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Lithium battery for R1200GS?
Leigh Anderson
Bettie's battery conked out and I'm thinking of replacing it with a lithium. That would be advantageous since I now can no longer keep the bike on battery tender, and the lithium should hold charge longer between rides.

Does anybody have experience with lithium replacements in R1200GS (2015)? Is it a simple drop in? Does it require any electrical adjustments other than physical swap out?
Terry Shinn
Quoted Text
Bettie's battery conked out and I'm thinking of replacing it with a lithium. That would be advantageous since I now can no longer keep the bike on battery tender, and the lithium should hold charge longer between rides.

Does anybody have experience with lithium replacements in R1200GS (2015)? Is it a simple drop in? Does it require any electrical adjustments other than physical swap out?

I put a Shorai LFX21A6-BS12 in my 2013 R1200GSA back in 2015 with easy installation. Shorai includes multiple foam spacers to fit the battery box. I did remove the OEM spacer as the Shorai is a little taller then the OEM. No other modifications were required.

I purchased the Shorai battery tender a year or so ago, but don't use it much as the store mode seems to reduce the voltage making starting a little more strained than if I just let it sit.

The lithium needs to "wake up" in cold weather usually taking a couple of attempts to turn it over before it has enough punch to start the bike. This seems more pronounced after 3 years of service and I'm wondering how much longer I can expect it to last. I usually replace the AGM batteries after a couple of years.

https://shoraipower.com/battery?type=175&make=381338&model=381366&year=381366
Philip Spain
Hi Leigh. While I don't use a lithium battery in my BMW, I have had one in my Ducati for years. It's never on a charger, sometimes it's months between starts, and I've had no problems. Mine is smaller (and lighter) than the stock battery, and it came with heavy duty foam to put around the battery to fill extra space. I read that cold weather climates have less luck with them.
Lingo Chang
I have now 6 Shorai batteries, the oldest one of which is 6+yrs old, has been in 3 different bikes, still holds a good charge and tests strong on my battery load tester.  They don't have as high an internal resistance as lead-acid batteries, so they don't tend to self-discharge as quickly, but... most motorcycles these days have some parasitic load even when the bike is turned off, so that will drain the battery eventually.  If you don't ride for more than a couple of weeks, it is still a good idea to hook up a maintenance charger.  Just make sure your charger does not have an automatic desulphating mode, which goes over 14.4V (Shorai batts don't like that).

The Shorai charger isn't absolutely necessary but it is good to balance the cell periodically for best life and performance.  The "STORAGE" should only be used if you plan to put the bike into long term storage and disconnect the battery for, say, 6 months.  It drops the charge level down to 60% IIRC, which according to Shorai is the best condition at which to store their batts long term.  I never use the "STORAGE" mode because I ride year around.

The cold start issue mostly affects folks who live up in the frozen north.  I've never had problem starting any of my bikes, even down to high 20F's, which is about as cold as it gets around Houston.  Any colder than that, I'd be more worried about the tires working well.

If Shorai has more than one recommendations for your GS, go with the higher capacity one.  Typically they are exactly the same form factor, just a tiny bit heavier and cost a few clams more.  Well worth the extra CCA oomph and Ah reserve capacity.

Leigh Anderson
Thanks to all the advice. I think there will be a lithium battery in Santa's bag this Christmas.
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