Looking for Battery recommendations & sources to order from?

[jcthorne]

From the Yuasa website:

YTX24HL - Yuasa Battery, Inc.

Check out the reliable, high-quality YTX24HL Battery. When you need power, you need Yuasa Battery. Find a local dealer today!

www.yuasabatteries.com

YTX24HL - 21 amp hr, 350 CCA - recommended for 998cc Spyder (GS) 2008-2010

YTX24HL-BS - Yuasa Battery, Inc.

Check out the reliable, high-quality YTX24HL-BS Battery. When you need power, you need Yuasa Battery. Find a local dealer today!

www.yuasabatteries.com

YTX24HL-BS - 21 amp hr, 350 cca - recommended for 998 cc Spyder (RS) 2008-2016, and for 1330cc Spyder (RT,F3) 2014-2022

This does NOT agree with BRP's recommendations. The BS CAN work but its dependent on the installer doing the proper initialization. Which rarely happens.

 

[jcthorne]

The trouble is the initialization charge is very specific. Failure to do so or not doing it at all will lead to a very short battery life. The Spyder charging system WILL NOT initialize a new battery correctly. IF its all done correctly, the BS battery is fine. But most dealers and indeed most mechanics do not. This was BRPs reason for the tech service bulletin directing to use factory activated batteries only.

Why not just order the factory activated one that BRP recommends. They are almost the same price and then you know it was done correctly and the battery can be installed right out of the box.

 

[Mikey]

It's not that big a deal to follow the set up instructions! Don't install till you fully charge it up. How hard is that?

 

[ARtraveler]

Lamonster Garage. I got two day service on mine the last time.

 

[ned64]

It's not that big a deal to follow the set up instructions! Don't install till you fully charge it up. How hard is that?

After installing the battery, go on a nice long ride to keep a nice charge going into the new battery. Don't just run down to the store and back. That might not fully recharge it all the way back up. just my thought.

 

[Peter Aawen]

After installing the battery, go on a nice long ride to keep a nice charge going into the new battery. Don't just run down to the store and back. That might not fully recharge it all the way back up. just my thought.

That's going to be sorta 'OK', IF & only IF your battery has been properly initialised and fully charged BEFORE it was installed!! If it hasn't, your new battery won't last as long as it could!

This is because, while the alternator on 2013+ 1330 powered Spyder's is very good, like all other alternators, it isn't really designed to, nor does it really have the capacity to 'FULLY Charge' any battery! They might get close, but they are designed to run the auto electricals once started and to re-charge the battery back to it's state of charge before the start load was applied - or if you prefer, they'll only maintain the battery's charge while keeping the engine running and hopefully, continuing to supply all the other electrical needs of your vehicle! So as they get your battery closer to a 'real full charge', then as per their design and intended function, the charge voltage tapers off and the alternator will effectively stop charging the battery some time before it gets to full charge, even tho the alternator will (hopefully) still keep providing sufficient power to run everything else/all those power hungry computers plus any extra accessories you've since added. All of which means that if you don't fully charge your new battery before installation, it's never going to get as good or as full of a charge from your alternator as it'd get off a proper dedicated auto battery charger.

So if you don't do/follow the 'initialisation instructions' properly &/or the 'pre-installation charge' doesn't ever get done properly (ie. NOT by an engine driven alternator!) then your newly installed battery is very unlikely to last as long as it potentially could if only you'd bothered to make sure all that 'pre-installation' stuff was done properly before you put it in!

But then, it is your money, your Spyder, & your battery; so I guess that if making the effort to ensure your new battery is truly & properly prepared before installation is juuuust too much effort, and you like tossing money away, risking being stuck by the side of the road somewhere with a dead battery, &/or changing batteries as/when they fail earlier than they really needed to, then I'm OK with that - I don't understand it, but..

 

[Gwolf]

I just replace the OEM battery on all the vehicles and equipment I own or work on, with batteries from local sources. Had NAPA and other known brand names replace whatever died. I just make sure the CCA is as good or better than the OEM battery, and it is the same type / physical size. There is a wholesale battery outlet in a town about 20 miles from me that handles the batteries of a large statewide distributor in Tampa, and another outlet in the same town, that is retail, but they have a nice selection of batteries, for almost anything, in stock. Either place can get you what you want, if it is not sitting on the shelf when you walk in the door. Either place will tell you if what you want is in stock on the phone before you make the trip or send somebody there. They take in the cores and credit you for them.

