Hitchcocks Forum

Lithium batteries are they worth the extra expense?

Have you considered AGM type battery?

Wisdom suggests that whilst twice the price of lead acid they hold charge when stored unused better.

I have them on two vintage bikes and a stupidly fast Ducati and they have proven fit and forget.

rusky, my fav. feature of a battery 'fit and forget'

Hi Guys----------AGM = Absorbent Glass Mat.......You'll need a "Float" type charger.......This might help understand}-------- http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/arti ... ss_mat_agm

A 6 volt AGM battery for a Honda 50 Mini trail costs $19 here, about the size of a cigarette packet, which I think is very reasonable.

The main advantages of lithium batteries are small size, low weight, good cranking amps and that they can be mounted in any orientation. On an Enfield? Hardly worth the cost, especially when a decent AGM battery (fit and forget) such as a Motobatt is a lot cheaper and can be charged with an Optimate 4. The Motobatt has terminals on both sides, which is handy, and has cranking amps significantly higher than the rubbish standard wet battery. Also, with both Lithium and AGM types there is no risk of corrosion through electrolyte leakage and therefore need no overflow tube. For my money wet cell
batteries are history, but I’d only put a lithium battery on a special where weight and battery location matter.

thanx all, i always get great help at this site...good guys!

a friend of mine had one catch fire ,,,,, just saying

Yes, I have a small model aeroplane powered by a lithium polymer battery. The manual for the battery is thicker than the one for the model and has all sorts of dos and don’ts about the risk of the battery catching fire through overheating. Whilst lithium batteries for bikes are not lithium polymer I do wonder about this, particularly when the reg/rectifier packs up and the battery is overcharged. Not saying it’s a high risk, just wondering if lithium batteries need a more sophisticated and stable charging system than that on an Enfield.

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Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries for bikes have their own charging circuitry, just smack some power down it, (older charger NOT a desulphating one, solar controller, )

Yes, they cost a bit ut having had three RE's fitted with them, never had a problem and very useful as Tornado, my bullet comes to military shows for 3-4 days at a time, and the USB charger I fitted (with switch) is very useful to recharge the iPhone in between shooting movies and photos!