Shorai LFX Motorcycle BatteryShorai Motorcycle Battery ReviewShorai batteries are not just around 75-percent lighter than stock – giving a typical weight savings of about six pounds – they are also far more efficient and will hold a charge for at least a year.
Further, the Shorai military-spec carbon composite case is sealed, and the battery is claimed to be environmentally friendly.A lot of lithium-type replacement batteries use cylindrical cells, originally intended for low-power tools and the like. However, Shorai, which is Japanese for “future,” has developed its own eXtreme-Rate Lithium Iron prismatic cells (not to be confused with lithium-ion batteries) that deliver more energy faster, with less weight, and less wear on the battery.From the vehicle’s perspective, Shorai LFX batteries present the same as lead-acid and do not affect a vehicle’s charging system. They have the same charge requirements, and do not change the performance or load on any components.On the plus side, due to its lower impedance, the LFX will recharge faster, so it actually works as well – or better – when running accessories such as heated clothing or extra lights.Unlike conventional lead-acid, lithium iron phosphate batteries don’t sulfate; if you ride only once a month, there is no need to attach a trickle charger. However, because modern street bikes typically have clocks and computers that use a little power even with the key off, if you leave the bike standing for long periods then the battery will need one occasional quick charge to top it up. Motorcycles, such as a loaded Honda Gold Wing, with high-draw aftermarket theft alarms and other accessories, need to be continuously attached to a trickle charger.For proper care of their batteries, Shorai offers a Charge/Store Dedicated Battery Management System unit. We highly recommend this accessory, as lead-acid tenders do not maintain adequate voltage. Standard chargers will work, but they should only be attached for a few hours and then disconnected.The only downside is price, as a Shorai LFX battery is roughly $50 more expensive than a stock replacement, though it does come with a three-year warranty. When the inevitable happens and your OEM battery dies, a Shorai LFX battery is an excellent choice.For additional information, including prices for various applications, log onto Shorai’s website.
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, the weekly podcast brought to you by Ultimate Motorcycling. My name is Arthur Coldwells.
Motos and Friends is brought to you by the awesome Yamaha YZF-R7. The R7 is an amazing supersport machine that is comfortable too! Check out the YZF-R7 at your local Yamaha dealer, or of course at YamahaMotorsports.com.
In this week’s first segment, Senior Editor Nic de Sena goes to the Yamaha MT-10 launch. I have to say, the R1-derived MT-10 is one of my all time favorite street bikes. It’s the perfect balance of instant, usable power, crammed into an agile yet stable chassis. All that is built into an incredibly easy-to-ride package. And I’m not even going to mention it’s ability to wheelie… The latest MT-10 has had some upgrades, so I’m very curious to hear what Nic thinks.
For our second segment this week I chat with Paul Jayson—aka The Motorcycle Broker. Paul has been restoring, collecting, and selling investment grade motorcycles and cars for several decades, and his knowledge and passion for the art of motorcycling seems pretty much unrivaled.
Paul’s quest for total authenticity and insistence on a breathtaking level of detail is incredible. Actually, one of his restorations—a classic MV Agusta—won recently at Salon Privé.
Paul’s take on how the motorcycle market developed globally, and where it’s going, I found fascinating. You can visit Paul’s website at TheMotorcycleBroker.co.uk.
From all of here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!