Battery for '05 STS - Ducati.ms

Ducatak · Dec 1st, 2011, 4:22 pm

I thought I might order one of the Motelectric cable upgrades so checked the PO's maintenance records and mine because I don't recall ever getting a new battery. Seems this is the original battery. 6 years? Is this thing doomed to fail any second?

Anyway, what are your recs for a Brand replacement? Thanks.

va duc · Dec 1st, 2011, 4:50 pm

You are skating on thin ice.

Go with a Yusa, my 2 cents.

kaysystems · Dec 1st, 2011, 5:08 pm

My battery was taxed to start the bike after 6 years. After 7 it wouldn't turn over if the temperature was below about 40 degrees.

A new Shorai cured the problem (and saves over 5 pounds in weight)

David

ducat · Dec 1st, 2011, 5:30 pm

I have had good luck with these batteries in several bikes and order from this company in Oregon. Quick free shipping to my door.http://www.batterystuff.com/powerspo.../sYT12B-4.html

Ducatak · Dec 1st, 2011, 5:37 pm

$67 on that Scorpion. Much better than the $116 dealer quote an a replacement Yuasa. Where do you guys get your batteries usually? Online? CycleGear?

va duc · Dec 1st, 2011, 6:55 pm

Buy yuasa!

Yuasa Battery YT12B-BS YUASA BATTERY YUAM6212B

ducat · Dec 2nd, 2011, 11:38 am

Honestly, I've had better luck with the scorpions than the yuasa. Especially with my dirt bikes. Oh, and the little woman's Monster that sits far to often.

**motolectric** · Dec 2nd, 2011, 8:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duc-a-tak

I thought I might order one of the Motelectric cable upgrades so checked the PO's maintenance records and mine because I don't recall ever getting a new battery. Seems this is the original battery. 6 years? Is this thing doomed to fail any second?

Anyway, what are your recs for a Brand replacement? Thanks.

The strongest battery you can buy is an Odyssey. They weigh a little more than a Yuasa or any other AGM (I'm pretty sure they have more lead plates). But they are by far the strongest and if used with one of their chargers will probably give the longest service life and lowest overall cost of ownership.

The Shorai seem to be excellent. I have one in my bike now. They also need a smart charger of some type for best performance.

In the Bay Area we are probably okay with their low temp shortcomings but I'll find out through this winter.

And you are right to be thinking of a new battery, once they get to the edge, they can tank pretty fast. A 6 year service life is really excellent for any battery.

When I lived in SF I used to eat 2 wet cell batteries a year (1 per bike).

HTH

blue44 · Dec 14th, 2011, 8:41 am

looks like batterystuff sells the Yuasa battery also, $7 more.
2004 Ducati Batteries | Batteries for Ducati Motorcycles
that lithium-iron battery is interesting at a little over 2 lbs., but kind of spendy...

question - do you remove the nose fairing when taking off the side fairing ? the manual didn't say so, but I had a heck of a time getting the upper side fairing back under the nose fairing. ( had to jump-start sunday ) found the bracket at the back of the nose fairing was bent by the po's tipover, so I've got to go back and r&r that...

one of these years I'll buy a used bike that doesn't need a battery first thing...

Donn

ninja · Dec 14th, 2011, 9:34 am

I've had very good experience with both.