Inexpensive Original Battery

[dnktng]

$81 for a Yuasa YTZ14S battery. The ebay seller only sells this battery, and has a good reputation.
My original battery still sounds strong starting, but it will be 5 years old by this fall. So at this price, I bought one.

 

[Mellow]

He's a vendor on ST-Owners.com and many have had some great results.

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?122852-YUASA-YTZ14S-battery-sale-(for-ST1300)

 

[Coyote Chris]

Honda wants $170 for a stock battery?????
I asked the ebay guy what the code date of his/her batteries are...I think this winter my battery is spinning the engine a bit slow. What are the code dates of the OEM 2010 bikes normally reading?

 

[dnktng]

I asked the ebay guy what the code date of his/her batteries are...I think this winter my battery is spinning the engine a bit slow. What are the code dates of the OEM 2010 bikes normally reading?

I asked for the date code also and he didn't respond....then saw 200+ positive reviews of the same battery and figured that someone would have given a bad review if he was selling 3 year old batteries that sat on a shelf...and then his stock started getting low so I jumped. The $81 price is too tempting as I've been searching for a bargain for several months on a Yuasa. I know there are less expensive batteries, but a Yuasa is guaranteed to fit, and the original may make it 5 years. If the NT had a kick starter like a proper motorcycle I would have opted for a cheaper battery.

 

[Coyote Chris]

Good points all. From Mellow's link we might guess these same pulled bats are middle 2012 vintage but that is a guess from that thread. I do not know enough about sealed lead acid bats to guess what 2 years storage does to them for the long haul. Aftermarket bats are about $60 plus shipping...haven't looked much into this but I had bats on the brain when I saw the thread. One thing is for sure....a computerized fuel injected bike needs a good battery to start, I would think.

I asked for the date code also and he didn't respond....then saw 200+ positive reviews of the same battery and figured that someone would have given a bad review if he was selling 3 year old batteries that sat on a shelf...and then his stock started getting low so I jumped. The $81 price is too tempting as I've been searching for a bargain for several months on a Yuasa. I know there are less expensive batteries, but a Yuasa is guaranteed to fit, and the original may make it 5 years. If the NT had a kick starter like a proper motorcycle I would have opted for a cheaper battery.

 

[Warren]

Most of the $60 aftermarket batteries like the Scorpion are made in China. Some have had good luck with them and others have not. The Yuasa replacement battery I bought this winter is made in Japan which made me feel that somewhat justified the higher price.

 

[JQL]

snip... If the NT had a kick starter like a proper motorcycle I would have opted for a cheaper battery.

Kick start a 700 :noway: Get it wrong, just once, and you've got a broken leg!

 

[JQL]

Ah, should have mentioned that I've kicked big singles and although not gone over the bars, had some interesting experiences due to minor lapses in concentration .

 

[Coyote Chris]

Yeah, I know. I have an Everstart Maxx made in Taiwan that is dated 08 08 05 in my Connie. I cant remember when I put it in and I cant find my maintenance log entry for that ...I am usually better than that with records. I am going to replace it just because the sides seem to be caving in for some reason. I think I will put an analog voltmeter on my NT battery and hit the starter and see how far the voltage drops....

Most of the $60 aftermarket batteries like the Scorpion are made in China. Some have had good luck with them and others have not. The Yuasa replacement battery I bought this winter is made in Japan which made me feel that somewhat justified the higher price.

 

[john40]

Has anyone ever kick started a 60's Harley 74 ci? After doing it, I really don't know how a small man could ever start one. I'm sure they must have a technique, that I'm not aware of, to be able to start one.
John

 

[Miairhead]

Batteries like tires you wish you can always get the information on when it was made. Even at local dealer you have a hard time getting the date of manufacture. Batteries unlike tires do not have new models coming out every few years. I do believe in changing batteries, tires and helmets at time intervals, all have a 5 year life at best, in my world. Yep I have friends with 10 year old helmets, and batteries older the 5 years, and tires with on 4K in 8 years.
No one wants to be stranded, so I change wear items early if I plan a long trip early.

 

[Miairhead]

Last wet battery I purchased was for my Kubota, not use a not anything but agm in my motorcycles in years. I think you are correct you're adding the electrolyte so it becomes a battery when you add that. h

 

[JimTid]

Mine was 4 years old and I replaced it with the same Yuasa $155 from Rocky Mountain ATV, free shipping special.
I was probably a little early with the preventive maintenance replacement but feel very comfortable with the new proven performer battery

 

[Coyote Chris]

I agree with you. Little or no degredation during storage on the "U fill 'em" batteries. But the NT bat and its substututes are sealed, correct?

The $36 battery I bought off eBay had the electrolyte packaged separately and I had to fill the battery. So I assume it doesn't matter too much just when the battery was manufactured, with regard to it being "fresh enough".

 

[Coyote Chris]

Yeah, I saw one NT replacement generic bat on ebay...40 bucks delivered...wish Everstart made a replacement...don't see one on the web. .

I assume they are. I should have been more clear in my original post. I wasn't meaning to say this fill it yourself one that I bought would be a direct replacement for the NT, ( mine was a 12-something model#) but he does have the same battery # in stock mentioned in the original post. I didn't post the sellers info out of respect for the seller that Mellow mentioned that advertises on the ST forum. Time will tell if it's really a good deal, but the bike I put it in is not my daily commuter, just one I take short hops on and play around with. But the battery numbers and sizes the seller had were exact to Yuasa numbers and physical sizes so I felt for $36 including shipping, I'd give it a try. Im sure like everything else, it's a Chinese copy of a Yuasa and I understand if someone feels it's too risky to put in their beloved NT.

 

[Coyote Chris]

I asked for the date code also and he didn't respond.....

He gave me the code of RW2048, whatever that means....but they are sold out, he said

 

[dnktng]

Got the battery and emailed Yuasa asking about the date code. Turns out that RS3048 = May 2013. So it's a slightly <year old & unused. I hope ebay seller evapar11120 is still selling batteries in 5 years. I think that was a bargain over Honda's price for the same battery.

Chris, just FYI, date code RW2048 is Jan 2013.