As with almost anything I work on and put some new parts on, the new part should be as good as the OEM part (or better) and it does not matter to me what name is on the new part, or who sells it. Some things require parts from the original builder of the vehicle or equipment, but many of the parts, hardware, wiring, batteries, and other items are furnished to the manufacturer by outside sources.

 

[ned64]

That's going to be sorta 'OK', IF & only IF your battery has been properly initialised and fully charged BEFORE it was installed!! If it hasn't, your new battery won't last as long as it could!

This is because, while the alternator on 2013+ 1330 powered Spyder's is very good, like all other alternators, it isn't really designed to, nor does it really have the capacity to 'FULLY Charge' any battery! They might get close, but they are designed to run the auto electricals once started and to re-charge the battery back to it's state of charge before the start load was applied - or if you prefer, they'll only maintain the battery's charge while keeping the engine running and hopefully, continuing to supply all the other electrical needs of your vehicle! So as they get your battery closer to a 'real full charge', then as per their design and intended function, the charge voltage tapers off and the alternator will effectively stop charging the battery some time before it gets to full charge, even tho the alternator will (hopefully) still keep providing sufficient power to run everything else/all those power hungry computers plus any extra accessories you've since added. All of which means that if you don't fully charge your new battery before installation, it's never going to get as good or as full of a charge from your alternator as it'd get off a proper dedicated auto battery charger.

So if you don't do follow the 'initialisation instructions' properly &/or the 'pre-installation charge' doesn't ever get done properly (ie. NOT by an engine driven alternator!) then your newly installed battery is very unlikely to last as long as it potentially could if only you'd bothered to make sure all that 'pre-installation' stuff was done properly before you put it in!

But then, it is your money, your Spyder, & your battery; so I guess that if making the effort to ensure your new battery is truly & properly prepared before installation is juuuust too much effort, and you like tossing money away, risking being stuck by the side of the road somewhere with a dead battery, &/or changing batteries as/when they fail earlier than they really needed to, then I'm OK with that - I don't understand it, but..

So I didn't put all of my earlier post in the post your referring to. I've done this twice to Yuasa BS batteries. Never had a problem with them - the first one was 6yrs old when I sold my motorcycle still working. Didn't put on a battery maintainer or what ever you want to call it - Deltran? Next Yuasa BS battery in my Spyder, I did like the instructions said. No problems with it yet. I don't see where I will have any either. I use a maintainer on it because I don't ride as much as I used to.
So what I was relating to in that post was that after you do as the instructions say to the Yuasa BS battery and you put it in your Spyder, I don't just ride a few blocks and turn it off, then start it and ride just a short few blocks, turn it off, and then start it and bring it home and park it. We know that Spyders use a lot of battery starting. So I was saying to take it for a good ride to help make it fill the charge back up. Maybe you can't ever get a battery back to a full charge riding a Spyder. Hell, I don't know, I'm not a professional mechanic, I'm just going by what I know from personal use. Rant over. I wont post anything more about things I don't know about.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Ned, my post wasn't specifically having a dig at YOU, I was simply expanding upon your post and adding some info that I believed others might find useful, especially if they thought that putting a 'not prepared/charged properly' into their Spyder and going off on a nice long ride might negate the need for doing that initial charge properly - the point is that it doesn't really matter HOW long your first ride might be, an 'alternator' won't/can't really charge a new battery 'fully', and doing that 'long ride' instead of making sure your new battery is charged properly before installation is very likely going to reduce the potential life of that battery...

I'm sorry if you took offence at my post, that was not my intention.

 

[jcthorne]

It's not that big a deal to follow the set up instructions! Don't install till you fully charge it up. How hard is that?

It's not a simple charge it up and install. It's a specific amperage for a specific period of time and then held in that state of charge at a specific voltage for a period of time to condition the cells. There are battery chargers available that have the cycle built in, but most do not.

After installing the battery, go on a nice long ride to keep a nice charge going into the new battery. Don't just run down to the store and back. That might not fully recharge it all the way back up. just my thought.

That will NOT correctly initialize a dry shipped battery. And indeed will lead to a very short life span.

 

[Mikey]

It's not a simple charge it up and install. It's a specific amperage for a specific period of time and then held in that state of charge at a specific voltage for a period of time to condition the cells. There are battery chargers available that have the cycle built in, but most do not.


