do like you channel a lot but your research on battery technology is a bit flawed. 30 years involved in industrial batteries. LA batteries CCA is just a function of surface area and reserve capacity is how much fuel (acid) you have in the battery. Very high CCA batteries are all plate and no acid and frankly cycle like shit. Higher reserve capacity cycle well but might not start you bike on a chilly -30 degree day but will absorb abuse much better than high CCA batteries. Your maintenance free LA batteries uses a lead calcium alloy (Google failure modes). The same alloy is used in GEL and AGM. GEL is just a wet battery with silica added. AGM (absorbed glass matt) is the separator and median to store the acid. Great CCA as there is no separator between each plate but pretty useless to prevent internal shorts. So no surprise the wet battery wins the capacity test (more fuel in the tank) and the AGM won the CCA test plates very close together and more of them. Lead calcium alloy does not like being left for long periods of time discharged and the GEL battery will possible be the only technology that you can recover from a very over discharged state. This is a killer statement because how has the battery company stored your battery? Did they leave it discharge and charge it before they went out the door. Also QA in manufacturing is a massive part of how well and long your battery will last. Had my XT660X upside down a couple of times so that rules out the wet option. Really hard to get the GEL option in Australia my preferred technology but my Yuasa AGM in the Tenere is now 6 years old and I should really replace it before it fails as sulphuric acid never stops corroding the lead. Lithium well 14.4 charging voltage is not the correct charging voltage for lithium. It used to be more than 4 volts per cell but then they discovered the higher the voltage the shorter the life. Lithium does not like being over discharge or over charged. Charging issues below zero and plus 40 depending on chemistry (13 different lithium options) they tend to react quiet violently with oxygen and water when the lithium cell is punctured. GEL is still the most reliable and probably the most robust option but a good AGM battery is also a great option.
The LiFePO4 lithium chemistry will probably last through 2 to 3 times the charge/discharge cycles compared to the 3 lead-acid chemistry batteries. That's why they're favored for off-grid renewable energy storage.
You should have compared a 9 amp/h lithium. Or Multiply by 3.
my takeaway from this differed from Ryan's: having 10 bikes in my garage has taught me that lithium's the most practical
So you're saying lithium battery is dangerous for ANY vehicles that can be standing outside below 0 ? Because once started, charging starts.
Thankyou
Like from Russia)
I don't care so much about weight. What I care about is cold cranking amps. The more the better.
It should be noted that a lithium battery has a hard time cranking a high compression engine (say, a supersport) when it's cold. For example I had the headlights on full beam for over a minute and a half after a night at 0C degrees and it took well over 30 seconds of cranking and only barely sputtered to life. This is in a Superduke 1290 and that bike has a big ass LED headlight. A conventional fluid battery would have no such troubles. Then again, they don't weigh 700 grams...
Still.. I use two Lipos and it's freaking amazing.
Thank You! I would have never guessed that outcome. I just bought a new AGM for my bike.
Ryan u should of put the baterys on a harley or somthing so about crankin the motor over great vidioes tho
Just a guess, you've spent alot of time playing video games in ur parents basement, huh lol?
The production value and the dedication put into these videos are the reason I watch these even though I don’t own a bike. Good job, keep it up :)
I really wish he woulda tested heat as well as I live in a desert....
After killing several lead batteries. I've gone Lithium. Light and terrific !!! I'd never turn back. My bikes have kick back-up too . i'm happy for the weight saving on a 204 km enduro ride (Australia)
Heading to Fort Nine and buying a battery. Well done! Great video.
Man it's 2020, Use universal unit of Power (W) & Energy (W.h) Ah is a flawed unit which doesn't take voltage into account. W & W.h are simple to understand and use, Running a 10 W bulb for 1 hour = 10 W.h Running a 1000 W aircon for 1 hour = 1000 W.h = 1 kWh
Try Bioenno batteries. Way more bang for the buck when it comes LiPo batteries
The best option is an ebay chinese lithium battery that costs 60 bucks, weighs 500g, says that it will only start 125cc scooters but has had no problems starting my KZ400 fro the last two years. No winter charging, no topping off, no anything. Starts my bike every thime even after month of sitting, even when cold. Just put it in 2 years ago and forgot it was there. Death to lead acid.
