Battery prices

I've got a 2004 VFR800 that I'm working on fixing up after it was stolen last summer. I just priced replacing the battery and was shocked that it's about $150. I've owned a number of bikes over the last 15 or so years and my batteries have always been in the $60-$70 range. In poking around in my local dealer's parts fiche it seems that batteries for a lot of models doubled in price between about 2000 and 2002. What changed? What is so special about these new batteries? Thanks in advance for any input.

 

Looks like you don't use the same battery as the 5th Gens (not sure what's different, probably dimensions) but I only paid $50 (w/ core exchange) for a new sealed AGM battery three weeks ago. I wouldn't bother with a dealer though. Just get the battery model number and go to your local parts dealer of choice and get one from them. Make sure they know you don't want a wet cell battery.

-Jake

 

WestCo Battery - 12V12A-BS

Still kinda pricey, but better than $150. I don't remember where I heard of this company, and I have not done business with them myself. Try Googling "motorcycle batteries".

 

Once again a friendly dealer throws in free vaseline to a VFR dude with every purchase.

Walmart..

Might be nice to give these friendly dealers mention by name so that everyone will know where to get a free vaseline application along with any purchase. We sure don't want to be behind the harleydoods who have been doing this for years.

( The harleydoods now use HD oil BTW. It's organic)

 

The battery for the 6th gen is a YTZ12S, OEM is a Yuasa brand.

I wasn't able to find an Everstart battery at Walmart that fit the 6th gen - they have one that fits the 5th gen, but it is too tall to fit the 6th gen.

You should look for an AGM (absorbent glass mat) battery. Some will come prefilled, but others will come with a portion of acid - which is nice since the battery is "brand new" until you fill it. Then you seal it and the mats absorb the acid, making it a very suitable battery for motorcycles.

The YTZ12S is dimensionally the same as the YTZ14S (OEM battery in the ST1300). The 14S has a handful more amp-hours and CCA's, and will be a perfectly suitable replacement - actually an upgrade.

Batterystuff.com has the Yuasa and Scorpion (have read some very good reviews of their batteries) brands of YTZ14S and free shipping. You could get the Scorpion battery to your door for $68.

They come from OR, and ship USPS. But they ship very quickly - I placed my order in the AM and it was already shipped out by 2PM PST.

YTZ14S Battery | Scorpion 12 Volt Motorcycle Batteries

 

There is enough juice in a freshly acidized battery to start a bike unless it needs other work. The intructions say to charge the battery for several hour but sometimes this just ain't possible unless ya got some of those bigass guppy bags, a charger and a really long extension cord.

Wally's didn't have a battery for my tractor either..Then I figured out that they could get one in a day or two, making the whole thing one of those rock and a hard place issues we all know and love.

I really don't have a tractor. I had a Harley once..

 

I made the mistake initially of looking through WM's reference book too quickly... saw HONDA VFR and picked that battery, it looked about right in the box, took it home and found out it was about 1.5" too tall. When I returned it, looked at the book again and saw it was for the 5th gen VFR. Oh well.

 

A cutting torch and a handfull of wire ties should fix that..

 

Wire ties.... is there anything they can't solve?

 

There are several discount battery stores in Sacramento , Battery Bill, Batteries Plus , and Battery World. All sell almost any battery known to man at 50-70% of dealer prices. Possibly look in your area for such a buisness. DRZ batteries run $130 at the dealer and we get them for $40 .

 

Locally owned shops that sell auto/motorcycle parts?? Must be nice ...

 

They sell wire ties..

My local NAPA store has those damned push rivets that crap out almost every time the front fairing comes off. Local marine supply has wire/cable ties up to 36".

Most metro areas will have battery suppliers. Hard to say who makes most of them but in many busineses if you buy in certain numbers the manufacturers will put any name on whatever it is you want. (almost)

Case in point: Sears..

The longer wire/cable ties are popular with moms to constrain children who are riding in shopping baskets where almost every bag of junk food and candy is at just exactly the right height for the churrins.

 

Battery World and Batteries Plus are nation wide and in all fifty states as well as mail order.

 

I got a cheap one from Batteries Plus battery store - All your battery needs for Laptop, camera, cell phone, camcorder, SLA, batteries recycling and much more for 53 bucks can't beat that!

 

Hmmm... well played sir. Well played. :tongue:

Now that I see the site it looks familiar. I looked there for the battery but batterystuff.com ended up being the cheapest to my door. Those sites, since they have stores in my state, have to charge sales tax upon the sale. ...... not that I won't report my out-of-state purchase and pay appropriate taxes on it from batterystuff... :tape:

 

The families that own those dealerships are allowed to charge whatever they want.