That will NOT correctly initialize a dry shipped battery. And indeed will lead to a very short life span.

Well, it's worked for me several time!

 

[Peter Aawen]

Well, it's worked for me several times!

Yeah, I dunno why but it's true, some people will just get lucky every now and then, or possibly more often...

Although it's also quite likely that at least some of those ^ simply haven't realised or will never know how much better life they COULD be getting from their batteries, if only they'd followed the proper initialisation and pre-installation instructions!

Just Sayin'

 

[ned64]

Well, it's worked for me several time!

Mikey, you had good luck with your batteries you set up like instructions said. I did as the instructions said, then put in my motorcycle. Didn't use any tenders. It lasted 6 yrs and probaly more after I sold motorcycle. Some people on here buy a new battery at 4 yrs just to be safe. But new batteries can go be dead on arrival or not last a yr. I don't care what others do. I know what has worked for me. My 1 cent worth of backyard knowledge. No one needs to pay any attention to way I do things. Do as others say your spose to do. I'm done ranting, no more from me.

 

[Mazo EMS2]

Wow, thanks everyone... sorry I haven't been on to check all your replies. I think I'll go with the Yuasa BS. I've used deactivated batteries in the past with no issues. And with riding season still a month away, I have the time to setup the BS the right way.
Thanks everyone!!
FYI, still snowing here in southern WI, Snowing again today in fact, but there is sunshine and warm 60's on the way for a couple days. Gonna be tough to resist going for a spin...

 

[Little Blue]

Wow, thanks everyone... sorry I haven't been on to check all your replies. I think I'll go with the Yuasa BS. I've used deactivated batteries in the past with no issues. And with riding season still a month away, I have the time to setup the BS the right way.
Thanks everyone!!
FYI, still snowing here in southern WI, Snowing again today in fact, but there is sunshine and warm 60's on the way for a couple days. Gonna be tough to resist going for a spin...

Yes, 'Spyder Life' is always about the Battery. Make sure you do your homework and get it done right .

 

[Mikey]

Mikey, you had good luck with your batteries you set up like instructions said. I did as the instructions said, then put in my motorcycle. Didn't use any tenders. It lasted 6 yrs and probaly more after I sold motorcycle. Some people on here buy a new battery at 4 yrs just to be safe. But new batteries can go be dead on arrival or not last a yr. I don't care what others do. I know what has worked for me. My 1 cent worth of backyard knowledge. No one needs to pay any attention to way I do things. Do as others say your spose to do. I'm done ranting, no more from me.

I totally agree with you!! If I had a choice I would rather go home and set up my own battery, than wonder how long has this battery been sitting on the shelf collecting dust! When I have the choice and I'm not in a hurry, that's what I do!

 

[baxter]

Go to battery Plus....

 

[racoon]

When I stupidly left the key turned on and killed the OEM battery in my 2024 Spyder, I bought a replacement from the local Batteries Plus.
I ordered it online, so they had activated it by the time I picked it up. After installing it in my Spyder, I hooked it up to my Battery Tender Jr and was good to go the next day.

Their website also has a "Finder tool" to search for batteries. You enter information about your motorcycle and it recommends several batteries. The only odd thing was that after telling it I had a Can Am Sea 2 Sky, it only showed year choices of 2021 and 2022. The 2022 has the same 1330 cc engine, so that's what I chose.

 

[Mikey]

When I stupidly left the key turned on and killed the OEM battery in my 2024 Spyder, I bought a replacement from the local Batteries Plus.
I ordered it online, so they had activated it by the time I picked it up. After installing it in my Spyder, I hooked it up to my Battery Tender Jr and was good to go the next day.

Their website also has a "Finder tool" to search for batteries. You enter information about your motorcycle and it recommends several batteries. The only odd thing was that after telling it I had a Can Am Sea 2 Sky, it only showed year choices of 2021 and 2022. The 2022 has the same 1330 cc engine, so that's what I chose.

I would say their website's not up to date. Or they have made some big changes under the hood of the new models that has them worried about what they supply on their shelf. Hard telling not knowing!

 

[racoon]

I would say their website's not up to date. Or they have made some big changes under the hood of the new models that has them worried about what they supply on their shelf. Hard telling not knowing!

I agree that they need to update the database that feeds their website.