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Lithium Batteries (again)

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  • Hilly
    Hilly
    1 year ago
    I've read all our own threads on these batteries, followed most of the links and read them as well, I have questions though, not real tough ones, 
    1. What brand and model lithium battery do you use in your Harley?
    2. How long have you had it?
    3. Would you buy it again knowing what you now know?
    4. What made you choose this particular battery over others?
    5. What built in protections and features does it have.


  • Ratbob
    Ratbob
    1 year ago
    Good subject Hilly.  Interesting questions
    Hope you don’t mind if I add.

    6, What changes did you make (if any) to the bikes charging system?

    I.e. a lithium battery charging regulator with specific lithium algorithms. To maintain premium health, charging systems should treat lithium and even glass mat batteries differently to lead acid.
  • speedzter
    speedzter
    1 year ago
    I've been tempted by lithium , but not enough to buy into the hype yet.

    This video below popped up recently .
    R&J are a localy started company that have grown fairly large .
    I don't really know how a Harley would cope with the system of the battery going into sleep mode .


  • tussuck
    tussuck
    1 year ago
    Quoting Ratbob on 20 Nov 2024 06:41 AM

    Good subject Hilly.  Interesting questions

    Hope you don’t mind if I add.

    6, What changes did you make (if any) to the bikes charging system?

    I.e. a lithium battery charging regulator with specific lithium algorithms. To maintain premium health, charging systems should treat lithium and even glass mat batteries differently to lead acid.

    I would expect the battery to come with an internal BMS that would take care of that issue.  Good callout and a good point to watch out for.  Plus the old hog charging system is pretty rough as far as waveform is concerned so could be rough on a BMS.
  • Wanderer57
    Wanderer57
    1 year ago
    1. Harley Lithium - Cant remember model but suits Twin Cam Softail, 16 FLSTC 103, (smaller and comes with plastic frame which it sits in, to take it to Gel size)
    2. Installed late 2018
    3. Yes
    4. Unlike some guys that would walk a mile over broken glass to buy anything Non Harley, yes its a bit expensive, but I put my faith in it as HD branded and sold by dealership. SSB make a couple being a standard and a heavy duty one as well but haven't tried it but they seem reputable. Probably good to do a price comparison.
    5. Unsure of what tech spec protections it has.
    6. No changes to the bike charging system

    I put it on a tender for Lifepo about once every 3 weeks just so it can go through the diagnostic and top up. 

    Research back when I fitted it was positive, with the USA guys saying it had to be woken up after Months in their sub zero Winter layups. Im in NQ so no issues with the higher temps. I installed it in Singapore when I was there which is hot and humid all Year.
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    1 year ago
    Thanks for the replies fellas, watched that vid speedzter, only question I have there is if it sleeps what happens with the Harley anti theft system 🤔
    I did try finding more info on them RJ's, maybe my googling skills are sub par.
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    1 year ago
    Quoting Wanderer57 on 21 Nov 2024 07:56 AM

    1. Harley Lithium - Cant remember model but suits Twin Cam Softail, 16 FLSTC 103, (smaller and comes with plastic frame which it sits in, to take it to Gel size)

    2. Installed late 2018
    3. Yes
    4. Unlike some guys that would walk a mile over broken glass to buy anything Non Harley, yes its a bit expensive, but I put my faith in it as HD branded and sold by dealership. SSB make a couple being a standard and a heavy duty one as well but haven't tried it but they seem reputable. Probably good to do a price comparison.
    5. Unsure of what tech spec protections it has.
    6. No changes to the bike charging system

    I put it on a tender for Lifepo about once every 3 weeks just so it can go through the diagnostic and top up. 

    Research back when I fitted it was positive, with the USA guys saying it had to be woken up after Months in their sub zero Winter layups. Im in NQ so no issues with the higher temps. I installed it in Singapore when I was there which is hot and humid all Year.

    They have three available, all the lithium iron phosphate type, I found one small passage on the biggest one mentioning protection circuitry but can't find it again lol, I would like to think they would all have something as the last thing HD want is bad press on how to burn your bike to the ground, prices are not that outlandish and they are conservative with the life expectancy as advertised, still looks a good option.
    Thanks for your input.

    Just want to correct something, this is what I saw but it was in the smallest versions write up ....

    Internal solid-state Battery Management System automatically detects over/under charging for more-reliable starting performance and protects the battery from deep discharge, over voltage and over temperature.
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    1 year ago
    Did you read the reviews? One said poles reversed, just enough lead to reach, that was on the 6ah one.
    I still can't chase up an RJ one for a closer look, interesting stuff.
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    1 year ago
    Be a long round trip if they sent the wrong one to a twin cam owner here lol
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    1 year ago
    Got this from RJBatt......

    Thank you for your enquiry.

    The Raptor lithium range is expected to be available late December, but this has not yet been confirmed.

  • Hilly
    Hilly
    1 year ago
    Didn't know they even existed, can't be any worse than the others, good for a couple of years you'd assume.
  • speedzter
    speedzter
    1 year ago
    Never used them in the HD, but I run Century in my Ute .
    They have an 18 month warranty on the bike battery, so better than most .

    I will need a new bike battery soon, so will need to decide again on what brand/chemistry .
    I would seriously like more cranking current though to turn over the 120", not sure my old 2 phase Stator would play nice with Lithium though .
    I keep meaning to buy a DC clamp meter to test the starter current draw.


  • Hilly
    Hilly
    1 year ago
    Nice finds, it's the incoming tech I guess, 5 year warranty is pretty up there, mind you I've got that in the past with lead acid batteries in Harleys but not since the more parasitic systems have been the norm.
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    1 year ago
    That would do it, has a wake up built in if it's ever needed, 5 years is a bloody good warranty on a battery for sure.
    You gunna be guinea pig? 😁
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    1 year ago
    Sweet 👍
    If the blurbs are right you won't need a charger anytime soon anyway.
  • speedzter
    speedzter
    1 year ago
    Well this will be interesting !
    Power Crank just looks like another import company that re-badges Chinese batteries ( i guess they nearly all do !)
    Very little info on their website, and no mention of Lithium motorcycle batteries.
    I hope it works well, but I am skeptical .

    The SSB Lithium has good specs, but SSB lie ! ( like there HVT-1 that says 450cca - but they don't measure that )
    I'm curious about the 18ah rating - that is unusually high for a lithum. 6-8ah is the norm in this size .
    They cheat here by using the 20 hour (C20) rate instead of the 10 hour rate for starting batteries.

    Motobatt does their own version as well     MLX20UHD-HP





  • Hilly
    Hilly
    1 year ago
    Yep SSB are fibbers, it's all very interesting, 408 has a sturdy engine in his bike, it will certainly give the battery a work out.
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