Urgent SSB PowerSport Lithium Information!

[Streak]

URGENT (from John Meara on FaceBook)

Anyone here have any experience or knowledge on the "SSB PowerSport Lithium" batteries? My ST's 5-year old battery died and Pro Honda is suggesting the SSB ($170) rather than the much more expensive OEM Yuasa or cheaper replacement wet-cell.

http://www.ssbpowersport.com.au/products.aspx

[Biggles]

That's a fair storefront price for a Lithium battery.
They start at under $100 incl postage on Fleabay.  Same brand.
A standard battery for the ST13 is about $110 no-discount retail.

[alans1100]

I'm also looking at getting one when my battery is due for replacemnet.

This one for the 1100.......... LTX14-BS

http://www.ssbpowersport.com.au/Products/ProductList/tabid/241/mode/details/pid/430/Default.aspx

http://www.ssbpowersport.com.au/tabid/241/btsid/32/mode/showbatterytypes/LithiumBatteries.aspx

SSB PowerSport Lithium Ion Polymer Batteries are an extremely light weight battery designed for starting applications and are a completely dry battery making them spill-proof and leak-proof. You have to pick one up for yourself to truly understand how light they actually are compared to normal lead acid batteries.  They are truly amazing.

A normal lead acid motorcycle battery is designed to last for 200 – 300 cycles, whereas SSB PowerSport Lithium Batteries are designed to last for over 2,000 cycles (more than 10 Years design life). In addition, they can sit unused for over a year without losing charge and can also be charged extremely quickly without damaging the battery.
Unlike many other lithium batteries, SSB PowerSport Lithium Batteries are made using prismatic cells making them not only safe to use, but also boasts higher CCA (cold cranking amps), better cyclic properties and have a longer life. We are aware of only one other brand of lithium starting battery that uses prismatic cells. Other brands generally use cylindrical cells and while they may be a little cheaper due to lower manufacturing costs, they are inferior and are not designed for starting vehicles.

SSB PowerSport is the Pioneer of lithium starting batteries in Australia. We were the first and we are the best. We have been researching, testing and using lithium batteries for over 5 years. We have also purchased and tested almost every other major brand of lithium starting batteries from around the world and have designed SSB PowerSport batteries to be more superior in every aspect. Basically our lithium batteries are the most powerful and lightest lithium starting batteries in the world. While there may be other brands using similar battery cases (even similar colours), be assured that if it doesn’t have the SSB PowerSport logo, it does not offer the same capacity as our lithium batteries.

SSB PowerSport Lithium Batteries are also one of the only Lithium Ion Polymer Batteries that can be charged using normal 12V car battery chargers / alternators. SSB PowerSport Lithium Batteries are also 100% organic, fully recyclable and pollution free, making them an excellent green energy source.

All SSB PowerSport Lithium Batteries come with a true industry leading full 2 year money back guarantee. Do not be fooled by other brands that only offer a 2 year pro-rata warranty. A pro-rata warranty is not a full warranty. For example with a pro-rate warranty you might get 6 months full warranty and then 50% refund if the battery fails from 6 – 12 months and then 25% refund if the battery fails between 12 months - 24 months. SSB PowerSport Lithium Batteries come with a full 2 Year Money Back Guarantee, no questions asked.

[saaz]

That is a good price for a Lithium battery. It makes them now a real alternative.

[TheMechwarrior]

All,

Looking to buy SSB 12V LH14-BS LITHIUM MOTORCYCLE BATTERY for my ST1100 as my old LTX-14BS has died.
1. They are asking about $270 including free delivery, does anyone know of a better deal for one of these?
2. Do I need to modify the charging system to deal with these prismastics or do I just simply "whack em in"?

Cheers,

Mech.

[Biggles]

You might have to do your own research on price and availability.  It will depend on your location, mobility, budget and size preferences.

As for compatibility- whack it in!

[West Aussie Glen]

I purchased one of the 240 CCA one of these in the States. tried it in the ST1300 and no peoblems but the put the original back in as it is still OK.

http://batterytender.com/products/batteries.html

[TheMechwarrior]

Price is good and it's 450CCA, I'll order it tonight.gg

[Biggles]

Price is good and it's 450CCA, I'll order it tonight.gg

At $270 it's nearly three times the cost of a lead-acid, but they're supposed to last five times as long.
450CCA is outstanding.  We'll all be keen to read your reports.

[HOFFY]

I shouldn't say it but I bought my lead acid battery 5 years ago  for $80 and it is still going strong. (now that i have said that, it will possibly be stuffed by the morning)

The weight dosn't worry me too much as the bike runs well and I am well over weight myself and I don't tow a trailer so the bike is obviously strong enough to move the bike along at a respectable speed already.

I personally couldn't justify spending $200 on a battery just for the weight argument.

