Katana Owners Club U.K.

In another thread I mentioned the starter noise I was having. In trying to resolve I got a new battery. I wasn't convinced it was that so was going to buy a cheap one, but well the Li-Ion seem to have come down in price so decided on one to try ( £70 delivered next day from Tayna ).

They are bloody light compared to the old lead one and also the engine seemed to turn over faster but that could also have been the new starter. Anyway, I'll how it goes through the winter, but if it survives well then I'll certainly get another one when one of the other bikes needs a battery.
UB

Just asked you some questions about this in your other thread!

Am I right that you can't let these Li-ions go below a certain ambient temperature?
And sometimes they burst into flames (keep calm JohnR)?

lithium batterys are very VERY sensitive to charging and WILL NOT tolerate overcharging. you cant charge them at over 14v or they will overheat and are likely to burst into flames. ive got one on the gsxr kat but ive modified the wiring to directly link the alternator output to the battery so its not losing anything to resistance in the loom. having said that, the gsxr alternator is more sophisticated than the aircooled kat one so youll need to check if the charging system on the watercooled kats is tip top. lithium battery are fab tech, but be careful with them and NEVER leave one connected to a tender when you arent there. and also, do NOT use a normal battery tender like an optimate. they need a special charger, ive got one called a genius charger and its specifically made for lithium batterys.
although, as has been aluded to, anything that increases the risk of 400 kats imolating themselves isnt an entirely bad thing......

johnr wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 12, 2023 9:19 pm

although, as has been aluded to, anything that increases the risk of 400 kats imolating themselves isnt an entirely bad thing......

From the feedback I might take it off in the winter and keep in the house. I do have a Noco Genius charger which does Li-ion.

The flames thing is slightly concerning... also put on the FB group and someone replied with a pic of their bike and what happens if the charging isn't up to scratch, though this is on the air cooled ones, so things will be a bit different on a bike 10 years newer (though still 30 years old!)
The 400 just starts on the button though, so it's hard to decide not to use it...

UB

you can buy more precisely regulating reg rec units though at the moment the name of them escapes me.

MOSFET thats the name.

Has that EFE got a 1400 motor in it?

The red EF above has got an EF motor.....

With Suzukis heated seat option

Yes, thanks for the correction.