[mito_gp]

*posted this over on the Panigale forum, but figured I'd post it here also to see if you guys had any insight*

Bike is 2013 Panigale S.
I figured I'd go ahead and make the upgrade to lithium. Installed the Antigravity AT7B-BS RE-START battery, and the bike doesn't seem to like it at all. Took it for a ride, and the battery light came on, check engine light and gas light started flashing. Bike would start to idle a little high as well.

As I rode it, all the warnings would go away for a sec, then eventually come back again.

Has anyone experienced this or is this thing just defective? Regardless, I'm returning it and going with another brand considering Antigravity hasn't been much help with responses.

What I've done so far:
Tested Voltage Regulator...checks out fine.
Tested and charged the Lithium Battery with an Optimate291 charger...battery checks out okay?

Put back in the old Lead-Acid battery and all the problems are gone.

Any ideas?

 

[xracer]

“Any ideas”. Stick with the lead acid. It works. What do you gain with a lithium?

 

[mito_gp]

“Any ideas”. Stick with the lead acid. It works. What do you gain with a lithium?

What do I gain with the lithium? Seems like just a damn headache.

Only trying to make it work because it seems like I'm stuck with it.
Sent them several emails concerning the issues and setting up a return it and they've stopped responding.
Another guy on the Panigale forum said he had no issues.

Might just have to chalk it up as a loss.

 

[DarR]

What do you gain with a lithium?

I installed a non-restart (now discontinued) Antigravity AT7B-BS.
Only issue was the install as the 959 Panigale's cables were very short to reach the terminals.
Removing the battery rubber boot gave me the wiggle room I needed.

Advantages are:
Weight loss is incredible and almost unbelievable until you have one in each hand.
Cracking Amperage at 320 is almost 3x the Stock Yuasa's 110 CA.
No need for a tender during long periods of inactivity providing there's nothing connected to it

Disadvantages:
Requires a specific tender for lithium batteries.
Require the above tender to be connected to prevent parasitic drain while in the bike during periods of inactivity.

 

[xracer]

I can’t see a cost benefit ratio in a lithium battery. We’ve been down this road before. Yes they are light but in the scheme of things the weight saved is nothing compared the weight of the bike. More CCA? Well maintained bike will start on what Ducati provides. If it can’t then there are issues elsewhere with the machine. Holding charges when it’s not in the bike. Who takes their battery out and lets it sit? You have a trickle charger so just plug it in. When there are battery issues posted here, which type of battery gets the most complaints by far.......lithium.

 

[DarR]

I can’t see a cost benefit ratio in a lithium battery. We’ve been down this road before. Yes they are light but in the scheme of things the weight saved is nothing compared the weight of the bike. More CCA? Well maintained bike will start on what Ducati provides. If it can’t then there are issues elsewhere with the machine. Holding charges when it’s not in the bike. Who takes their battery out and lets it sit? You have a trickle charger so just plug it in. When there are battery issues posted here, which type of battery gets the most complaints by far.......lithium.

From a practicality's point of view, I agree with you.
However, please keep in mind this is a Superbike thread not a Multistrada thread.
Cost differential is not a big issue as the guys here are trying to minimize weight any way they can.
A lithium battery has a high weight savings to cost ratio.

 

[xracer]

The battery has a huge weight to power ratio. It factors to fuck-all when you add the ratio to the bike. NONE of us would know the difference. But hey, if you want to spend the money on a perceived gain that’s fine.

 

[DarR]

The battery has a huge weight to power ratio. It factors to fuck-all when you add the ratio to the bike. NONE of us would know the difference. But hey, if you want to spend the money on a perceived gain that’s fine.

My OEM battery went dead only after two and a half seasons. I just decided to try something new that would hopefully last longer with a few extra perks thrown-in. Cranking Amperage may not be an issue in Oz but it sure is here in Canada. Cost was not that much more than the OEM. I'm just sharing un-biased facts, not opinions. No need to shoot the messenger.

 

[pjmirg]

The battery has a huge weight to power ratio. It factors to fuck-all when you add the ratio to the bike. NONE of us would know the difference. But hey, if you want to spend the money on a perceived gain that’s fine.

These batteries alone may not make a huge difference, but when you think of the lengths and costs people go to to save weight on other parts I think the lithium batteries are well worth using. It really depends on the application.

 

[smadden]

"Simplify, then add lightness", Colin Chapman

 

[DarR]

Only trying to make it work because it seems like I'm stuck with it.
Sent them several emails concerning the issues and setting up a return it and they've stopped responding.
Another guy on the Panigale forum said he had no issues.
Might just have to chalk it up as a loss.

Other that the short cable issue for fitment, I have no problems whatsoever. Bike starts immediately without even turning-over a few times and this in very cold weather. There's no reason for them not to provide you with a replacement if the unit was defective.
Call Jacob at Antigravity. He seems rather receptive when I shared my installation issue.
Phone: (310) 527-2330
[email protected]

 

[mito_gp]

Other that the short cable issue for fitment, I have no problems whatsoever. Bike starts immediately without even turning-over a few times and this in very cold weather. There's no reason for them not to provide you with a replacement if the unit was defective.
Call Jacob at Antigravity. He seems rather receptive when I shared my installation issue.
Phone: (310) 527-2330
[email protected]

Crazy that this thread turned into a Lithium vs Lead-Acid debate...but I digress.

They finally sent me an email will forms to return it.

BTW, I had the same exact issue with the install. Had to remove the rubber insert from the battery box, and the cables needed a bit of convincing to fit.

I still don't know what the issue is though. My VR checks out fine. Battery seemed okay according to the Optimate 291 (although I'm not sure it account for faults that would occur during actual usage).
I put my multimeter on the battery while the bike was idling and waited for the error light on the dash to come on. The error seems to be caused by a small voltage spike that would occur, then eventually go away after a minute or so and the warning lights would go out.

 

[twincamspecial]

"Simplify, then add lightness", Colin Chapman

I’ll take 20 less pounds before I’d buy 20 more horsepower 😉

 

[davy.j]

Adding power makes you faster in the straights..
Adding lightness makes you faster everywhere...Colin Chapman.

 

[Bushyeyed1]

I will play devils advocate. So far I have not had any issues with lithium batteries on any of my motorcycles I have owned. The benefit you can gain from a lithium battery is longevity; in both static charge and life of battery, also weight reduction, and lastly they are quite a bit smaller so you can tuck it away if you want. I have had issues with brand new batteries lead acid and AGM as well so it wouldn’t surprise me if someone was to purchase a lithium battery the was brand new and bad. I will say I also will use a slow trickle charger to fully charge any battery before I use it. I guess another benefit is I don’t have to plug my bike into a trickle charger with a lithium like I normally do with a lead acid. The lithium’s hold there charge really well. I have heard that if they are discharged though it’s hard to bring them back.

 

[davy.j]

I've had three Antigravity 4 cell batteries die because they were discharged.
I now use a brand that cuts out to save it'self if allowed to discharge too far.
As far as cost benefits, I've had a Shorai in the 853 for over 11 years now and the same in the Mito for 9 years.
No charger ever required either.
How's that for cost efficiency?