Shorai Battery

I am looking at replacing the battery on my 1981 KZ750 LTD with a battery from Shorai .

Just wanting input from experienced electrical gurus that this will not be a problem:

"Shorai Batteries require a charging system output of 13.1 Volts or higher at idle, and must not exceed 15.2 volts at maximum output."

Don't bother with the Shorai they don't last long and when the do go they give no warning just like flicking a switch.
Mine lasted 80 miles and suddenly died 8 miles from home and that was with an entirely new electrical / charging system.
I had bought the matching 2 amp charger too so that was an expensive waste of money.
The supplier refunded me no questions asked though and just told me to chuck it in the bin so that's saying something.
I replaced it with a Fulbat SLA which has done fine for the past few years and hasn't left me stranded 8 miles from home pushing the bike in full leathers on the hottest day of the year.

I don't know about the kz but I have experienced great success with my ZRX battery. It's awesome, haven't ever had to recharge it, haven't had to take it out of the cold. I have had it in my bike for a very long time already. Going on 7 years or more already. I bought one for my kz but to be honest I was told the charging system isn't steady and that might destroy the battery in quick order. Hard to say.
I have experienced good success with the fiberglass mat gel cel batteries. Had one for five years in my kz whereas the others that I have used including Yuasa have died within three years and this is taking them out from the cold during the winter months. When I was riding my rex I put over 30 thousand miles on with same battery so there's that.
edit: also all of my batteries have gone with no warning . So, that is not just a shorai problem.

I have tired using many different brands of lithium batteries in my race bikes to save a few pounds. My results have been mixed and I have not used shorai . Overall lithium batteries are a pain and cost to much money to justify using them. I have to switched glass matt batteries. One big issue with lithium batteries is they hate cold.

I used a lithium battery for a few years without issue, but you should really check your charging system with a multimeter first.

I also have a 1981 KZ750 LTD, and the charge voltage is determined by the accessories circuit - lower voltage on the accessories means a higher charge voltage to compensate. The issue is that when you turn on the headlights the accessories circuit drops in voltage, and the battery can start overcharging - it was getting over 15V for me.

Using relays for the headlight circuit has fixed this problem and I used the lithium battery for a while without issues. I can't comment on that battery in particular, but a lot of the issues people are worries about with lithium batteries ( charging, cold starting) really haven't been an issue.

Thanks for the info.
The reason I have looked into lithium batteries is only for the weight and size. Working on a build right now and size is an issue.
I haven't looked into the Fulbat batteries (assuming they're european...I'm in canada).

As far as the glass mat batteries go....can they be mounted at any angle like the lithium ones? Any brands that you suggest?

nixon wrote: Thanks for the info.
The reason I have looked into lithium batteries is only for the weight and size. Working on a build right now and size is an issue.
I haven't looked into the Fulbat batteries (assuming they're european...I'm in canada).

As far as the glass mat batteries go....can they be mounted at any angle like the lithium ones? Any brands that you suggest?

The Fulbat SLA was from germany and it's only 10mm taller than the Shorai so managed to get it in the same space.
It's sealed so safe to lay at any angle which is how i have mine ( on it's side).
I'm in the UK and just bought the Fulbat because of the price (only £27 delivered from germany) but i'm sure there are other makes more local to you that will do the job just as well.

I've had a 270 cca shorai in my KZ650 for a few years and never had an issue with it.

I posted and I think it was lost but yeah, gel cell doesn’t leak. No vents. Might be fine to mount sideways unlike acid batteries. Lithium is lightweight and gives you one pony at least maybe two extra hp and freeing up extra ponies is good, right? Two to three times the cost. If you have older charging system the fluctuations may not be like by lithium but there is a regulator rectifier that would work. Either way. Glass batteries are cheaper a little lighter than stock and last longer. Better bang for buck but if want to shed weight lithium is great as the others have said. Still in youth. Much to be gleaned from trial and error. The LTO batteries ( from reading on the Insight hybrid forum) are the way to go.