Couldn't find reference to what I was asking, so thought i would ask here.

I'm considering buying a Lithium starter battery. Not for trying to save weight, but for trying to save space. My Nightster has a Fuelpak and at the moment it is squished between the seat and the frame rails... I would like to put a smaller (shorter) battery in which will give me space above the battery to fit the ecu connector plugs... giving my seat some relief. It just doesn't feel right jamming it all in there.

My understanding is that the stock lead battery has a capacity (correct terminology??) of producing 200 CCA. So if I subsititute with an equal capacity or greater LiFePO4 battery, then should that be OK?

I'm looking at http://www.shoraipower.com/p-154-lfx14l2-bs12.aspx which is rated at 210CCA and is nice and short at 89mm vs the stock 148mm.

Or there is the http://www.shoraipower.com/p-157-lfx18l1-bs12.aspx which is rated at 270CCA and is still 109mm... this would be a fraction tighter for the fit of the cables but I think would still work.

 

So is my theory of selecting an alternative battery correct? will either of these do the job or does anyone have a different idea...

And no, ditching the fuelpak isn't one!

 

I don't know about sporty Batteries, but I think they would be better than 200 CCA ?

Having said that, Buells use a small battery, but they do struggle.

Have a look here for their reccomendation:

www.shoraipower.com.au/

Hi, we put a springer seat on our 08 nightster, we fitted a yuasa ytx14lbs 200cca which gave us enough room to fit the ecm above the battery. The poles on the battery were opposite but with a bit of manipulating they can fit. In the end it worked fine.

Did you end up fitting one?

Actually.... I didnt order a shop ready lithium. I bought 8 A123 lithium ion cells from www.hobbycity.com.
When soldered together, the pack was strong enough to start the bike 3 times, then it didnt have enough charge...
So I ordered another 4 cells to increase the capacity... they are only on their way now from Hong Kong; been on backorder since May.

The same 8 cell pack started my friends Kawasaki 600 with total ease... I guess the sportster 1200 needed some more CCA to do the job.

Once I have increased the size of the pack, I will update.
Incidentally, with the 12 cells, the cost of the pack will have been $120 approximately... probably not worth the hassle compared to buying one off the shelf and ready to go.

The size will be Half that of the stock battery, and the weight saving will be heaps; not important on a Harley I guess..

One of my customers is getting some in. I'm going to give one a go. I couldn't believe the weight difference.