Best Battery? ideas...

[capnconch]

I get the most cranking amps I can get that fit the space,  I think that is the 20 amp or whatever they are called. I see the 16's and 18's that come up on battery fitment charts but the 20's lead acid are the ones..particularly with any added lighting and do jiggers. You can shop and they are not too expensive, so after about 3 years toss the old and in with the new. Fact; old batteries can start to fail at the exact wrong time. You may charge them and get a start but they quickly lose reliability and you can't rehab them. I live in Florida and ride year round so battery stays charged but I give it a daylong 2a booster charge monthly anyway to keep it healthy. Experience has shown me if your bike is cranking but not starting, money is on the battery is going belly up. 1500's need a strong crank from the batt.

[LarryInSeattle]

The Odyssey from G-Man industries is a great battery. This spins the bike better than ever! They modify it to fit and guarantee it! You get what you pay for. I love it. Rabbi

My $25 battery posted above is continuing to start my bike daily without any troubles at all.  Money saved. 

[rabbi]

The Odyssey from G-Man industries is a great battery. This spins the bike better than ever! They modify it to fit and guarantee it! You get what you pay for. I love it. Rabbi

[LarryInSeattle]

Hold on folks.  I just bought one of these batteries in September, 2013 and it has been starting my 800cc Drifter since.  It came fully charged and is an AGM battery.

$24.00 shipped to your door.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AH56KI/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[John Hopkins]

Most of all, I would caution you to stay away from a wet-cell battery and stick with a gel (glass matt) battery.  You will pay a little more for a gel battery but they are superior to the wet cell.

I think it depends on the bike, I find the older bikes like the old Lead acid battery, they seem more robust..

Gel batteries seem to have gone out of fashion and AGM (absorbed/absorbtion Glass Matt) are better but still work on the same principles as lead acid except instead of having the acid sloshing around it is held in place with fibre glass matting..I find if the bike came out of the factory with a certain type it is generally best to keep with that type.

Just an opinion.

John.

[Jobi]

I just installed a YTX 20CH-BS by Exide, maintenance free, some assembly required (filling the acid).

Drifter was in the garage for 5 months and fired up without any problems first try. It's a bit smaller than the YTX-16BS the previous owner had but more Ah. We'll see how it holds up this season.

[Bucko]

If you get an AGM battery, you won't need a tender.  My drifter sits for 9 months of the year - I've never had to use a tender to get it started after hibernation.

[jagered]

Thanks all!
... I will be ordering it this payday!  Man I wanna get out and ride... but tried turning her over and she did nothing but crank and crank and crank...
... Gonna do the car battery test ... hook it to it and try starting it, if it cranks up then I know it's the battery.

EDIT - Oh and yes, I have a tender... actually two since I still have my '08 Custom! 

[Bucko]

I believe that 'Gel' and 'Glass Mat' (AGM) are different types of batteries.  The 1500 drifter originally came with a Furokawa AGM battery (at least my 01 did).

[chief]

Bottom of page... battery info.

http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/drifterparts.html

[Cotton Mouth]

Howdy... saw a bunch of posts about troubles starting esp. after storage, but could not find suggestions for a good battery.  Going to replace mine before this years season ramps up...
TIA!

For bikes, I always have used Yuasu batteries with very good luck.  The ones I get are usually made in the usa and include the acid pack, ez to fill.  I believe our fi 1500s use the YTX20-CH.

http://www.gadgetjq.com/batrepl.htm

http://www.speedaddictcycles.com/product/74-5185/Yuasa-YTX20CH-BS-Battery.html

Do you have a Battery Tender? I use mine year round.  The Junior model (link below) is what I use and works great, and comes with 1 quick connect cord.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/950/i/battery-tender-junior-charger

[greenbarn]

I think any of the name-brand batteries will serve you well.  I believe the Yuosa (sp?) is a decent one - isn't that the OEM brand?  I use mostly Interstate batteries and I think they are much better than parts-store stuff.    I guess I'm biased partially, because I sell Interstate in my auto shop, but the reason I'm with Interstate is because I've had the best luck with the quality of their batteries, and especially with their warranty.  In general, I'd advise you the same way I advise folks for a car battery - you get what you pay for.  Not saying you need a $200-$300 battery, just stay away from the cheaper brands.

I was in a bind last year and had to put a parts-store battery in my 800, because it went dead suddenly, and I wanted to go riding.  I paid as much for the parts-store battery as I could have bought the Interstate for, and got (IMO) an inferior battery.  It worked fine all year, and will hopefully work fine all this year, but I plan to have to replace it earlier than I would have a "better" battery.   This spring, I think I will probably order an Interstate for the 1500 before riding season gets here.

Most of all, I would caution you to stay away from a wet-cell battery and stick with a gel (glass matt) battery.  You will pay a little more for a gel battery but they are superior to the wet cell. 

[jagered]

Howdy... saw a bunch of posts about troubles starting esp. after storage, but could not find suggestions for a good battery.  Going to replace mine before this years season ramps up...
TIA!