Lithium is a no go for snowbikes. Ill stick with sealed lead acid or agm.
Can your bike, its alternator and regulator/rectifier, handle a lithium battery? Bikes don't have the fancy intelligent chargers lithium batteries need.
I just like every Fortnine Video before the video starts because I know it's going to be amazing
Ryan thanks for this great real world test. Would like to add, lithium battery has the best storage loss only without parasitic loss. With electronics sucking power during storage you had best hit it with a charger every other month or so. I left my Goldwing sit and the battery won't turn it over. Left the lithium rated automatic charger on for the winter(gets cold in New York too) and battery died completely. Just my observations. Great tip on waking up lithium battery! Keep up your great irreverent honest reviews!
Something worth thinking about for a bike.. many video's on this same thing. ltworlds.info/home/vaizdo-ra-as/2KJ-1KaplsaXpdo.html ltworlds.info/home/vaizdo-ra-as/zoZ2qK-KfpZ2mJs.html The real outside the box is when people make their own by hand, for what reasons they have.. below not as a sales video from my linking it.. to each their own.. as that he does sell these and that he would be the one holding the bag. ltworlds.info/home/vaizdo-ra-as/vn990s2VibRqgbQ.html or this video below. ltworlds.info/home/vaizdo-ra-as/mH1qrax1XdOpj7w.html
DEPTH OF DISCHARGE.. all lead acids, need to have at least their amp rating to an amount of 11v.. -14v.. which at most is a 80 percent to only have a 20 percent DOD.. lithium are the opposite of that.. can handle down to as per the safe handling of to a DOD of 20 percent, to use 80 percent of the near total battery.. the guys at Tesla say to have a 70 percent use, and keep 30 percent as a safe DOD. reality of a bike, as per car is.. they constantly generate electricity to keep their battery's to an optimum charge to operate as their use of charge is being drained which sometimes can mean their not being drained as much as what some make out that they are.. as to why it is lead acids have an optimal amount at only 20 percent to leave 80 percent as needed to operate properly.
So called cafe racers are exactly what they look like. A hacked up POS. Why the hell anyone would do that is beyond me. Just part the thing out so people can restore a good bike that just needs a few parts. I think the whole concept of cafe bikes is senseless now because 75 percent of the bikes ( not harley,or Indian ) sold now are capable of going faster than most riders are REALLY capable of. But if that is what it takes to get someone riding and not protesting or some shit, I'll take that as a win for the riders. And if you do have to build one PLEASE Please sell as many parts as you can. SELL not gouge. Thanks
If only yamaha didn't decided to shrink the battery compartment to ridiculously small sizes AND to flip the battery 90 degrees. Great.
Not sure if so agree. You get a lot of weight saving with Li and they’re stronger during cranking, turns on my V-Twins in one press.
Good video as usual. For me, the choice was a no-brainer: a Li-Ion batt that was as cheap as a middle range classic battery (for my bike lead based batts prices range from ~40 to ~90 €). ---------- I paid 65€ shipment included for a Skyrich HJTX9 that will last longer (2,000 charging cycles vs 300), is loaded in 6' and kept in shape in 15'' with a 25€ all-purpose loader (inst. of 12hrs). And my bike dry weight dropped from 233 to 229 Kg. No-brainer.
Nope. Your LiFePo was crap. I use A123 cells, only 5Ah. I took 8 pieces and spot welded my own battery. No need for balancer. Would never, never change a thing. Works for years in three bikes, also in the wintertime, much more power (cranking amps). Not drained after some month in the garage. Finally i`ve got rid of the never ending Pb crap trouble: each year a new one, each winter : wont start (what a fuck).
Great review youngster.