Rocker59's Spine Frame Chronicles...

[rocker59]

It's been a very wintery winter here this year.  Normally I'm able to ride every month of the year, but other than a short one on New Years Day, the bikes have been sitting since late November.

Anyway, the twin Yuasa YTX-9BS batteries in the Sport 1100 need replacing.  This is only the second set of batteries for this bike since new.  It's a 1996 model!

My other two bikes have been switched over to Odyssey.  PC545 in the Nero Corsa.  PC680 in the LeMans-V.

The carb'd Sport 1100s came from the factory with two batteries.  Kind of odd, but also interesting.  Many people have gone to one battery in the bikes, but for some reason I'm drawn to keeping the twin battery setup.  Here are my options.

1) another pair of the Yuasas.  They seem to really last in this bike.  I really want to get away from lead-acid batteries, though.
2) a pair of the Odyssey PC310 batteries should work.  Need to confirm dimensions.  Would retain the "stock look" under the pillion seat.  Would cost the most, though.
3) a PC680.  Will have to measure, but think it will work.  Will take up most of the battery tray, which would look good.
3) a PC545.  Small battery.  Works great on the Nero Corsa (same size as stock on that bike).  Would leave a lot of space in the tray of the Sport 1100.

Decisions, decisions.  Hmmm...

Any thoughts ?

[JBU]

I'd be tempted to get the PC545 and have a little storage space.  Shove a sandwich in there or something.

[bad Chad]

Love the old battle wagon!

It is a super cool bike, but I do have to say it does make your butt look big! :D :D :D

[LowRyter]

Rock, I'd think about switching to a single battery.  Only for the reason if one of the batteries goes bad, it will ruin the good one and you have to buy both.  I have an 5th wheel (I upgraded to two 6v in series) and a Diesel Pickup, the downside is replacing them in pairs. 

Since you've had good luck with the current set up, I am not sure I'd change what's working.

[Dimples]

  I'd stick with these-- they're proven to last a long time, fit perfectly and look cool. There's plenty of room for a sandwich in the tray.

[rocker59]

It is a super cool bike, but I do have to say it does make your butt look big! :D :D :D

Unfortunately, my butt is big!   :D

[rocker59]

  I'd stick with these-- they're proven to last a long time, fit perfectly and look cool. There's plenty of room for a sandwich in the tray.

Cost is an object.  Isn't it always?

I can get the pair of Yuasas for about $120

The PC545 would be in that neighborhood.

So would the PC310, but I'd have to buy TWO !!!  So, twice as much...

First set of Yuasas lasted 1996 to 2005.  The second set 2005 to 2013.  Not a bad track record...

Hmmm...

[Dimples]

       Junk in the Trunk!

While looking for 1100 Sport photos showing the battery placement I found these. There's a lot back there:

[bpreynolds]

This is a really great thread.  Seems quite helpful and demonstrates these bikes, in true Guzzi fashion, can be whatever you want them to be.

[cruzziguzzi]

       Junk in the Trunk!

While looking for 1100 Sport photos showing the battery placement I found these. There's a lot back there:

While I've had mine apart - this photo and your comments are the first time I recall noting the degree of stuffage. Must be one of the reasons these are such great competitive performers - following rules like; keep as much mass as high and to the rear as possible. :BEER:

Damned though if the dual batteries don't warm the diesel in my blood. Spark plugs? Nah, them's glow plugs.

[pauldaytona]

My Daytona is doing it for 18 years with this ytx9-bs, only just one!. last year replaced with a Motobatt, same size

[Aaron D.]

I'm running a tiny Ballistic lithium-reliable starting under 40 degrees (as cold as I've tested) and a genuine performance enhancement.

[pauldaytona]

Aaron, what model Ballistic do you have?

[Aaron D.]

I'll look tonight-pretty cold and snowy here. I think it's about the size of my loosely clenched fist.

[auzziguzzi]

I use the Ballistic 12 cell model EV02 in my carb 1996 Sport.

Dimensions 113mm (L) x 87mm (W) x 100mm (H)
Weight 1045 grams, 2lb 5oz
Voltage charged 13.6V
Cold Cranking Amps 410
Capacity 20 AH lead equivalent
Operating environment 0*F to 140*F

A really useful characteristic of these LiFePO4 batteries is their ability to maintain a high terminal voltage, even when deeply discharged.

[rocker59]

It can be pretty cold here.  I would be concerned about the cold-start abilities of the Lithium battery.

[Randown]

Read a angry post this week from a DS thumper owner ...

I have extensive experience with the Ballistic batteries(8 cell EVO2). Unfortunately, it's all bad experience. Of all the lithium's out there, they seem to be the worst. Their warranty stinks as well. After 2 of those POS batteries I finally threw in the towel. Both batteries had major internal failures that had nothing to do with charging. They just flat out vibrated the internals loose and Ballistic expected me to pay $100 every few months to replace them. No thank you.

He went back to lead acid. I'd give another known brand a try though.

