Batteries for Electric Start Snowbikes

[TreewellDweller]

Just put 4-5 hours on my 2003 525SX KTM snowbike today and had a great time, other than the fog and having to ride the trail for 15 miles. This is my first trip, this season, and I only got to ride it once last season. The snow was wet and heavy today and worked the old bike and me pretty hard. We have about 4 feet at the upper elevations. Got stuck a couple of times and flopped it over twice. Needless to say, my leg is pretty worn out from all the kick starting I did. If I was to consider a different bike with electric start, how long does the battery last? Will most bike's stators keep the battery charged up? What kind of cranking amps do they have and will they start a flooded machine? There were a couple times I flat wore myself out.
Any info or opinions would be appreciated.

 

[sidehillsam]

Hi Mark, My 2011 KTM 530 XC-W starts fine. It took me a month to figure out the jetting for it to start cold first thing in the morning. Adjustable air screw highly recommended. My battery has been upgraded, roughly 20 percent more power, has never run down. Hope to ride with you again this winter.

 

[vmax1200]

Highly recommend SHORAI Lithium battery ,alittle pricey yet great performance and very helpful customer support .

 

[KAWGRN]

Turntech works in my berg, starts everytime!I have noticed when its cold the shorai takes several cycles till it aparently get warm or something ,,almost acts like it dead? Then it too starts right away, weird? But the turn tech doesnt do that!I think using a lead acid baatery in the truck to start it may be in order,, cuz Im not going to kick start it!hope one of the battery guys gets on here and explains the lithum ion battery thing to me

 

[TreewellDweller]

SIDEHILLSAM- What kind of battery did you get? Am considering a different bike with electric start and would like to stay with the ktm. If I remember, you never did kick start your bike and we stopped quite a few times. Do you keep your battery on a tender/charger when you're not riding?
thanks

 

[off road rider]

The new li4 batteries like shorie, turntech and others use a far different chemistry than the gelcell or acid type batteries .
They have a much higher CC amp capacity,and weigh almost nothing. However they will freeze up, and act dead when under 32 degF
They will warm themselfs with several attempts on the starter, once they are above freezing they work great.
On that note I have seen many of the new tech batteries fail, loose connections inside the battery, puffed out and damaged cases.
If your local shop sells them and the guy behind the counter is honest, he should be able to tell you the scoop on failures.

For SLA batteries usually if your bike has a 5 series in it, a 7 series will also fit. The 7 is about 1/2 inch higher


I personally have a turntech in my bike and it has been great for 2 years now.

 

[TeamOrange]

I used an odyssey batt in my standup jetski and it was fantastic. They are an AGM type. I had it sit for like 2 years and still cranked faster than any new lead acid Yuasa. odyssey doesnt seem to make one for my berg but i am researching other brands. Lightweight - No. But who cares on the bike, a little snow in the skid and 3.5 gals of xtra fuel on back , you wouldnt notice anyway.

Oz

 

[up-high]

The lithium/ion batteries need to warm up to generate full cranking amps. If you have hand warmers, turn them on for 5 or 10 minutes(depending how cold it is) before starting the bike. You could also wrap the battery with a hand warmer and run the power to a switch that you can turn on to warm the battery(any draw warms the battery). This is counter-intuitive to what we have been doing with lead/acid batterys.

 

[sidehillsam]

The battery in my KTM is a Yuasa YTZ7S, it worked great last year even after accidently dead shorting it overnight. Dead again 2 months ago, only charged it once over summer. My bad. Once you have a start button you'll never go back. My riding buddy is the rare exception, going from orange to green.

 

[Jon Mutiger]

I too have seen too many Shorai type LiPo batteries not live up to the claims they make. I'm running a Yuasa YTZ7S in my KTM 500 as a result instead of a Shorai or any other lightweight alternative. Battery failure is not something I want to worry about in the mtns.

The new li4 batteries like shorie, turntech and others use a far different chemistry than the gelcell or acid type batteries .
They have a much higher CC amp capacity,and weigh almost nothing. However they will freeze up, and act dead when under 32 degF
They will warm themselfs with several attempts on the starter, once they are above freezing they work great.
On that note I have seen many of the new tech batteries fail, loose connections inside the battery, puffed out and damaged cases.
If your local shop sells them and the guy behind the counter is honest, he should be able to tell you the scoop on failures.

For SLA batteries usually if your bike has a 5 series in it, a 7 series will also fit. The 7 is about 1/2 inch higher


I personally have a turntech in my bike and it has been great for 2 years now.

 

[deten8]

Hi Mark, My 2011 KTM 530 XC-W starts fine. It took me a month to figure out the jetting for it to start cold first thing in the morning. Adjustable air screw highly recommended. My battery has been upgraded, roughly 20 percent more power, has never run down. Hope to ride with you again this winter.

what have you been doing with air screw to help starting?

 

[sidehillsam]

My bike's air screw was "plugged". I turned a wood screw into the center of plug, and then twisted and pulled on the screw to uncover air screw. Replaced it with an aluminum finger knob screw, didn't know any better, get the brass one instead. Can't tell you exactly where I ended up from stock, guessing turned in more. Also raised the needle (lowered the clip) 3 slots to richen because spark plug looked scary white. Now bike starts easier and does not pop and backfire letting off the throttle.