Hitchcocks Forum

Afternoon!

I'd like to upgrade my 1991, Royal Enfield Classic 350cc to have a gel battery.

I am wondering if its possible to fit a larger battery box such as part number '141737A' (it comments being only compatible on later enfields)

Then of course I imagine the bigger size means I can just swap in a gel battery.

If anyone has done this I'd be interested to know how you have done it...

I didn't



I have been the proud owner of three RE.s now. All were fitted with them lithium ion batteries. Cost a lot, but never a problem and they are smaller too. No acid to leak or gel out or whatever.

Gel batteries work if you habitually put the bike into abnormal attitudes like upside down at the bottom of a clay pit, hanging from a tree or submerged in a pond. Been there, seen that, marshalling trials. However gels are less efficient than wets.


As Scalyback says you can use lithium as a maintenance-free alternative but they have a couple of drawbacks. Lithium cells are 3.7 Volts each which means we cannot get a proper 12V battery out of them, 11.1V or 14.8V (lead acid are 13.6V fully charged). A supply of 11V may confuse some electronics on the bike, if you have any (they tend to conk out about

I've had good results from absorbent glass mat batteries.

Agreed Pete - no problems in the 'real world' with gel batteries. Why do simple things have to get SO complicated!?

I have an absorbent glass mat battery fitted to the Electra X (ish. It is 15amp hours, and 230 cranking amps.
However it is a VERY tight fit on the bike, and I had to use the side position on the terminals and insulate the positive terminal from touching the frame. (It is an aftermarket battery specified for 1600cc Hardly Dangerous, which is probably why it starts the Electra first touch on the button.

I use an alarm battery from RS Components about £13 free next day delivery, 12v 5AH, my bike is a 500 kickstart only and does the job just fine.

Ok so the concesus is no point in upgrading to a gel battery unless I decide to transverse the sahara?!

Lithum ion great but has its downsides. Absorant glass mat or alarm battery are other options.

Its just im on my second battey as I have neglected to charge it up and left it standing. Should I take it in every time and trickle charge it? Are other batteries better for this?

Hi FunkyO - get yourself a battery optimiser.
Just put it on your battery everytime you leave it in the shed, I think they're designed to make the battery work like it would on the bike as it's running - draining & charging etc all the ime.
I've had one on my Kawa W650 for years & have had one fitted to our Effie for over 3 months - Never a flat battery again!
Goos luck!

Agree with Gaz, the Optimate 4 is the best accessary i've ever bought..
It costs money but it saves you money, and has kept Ernies battery in good nick for the last six years.

In fact its the same battery that came with the bike so it could be original 2002 fitment.

Just checked the electrolyte level as the bike hasn't moved since September, all was well..

Just need to flush the crappy fuel through the filter and check pilot and i bet he will start on the button...


http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performan ... ry-charger