Motorcycle Batteries
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August 26, 2021
The big V-twin bikes always seem to have battery complaints ranging from not enough power to premature and sudden battery death. Lithium batteries were supposed to solve the lack of power concerns. However, they have been found wanting due to high failure rates and inflated prices. But, after nearly 2 years of IMPACT real-world testing, we believe we found the best Harley Davidson battery. If you’re in the market for a new motorcycle battery, you need to read this article.
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August 18, 2021
BMW Motorcycle Battery Complaints and How to Fix It
There are three major battery complaints we have identified (and now fully resolved) for BMW motorcycle owners. The issues and resource guide described below may help you better address the question of “why does my BMW motorcycle battery keep dying?”
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July 03, 2021
The Evolution of Motorcycle Batteries
The 1920’s thru the 90’s offered various forms of conventional or high-output lead acid motorcycle batteries. Then came the mighty Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery of the 2000’s. Followed closely by the much hyped, end-all-be-all lithium motorcycle battery that, in our opinion, fell flat on its face despite the numerous brand variations and subsequent re-launches. Now we are told of MotoBatt Hybrid containing both AGM and lithium chemistries. So, it begs to be asked,
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June 12, 2021
During the 1st quarter of 2021 MotoBatt will begin to transition away from the QuadFlex battery terminal design. The current terminal design was first introduced in 2010 and will still be used for some part numbers. The affected models with this new terminal configuration include the MBTX9U, MBTX12U, MBTX16U, MBTZ10S, MBTZ14S and MBYZ16HD.
They will change from “C” shaped Quadflex terminal to a fixed terminal on all 4 sides of the battery. Each battery will have 1 set of Block Nut, 1 set of Screws and 2 sets of red and black caps on the terminal.
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August 12, 2017
The Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle series has a rich tradition spanning four decades. We thought it would be interesting to highlight how the Vulcan battery has changed with the bike as we explore the history of this iconic name. Continue reading to learn something about these Kawasaki bikes or to discover which battery you should buy next. Each Vulcan series is listed in order of when it was first introduced.
1985 to 2006 Vulcan 750 Series
It all started in 1984/85 when Kawasaki launched the Vulcan VN700A as its first cruiser sold worldwide. To avoid American tariffs placed on Japanese motorcycles over 700cc Kawasaki actually introduced this bike as a 699cc. The tariff was lifted in 1986 and they increased the engine capacity to 750cc. The Kawasaki VN750 remained virtually unchanged throughout its 22-year production run.
The original battery was the Yuasa YB14L-A2 conventional style lead acid with the annoying acid drip tube. If you are tired of dealing with acid you can always upgrade to a sealed AGM by Moto Classic (YTX14AHL), East Penn Deka (ETX15L) or MotoBatt (MBTX14AU).
1985 to 1990 Vulcan 400 Series
There were two series versions to the Vulcan 400 bikes. The first series was a belt driven liquid-cooled twin engine. The second series used a V-twin chain driven system produced in both the Classic and Drifter variations. The EN450 known better as the 454 LTD is considered by some as the forerunner to the Kawasaki Vulcan.
Interestingly enough the VN400 Vulcan motorcycle does not appear in the Yuasa battery application catalogue. From what we can determine from a national sales store it may use the YTX12-BS battery. That battery originally boasted 10Ah and 180CCA.
The Kawasaki 454 LTD called for the YB12A-A conventional battery. It is a 12Ah 165CCA battery.
1990 to 2010 Vulcan 500 Series
The Vulcan 500 had a 20 year production run. It was the successor to the 454 LTD and boasted an engine nearly identical to the Kawasaki Ninja 500R. The 500 series had two production runs. The EN500-A was produced between 1990 and 1996. The EN500-C or perhaps better known as the Vulcan 500 LTD ran from 1996 thru 2010.
Like many bike manufactures, Kawasaki thought it necessary to tweak the battery polarity between production runs. Yep, instead of leaving the polarity as a left side positive they flipped to left side negative for the 500 LTD. The EN500-A uses the YB12A-A. The EN500-C uses the YB12AL-A2. Of course you can avoid worrying about polarity and leaking acid altogether by purchasing MotoBatt’s MB12U sealed AGM. It was four terminals guaranteeing the correct polarity.