It may last a bit longer than the lead acid but it still only has a two year warranty, the same as mine.

If I was to have a 2nd battery installed for accessories when parked up for some time, I might consider this battery but at this stage I will wait and see.

Glen does have the one he got from America and when you pick it up, it just feels like the box it came in but he did raise one point indicating that it may not be suitable for continued slow draining of power for small accessories.

[TheMechwarrior]

Just got the battery today it came Express Post from "4wdextreme" on Ebay.
Highly recommend the service!

This battery will be ideal for me as according to advertising it can sit idle all year and still start-up just fine the following summer :)

I'll take some install picks tonight showing the 2 batteries side by side, the new battery weighs about the same as my soup mug...the old battery weighs about the same as my first motorbike. The new battery is also a lot smaller, so it comes with some spacers that attach to the base to bring it up to the same size as the stock battery.

Cheers,

Mech.

[TheMechwarrior]

Old motorbike battery on the left at nearly twice the height, five times (a guess, feels like 10x) the weight and less than half the CCA. Lithium replacement on the right FTW

Note the small plastic spacers that go onto the bottom of the battery to bring it up to the standard battery height.
Purchased here: http://www.ebay.com.au/usr/4wdextreme

[Biggles]

So!  Does it crank faster?  Start better?  Lights brighter?  Indicators flash faster?   

Be sure to keep us informed.

You're a pioneer.  An adventurer.  We admire your kind (the rich people    )

 

[TheMechwarrior]

Thanks Biggles.

Heaps of grunt for starting as promised, as for lighting etc I wont have any feedback on that until the weekend.

Cheers,

Mech.

[TheMechwarrior]

After not riding her for a while the battery had lost some charge.
She managed to crank a few times but then nothing.

I took the battery out and tried to charge (smart charger) it but it was completely flat and my smart charger won't charge a completely flat battery.
So I took it to the professionals and they managed to get a charge in to it!

It wasn't long before they heard a BOOM!

They told me this wasn't the first.

So I bought a stock standard battery this time.

[Biggles]

There is a 2 year money back warranty on those, so you might like to take them up on it.
I'm guessing there is a clause that says you shouldn't let it go flat.  They are supposed to hold charge for 6 months.

[Abe]

Thanks for the update 

I think I'll be looking for a battery soon, she's getting a little slow on starting (bike not wife  )

[TheMechwarrior]

There is a 2 year money back warranty on those, so you might like to take them up on it.
I'm guessing there is a clause that says you shouldn't let it go flat.  They are supposed to hold charge for 6 months.

I suspect there is some fine print like that so I just moved on rather than drag this out any longer than needed. No point getting an ulcer over a warranty claim for a bike battery.

[Turtle]

Mate if I had spend over $200 and it had Warranty i would be getting my money back with a result like that  ..... just my personal view

Turtle

[Brock]

The Lithium iron batteries have a min voltage that they shouldnt go below, or the battery can be damaged internally. If they get damaged, and you try to force charge them they can get a hot spot inside and then "POOF".

The battery can stand unused for a long time and maintain charge, but on the bike there are some components that still draw current, like the clock. If you are not going to ride the bike for a long time, then its a good idea to connect it to a battery minder to keep things healthy. This goes for Litium or normal batteries.

[curious1]

The Lithium iron batteries have a min voltage that they shouldnt go below, or the battery can be damaged internally. If they get damaged, and you try to force charge them they can get a hot spot inside and then "POOF".

The battery can stand unused for a long time and maintain charge, but on the bike there are some components that still draw current, like the clock. If you are not going to ride the bike for a long time, then its a good idea to connect it to a battery minder to keep things healthy. This goes for Litium or normal batteries.

Just a small correction. It's NOT iron it's ion batteries. I am very sensitive for misspelling because english is not my mother language and I worry to pick up back spelling by accident.

[curious1]

Dont worry Brock about misspelling. I just was on SSB website and in one sentence they spelled it right and then wrong.

[Brock]

It's NOT iron it's ion batteries

Oiii I'm the sherraf in this ear town, if I say its iron its iron..



 

[Panman50]

Another tip guys if you do use a battery minder make sure it's suitable for the lithium IRON battery.
Tom.

[alans1100]

Another tip guys if you do use a battery minder make sure it's suitable for the lithium IRON battery.
Tom.

Information on the SSB website suggests that their lithium ion batteries can use a normal car battery charger which may give more options for keeping the charge up.

http://www.ssbpowersport.com.au/tabid/241/btsid/32/mode/showbatterytypes/LithiumBatteries.aspx

"SSB PowerSport Lithium Batteries are also one of the only Lithium Ion Batteries that can be charged using normal 12V car battery chargers / alternators"

I was looking at getting one of these when my current battery needs replacing but I'm getting a good run out of the OEM Yuasa at half the cost.