I think most will say to go with Lithium-Ion. Not sure I've seen anyone install a physically bigger battery, but there are batteries with better CCA than stock.

 

What is stock? The battery that came in the bike when I bought it was 140CCA and my current one is 160CCA!

How much more would I need to go up? I see lithium is 290-300CCA range. But I’ve heard stories of those catching on fire and more maintence than a normal sealed gel battery!

 

Also a slightly dirty filter cause a laggish start? Did a tune up when I replaced motor with built motor and got new everything except filter (mainly b/c the current one looked visually clean) but maybe I’m wrong and it needs a new one?!? Might try to start it without my filter in (inside my garage) and see if it fires easier as a test? Throttle response and riding hasn’t insisted a clogged or dirty filter or lag. So I doubt that’s the issue. But no way it should take (2) 5 sec intervals of holding the start button to start when it’s not up to temp (right???)

 

How old is your battery? Not uncommon for an older battery to lack starting power.

I use a lifepo4 battery. Only “maintenance” I did was when new to fully charge it. I do not use a trickle charger at all, and it sits for up to 4 months. After that time I turn the key to on, let it sit on for about 30 secs and it starts right up, every time after having sat for months. This battery is 2 years old, no issues. It has 240 Pulse Cranking Amps, starts the 1000 no problem, even after months of sitting.

 

The battery that came with the bike is 2 years old. So I was like bingo that’s the issue. Get a new one. That battery had 140CCA and my new one ... brand new one is doing the same thing and has 160 or 165CCA and it still has troubles starting up. I turn the bike on. Let the fuel pump prime (maybe 5-10secs) and it takes a good 2-3 times to start it when the bike is cold and especially when the weather is below 65 degrees. Cranking about 5-6 seconds a piece (to not over work the starter motor)

Once the bike is warm and up to temp. And warm outside ambient temp. The bike starts within 2 secs of hitting the stater button!

 

I also found a battery that’s the right size for the battery box. It’s gel sealed. And has 260 CCA! I may try to get a beefier one and see if it works better!? Because I’m kind of against messing with lithium batteries and their prices lol

 

I installed battery tender that's a bit wider than OEM. I had to remove OEM battery holder, cut one side (easy with sharp razor and pliers). Cut clutch side as it will give you more room since there is a harness and more wires on the other side.

 

This maybe a stupid question but you mean you installed a tender on your battery right? Underneath the seat? And cut it all to fit? And do you just charge the tender every week or day or what?

 

When he says battery tender, he means a "battery tender" brand battery... (I assume)

Batteries

 

That makes a lot more sense. I didn’t know they made a brand named battery tender lmfao

I bought this:
https://www.amazon.com/BTL14A240C-Lithium-Battery-Tender-022-0199-DL-WH/dp/B0746N3CRV

I forgot to take pics. It's straight forward to install, only hassle is removing OEM battery holder, whole thing took under an hour. It's worth it as lithium battery weigh a fifth of OEM and bike starts right away.

Oh ok dope! Thanks man!!

 

I bought this:
https://www.amazon.com/BTL14A240C-Lithium-Battery-Tender-022-0199-DL-WH/dp/B0746N3CRV

I forgot to take pics. It's straight forward to install, only hassle is removing OEM battery holder, whole thing took under an hour. It's worth it as lithium battery weigh a fifth of OEM and bike starts right away.

 

It's not your battery that's the problem.... it's the bike's tuning.

I'm a cold weather rider and My 2012 R1 would get progressively harder and harder to start the colder the temps got below about 55 degrees F. If it was below 31-33 or so, I pretty much couldn't get it started no matter how much I cranked or what I did. I even used to try cold starting it while having the tender actively plugged into the battery as I cranked, so it would get some extra juice from the wall power.... made no difference.

I've found that holding the throttle open a bit as I crank it does help quite a bit, but doesn't solve the problem completely. I spent hours upon hours trying all sorts of different settings and tuning adjustments in the ECU to try to counter this too and never got anywhere with it. If the engine is warm but the air is cold, it starts just fine. It's only when the engine (or at least the coolant) is cold, that it won't start very well.

Tons of people have this problem, but most people don't ride R1's in cold weather.

I can't do anything further on this issue as I don't have the bike anymore since I drunk driver rear-ended me in November and totaled it... I'm in the hunt for a new one.

 

Kinda what I figured I’ve heard they’re not cold friendly AT ALL!!! I will try opening throttle a lil at start up. I also heard having a full exhaust (no cats) further worsens problems with starting up (less back pressure) and having a higher flowing air filter also hurts start up & I have both!

 

i got the 5amp battery from speedcell. no problems, except the time i left my key on park for like a week wneddance:

other than that its been great.


https://shopspeedcell.com/

 

If you buy any new battery make sure it's a Speedcell! I also bought the 5 amp.

 

considered it but I've got the Shorai Charger, its easier to stay with; easy maintenance as I've got two bikes,
the R1 has always had the LifePo4 LFX18 (18Ah) Shorai :yesnod.. Basically from now while one bike is being ridden,
the other on balanced storage mode.. return from weekend ride n' now I've got a balanced power plant on
tap at all times :thumbup

we've had a pretty mild winter so it looks like i'll be insuring both bikes this season!! :fork