[pauldaytona]

they look sturdy, but if you read all this:

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/ballistic-performance-12-cell-evo2-battery#reviews_tab

you will be looking at something else 

In the daytona is one MBTX9U MotoBatt and works ok, and cheap

[Chuck in Indiana]

There was a Triumph guy at Ron's rally last spring that had one. Every morning, it was a half hour (no kidding) ordeal for him to get it started. I decided right then that I didn't need one.  ;D

[Unkept]

There was a Triumph guy at Ron's rally last spring that had one. Every morning, it was a half hour (no kidding) ordeal for him to get it started. I decided right then that I didn't need one.  ;D

I'm replacing my Ballistic 16 cell with a PC545... done screwing around with it for now!  ::( I've had nothing but bad luck with it lately... I used to sing it's praises, but that was in summer!  :BEER:

[rocker59]

I'm replacing my Ballistic 16 cell with a PC545... done screwing around with it for now!  ::( I've had nothing but bad luck with it lately... I used to sing it's praises, but that was in summer!  :BEER:

The PC545 in my Nero Corsa works great!

[rocker59]

order good relays from Pyro dan here,
http://dpguzzi.com/

5 for 20 bucks, good deal on good relays.

Rocker, have you inspected the relay base? it may have bad connection.

Still having troubles.  I think the O'Reilly's relays can't handle the vibes.  I've emailed Pyro Dan.  Hopefully next week, I'll have a supply of his nice relays in hand.

[Blueboarhound]

I put a Shorai in my 900SS last summer after years of going through batteries and hard starting (944 big bore kit). Absolutely no issues with starting the Ducati after installing the Shorai but it wasn't cheap. They do not have a listing for the Sport 1100 but they list the Daytona from 1992-1999.

http://shoraipower.com/products?action=vehicle&type=175&make=1407&model=8006&year=8006

[rocker59]

Well, after mulling it over for the past couple weeks, I finally broke down and bought a pair of Yuasa YTX9-BS batteries, tonight, for the Sport 1100.  They should be here in a few days.  I really like keeping things sorta stock and/or period correct.  I like the dual battery setup, and the Yuasas have been great for me, lasting over eight years each on the past two sets.  The closest thing from Odyssey would've been a pair of PC310s.  Only problem with those is that they would cost about three times what the pair of Yuasas did.

New Batteries!  Now, on to other niggles to get the Sport 1100 ready for Colorado, here in a few months...

 :bike

[rocker59]

Still having troubles.  I think the O'Reilly's relays can't handle the vibes.  I've emailed Pyro Dan.  Hopefully next week, I'll have a supply of his nice relays in hand.

Pyro Dan's relays installed.  Battery still discharges while bike is running.

So, regulator or alternator must be at fault, I guess.

Any ideas on where to start with the diagnosis. 

[rocker59]

Well, after mulling it over for the past couple weeks, I finally broke down and bought a pair of Yuasa YTX9-BS batteries, tonight, for the Sport 1100.  They should be here in a few days.  I really like keeping things sorta stock and/or period correct.  I like the dual battery setup, and the Yuasas have been great for me, lasting over eight years each on the past two sets.  The closest thing from Odyssey would've been a pair of PC310s.  Only problem with those is that they would cost about three times what the pair of Yuasas did.

New Batteries!  Now, on to other niggles to get the Sport 1100 ready for Colorado, here in a few months...

 :bike

Dual YTX9-BS batteries serviced, charged, and installed tonight.  Weather is nice, so may get to ride the Sport 1100 this week!  Can't wait!   :bike

[Chuck in Indiana]

Pyro Dan's relays installed.  Battery still discharges while bike is running.

So, regulator or alternator must be at fault, I guess.

Any ideas on where to start with the diagnosis. 

Pull the yellow wires off the regulator. Check output from the alternator. It should be somewhere around 40 volts AC, IIRC.

[Howard R]

I just looked in my shop manual, 40 VAC is @ 3000 RPM, goes up to 80 VAC @ 6000.  While you're there take a pair of pliers and tighten up the female half of those yellow connectors, if they're not a good, tight fit they can start getting hot and melt!  You do have an extra ground wire to the regulator mounting bolt, don't you?

Howard

[rocker59]

I just looked in my shop manual, 40 VAC is @ 3000 RPM, goes up to 80 VAC @ 6000.  While you're there take a pair of pliers and tighten up the female half of those yellow connectors, if they're not a good, tight fit they can start getting hot and melt!  You do have an extra ground wire to the regulator mounting bolt, don't you?

Howard

Thanks Howard!

I'll work on that this weekend.  I have a strange feeling that I have a connector problem, since this started out as an intermittent problem.  We'll see.

I've never added an extra ground to the regulator, so might do that when I've got it all pulled apart.

[rocker59]

Dual YTX9-BS batteries serviced, charged, and installed tonight.  Weather is nice, so may get to ride the Sport 1100 this week!  Can't wait!   :bike

What a great old bike.  It's been months since I've ridden it.  The new batteries fired it right up this afternoon.  Rode it to the gas station and filled up, then rode some backroads near home.  The bike started and idled just great!  Glad it's back on the road!

Now, I need to do a few more miscellaneous things to get it ready for Colorado.  Tires, oil change, and a few piddly things.

 :bike