12-18-2015, 05:07 PM | #16 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: White Mtns. NH
Posts: 488
|
Thanks Spud
__________________
2016 Versys 650 LT, 2015 RX3 Red, 2011 Ural GearUp, |
|
12-18-2015, 05:07 PM | #17 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
|
Since LiFePO4 batteries are relatively expensive compared to lead/acid batteries, people usually buy the smallest LiFePO4 battery which will start their motorcycles. This works fine, as long as the bike employs old technology, with no parasitic electrical drains, and few electrical accessories. However, a smaller LiFePO4 battery doesn't have enough storage capacity to prevent deeper discharging, which will shorten its life.
Therefore, it is probably best for a Zongshen RX3 owner to stick with a larger, heavier AGM battery, unless he is willing to spend more money for the largest LiFePO4 battery which will fit into the battery tray. You need storage capacity in amp hours to sustain large demands on a motorcycle battery. LiFePO4 battery manufacturers inflate the 'equivalent amp hour ratings' of their batteries to increase sales. The smaller LiFePO4 batteries crank very hard, but they don't have the storage capacity of lead/acid batteries. Maintaining a reliable battery is especially important for a motorcycle with EFI, which also lacks a backup kick starter. I own two LiFePO4 batteries, and I like them a lot. However, since I plan to run a lot of electrical accessories with my Zongshen RX3, I am sticking with an AGM, lead/acid battery for my Zong.
__________________
Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
|
12-18-2015, 05:10 PM | #18 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
|
You're welcome. As always, thanks for starting such an interesting discussion.
__________________
Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
|
12-18-2015, 05:12 PM | #19 | |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: White Mtns. NH
Posts: 488
|
Quote:
__________________
2016 Versys 650 LT, 2015 RX3 Red, 2011 Ural GearUp, |
|
|
12-18-2015, 05:40 PM | #20 | |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: FL, GA, NC
Posts: 771
|
Quote:
The main thing I took away from it was the different charging rates for the lithium and lead-acid. In the past years I let the Shorai sit, removed from the bike, for the winter...except for the time or two I forgot to remove it. This year I purchased one of these lithium specific chargers, and put it on the TW battery. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...2&sr=8-2-fkmr0 It claims to be able to restore weakened Lithium batteries. In the Spring, I'll see if the Shorai makes it another season. jb
__________________
2016 Honda CB500F......2017 Triumph Street Twin 2014 XT 250........ |
|
|
12-18-2015, 08:56 PM | #21 |
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Arvada, CO
Posts: 1,004
|
Shorai batteries are supposedly able to be maintained by a regular Battery Tender, but I was riding mine so much through the fall I didn't need it. But I recently ordered a Battery Tender Jr made for Lithium Iron batteries. It has 5 step charging and ought to do nicely.
http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender..._sim_sbs_263_3
__________________
Red 5 standing by! 2015 CSC red RX3 with 19" front wheel, Shinko 804/805, skid plate, tall seat, 13T/45T sprockets, progressive shock, Winyoochanok windshield, GENSSI LED headlight, SW-Motech tankbag, Shorai Lithium battery 2014 Ural Patrol |
|
12-18-2015, 10:37 PM | #22 | |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: FL, GA, NC
Posts: 771
|
Quote:
The thread on Adv also mentions the need for "balancing" the individual cells in the LiFePo4 batteries. The port at the top of the Shorai, when used with the Shorai charger, is supposed to do this. This seems like a good thing to do, but I don't have the technical knowledge to know if the balancing is necessary in real world use. jb
__________________
2016 Honda CB500F......2017 Triumph Street Twin 2014 XT 250........ |
|
|
12-18-2015, 11:56 PM | #23 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
|
It's good to balance charge the 4 cells during the off season, but the LiFePO4 batteries tend to self balance during the riding season. If the batteries didn't tend to self balance, they wouldn't last very long with a conventional charging system in a car, or motorcycle.
__________________
Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
|
12-19-2015, 07:54 AM | #24 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: White Mtns. NH
Posts: 488
|
Here's another thought just to throw out there. With our 300 watt charging system and led lights if we were to keep our farkle battery drain to something the charging system can keep up with. I would think the lithium batteries would do as well as on the older non farkled bikes. Of course we have to be careful that nothing is drawing power when the bike is not running. Or am I off base with with this assumption. I went back and reread the adv post and did not find an answer to this question. I have to admit that at the time I was well under the influence of alcohol.
__________________
2016 Versys 650 LT, 2015 RX3 Red, 2011 Ural GearUp, |
|
12-19-2015, 08:24 AM | #25 | |||
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
|
Quote:
Quote:
The best tests are empirical. Time will tell us best whether or not the lithium batteries will endure well when installed in the Zongshen RX3. However, I suspect Dan is correct, and his experience will other bikes will be repeated with the Zongshen RX3. Quote:
__________________
Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
|||
|
12-19-2015, 08:34 AM | #26 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: White Mtns. NH
Posts: 488
|
Thanks again Spud for the informative reply
__________________
2016 Versys 650 LT, 2015 RX3 Red, 2011 Ural GearUp, |
|
12-19-2015, 08:37 AM | #27 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: White Mtns. NH
Posts: 488
|
I have had no issue yet with the factory battery, but I wish to prepare for the worst.
__________________
2016 Versys 650 LT, 2015 RX3 Red, 2011 Ural GearUp, |
|
02-27-2016, 02:47 AM | #28 |
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Arvada, CO
Posts: 1,004
|
I'm not sure I mentioned it in this thread, but I left my lights on in the garage and killed my Shorai LFX18A1-BS12 (270 CCA) battery a couple of months ago. I tried to revive it with a special lithium ion charger, but no luck. Then, I put the stock battery back in, but it died in the cold weather.
So I went ahead and ordered a new Shorai. The LFX19A4-BS12 (285 CCA) was on sale for $159, so I jumped on it. It's shorter than stock, but nothing the included spacers can't fix. And the width and depth are perfect in the RX3 battery box. It starts nice and strong too. It has a real nice feature where the battery terminals are directly tapped for bolts ... so there's no tiny nut to lose or struggle to line up.
__________________
Red 5 standing by! 2015 CSC red RX3 with 19" front wheel, Shinko 804/805, skid plate, tall seat, 13T/45T sprockets, progressive shock, Winyoochanok windshield, GENSSI LED headlight, SW-Motech tankbag, Shorai Lithium battery 2014 Ural Patrol |
|
02-27-2016, 04:36 AM | #29 |
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Deerfield Beach FL
Posts: 1,410
|
Your lithium battery can probably be saved. Hook it up to your running car battery with a set of jumper cables. It needs a little kick in the pants to get a dead lithium able to recover and take a charge. Smart chargers won't do it because they read the battery as dead/bad and won't give it that immediate boost of power to wake it up. Once the battery has a bit of a charge from your car then you can hook it up to the smart charger to top it off.
/ |
|
02-27-2016, 08:38 AM | #30 | |
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Arvada, CO
Posts: 1,004
|
Quote:
__________________
Red 5 standing by! 2015 CSC red RX3 with 19" front wheel, Shinko 804/805, skid plate, tall seat, 13T/45T sprockets, progressive shock, Winyoochanok windshield, GENSSI LED headlight, SW-Motech tankbag, Shorai Lithium battery 2014 Ural Patrol |
|
|
|
|
|
|