1987 to 2008 Vulcan 1500 series
The Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 was a beast of a machine when first introduced in 1987. The 1500 series had a 22 year production run spanning several versions. To read more about the 1500 check out MotorcycleCruiser.com and their article titled Big Twin Rumble: Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic.
To help simplify what battery you need for your Vulcan 1500 we have created the chart below.
VN1500 Vulcan 88, SE 1987 - 1998 Y50-N18L-A VN1500-C -
February 22, 2017
I have to admit, I have been very hesitant to write this article and have delayed doing so for several years. My deferment in writing was essentially a giant rationalization to ‘protect’ this motorcycle battery brand (and I guess us as well) from unnecessary blow-back. Compromising thoughts like “it’s not really hurting anyone since the battery is actually pretty good” or “it’s not my place to shake the apple cart” or “so many high profile racing teams use their batteries so that has to speak for something” kept me from raising my concern sooner. In all honesty, what we are about to share regarding this certain battery brand may impact our sales negatively and sour our relationship with the manufacturer. Nonetheless, we feel the questions raised have not been satisfactorily answered. Believe me when I tell you, it is not easy sticking your neck out. Frankly, it is down right uncomfortable. But I refuse to be beholden to the allure
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December 27, 2016
Polaris Industries has a rich history of manufacturing powersport vehicles and now military, commercial and industrial vehicles via their purchase of Taylor-Dunn. It was 1945, during the height of World War II when two brothers, Edgar and Allen Hetteen along with their good friend David Johnson formed Hetteen Hoist & Derrick. Fast forward to 1955, in tiny Roseau Minnesota, the trio took their skill at repairing farm machinery and created a motorized winter vehicle that helped them haul gear to remote isolated customers stranded by deep drifting snow. History now refers to these men as the fathers of the snowmobile.
Corporate Overview
As a fledgling industry, snowmobile makers in the 1960’s and early 70’s were filled with excitement and expectation. The late 1970’s and 1980’s were filled with tumult as the snowmobile industry suffered from extreme competition followed by a sudden and dramatic decrease in sales. In 1968, during the height of enthusiasm,
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November 26, 2016
We get asked this question a lot. I wish it were as simple as some of the pundits seem to imply with their Top 10 Best Lists. But perhaps the question would be better asked this way, “What is the best motorcycle battery for me and my situation?” I think that is really what the consumer wants to know.
I believe this form of the question to be better and the most appropriate based on two thoughts. As I recall conversations with our customers, I often hear the question disguised and asked this way, “If you were me, which battery would you buy?” They obviously value my opinion and want to trust my judgment and knowledge concerning the selected options. But they are also asking me to weigh in the balance their current financial standing, what others with similar machines have purchased and their previous experience with batteries. Sometimes there is more to the story than knowing the name on a product, the price on a sticker or reported Cold Cranking Amps (CCA). What’s perfect for one
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October 15, 2016
How do you complete a warranty for a motorcycle battery purchased over the internet? Two humorous thoughts stand out as to why it would be highly inconvenient and next to impossible to ride your motorcycle over and let us look at it. A) Apparently the battery is not working. B) You may not be able to get the 6 days off work, nor have the funds to ride 2200 miles from California to Kentucky. But don’t you worry, we have come up with a series of questions and tests that allow us to evaluate and process your motorcycle battery for warranty despite the distance between us.
This is part three of a three part segment on motorcycle battery testing and warranties. Consider reading segment #1 on the importance of testing as well as the
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October 14, 2016
Warranties can be the bane of consumers and merchants alike, especially motorcycle battery warranties. For the merchant or manufacturer it is a necessary evil that requires time and resources for seemingly no commercial gain—looking only from the vantage point of the warranted transaction. The consumer dreads the idea of having to prove the case, possibly being transferred to multiple people, having to send the item back for inspection and then on top of all that pay for shipping both ways! There are horror stories of companies reneging on their obligation to replace or repair defective merchandise. Or they make the process so cumbersome and time consuming people just give up. But there are also consumers that expect the world to bow at their every demand, have outlandish expectations or are the undisputed battery expert with zero years’ experience. Of course these examples are the extreme and not the rule. So what can merchants and consumers do to meet somewhere in the middle?