Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > 748 Battery

[DC]

I need some advice,

I think that it might be time for a new battery for my 748. The thing is I want to know If I can get a smaller one that would be lighter than the original one I have now.

I am thinking that I might be able to get one of those new sealed jelly type ones as opposed to the conventional acid and water ones.

Has anyone here got one of these new type batterys and if so are they any good/lighter? Or am I talking a load of rubbish?

Answers on a post card to the usual address please!!

DC.

[Webcore]

I've heard of them referred to as Gel-Cells - I'd be interested in info on those too

[mogwai]

Me too ! Got to fit a smaller battery to be able to fit cycle cat crash bungs...

[Shazaam!]

Replacement Batteries

The stock battery specification considers how much current is needed for a start, the range of operating temperatures, the reserve needed for repeated starts, and the charging system capacity. A larger capacity battery will be a lot kinder to your charging system.

The principal advantage of using a larger capacity battery is to be able to restart repeatedly. When you don't ride long enough to recharge fully between restarts, a larger capacity battery is an advantage. A lower capacity battery will need to be trickle-charged more often and the chance of a deep discharge (that reduces battery life) is greater with small capacity ones. Further, a battery's capacity drops when it gets cold so when you ride in cool weather, a smaller capacity battery will have an even smaller reserve for starting at low temperatures.

Consider also, that the early pre-1998 bikes have an alternator with a lower charging current output, so they'll take longer to fully recharge the battery. A prolonged 30 amp charging current is one contributing factor to why Ducati voltage regulator/rectifiers and stator wires fail prematurely.

In 2001, the bikes were fited with a revised starter motor gear ratio that drew less current and made it possible to start the bike using a smaller battery. The starter gearing on the early bikes are not well suited to the smaller batteries.

Standard battery 1994 - 2001 model years:

Yuasa YB16AL-A2 (16 AH, 200 CCA, 11.5 lbs.)

Standard battery 2001 - model years:

Yuasa YT12B-BS (10 AH, 125 CCA, 7.6 lbs.)


On the track, weight reduction is more important than these other considerations so the weight-saving battery-of-choice is the sealed and non-spillable AGM maintenance-free Yuasa YTZ7S. It's the same size as the later-year stock battery. The weight saving it offers is probably equivalent to $1000 in carbon fiber replacement parts, and about $3000 in titanium exhaust pipes and fasteners.

Yuasa YTZ7S (6 AH, 130 CCA, 4.6 lbs.)

On the street, reliable operation is of a higher concern to most of us, so consider the following maintenance-free batteries:

Fiamm-GS F19-12B (19 AH, 200 CCA)
GS Battery GT12B-4 (12 AH, 200 CCA, 10 lbs.)
Yuasa YTZ12S (11 AH, 210 CCA, 10 lbs.)
Power Source WP22-12B-4 (10 AH, 220 CCA, 15.5 lbs.)
Odyssey PC680MJ (19 AH, 280 CCA, 14.7 lbs.) (dry cell technology, my personal choice)

[rcgbob44]

I still want to see Mogwai`s avtar as a full leanth video!:P

[keefer]

have been using this battery for a year or two with no probs.
you can use it in the original holder but looks allot better in the carbon jobie

[keefer]

in case anyone wants the spec

[ath748]

Out of interest, and I'm not sure if it's possible to accurately answer this, but how long a ride would you need to go on to recharge a battery? Assuming the battery isn't fully discharged. Ta.

Ade.

[ath748]

And I believe I'm talking about a standard 748S 2002MY battery.

[DC]

Thnx for the replys so far.

I have the Yuasa YB16AL-A2 type battery. It looks a bit old and I suspect it has been on my bike( 1999 748) since new. It charges ok and as long as I am riding the bike most days it starts first time. I look after it buy checking the liquid levels etc. (The bike is actualy a 853cc engine.)

I was just wondering if I could get a smaller one while I was changing for a new one. If I had to trickle charge the battery once in a while then so be it.

DC.