YUASA Motorcycle Battery

Here are a couple of resources that can help you choose a new motorcycle battery.

First, here's a Consumer Reports automotive battery article that says, in part:

Most auto batteries are made by just three manufacturers, Delphi, Exide, and Johnson Controls Industries. Each makes batteries sold under several different brand names. Delphi makes ACDelco and some EverStart (Wal-Mart) models. Exide makes Champion, Exide, Napa, and some EverStart batteries. Johnson Controls makes Diehard (Sears), Duralast (AutoZone), Interstate, Kirkland (Costco), Motorcraft (Ford), and some EverStarts.

I've heard it said that one should not use synthetic oil during break-in, because it can impair proper wear-in of the rings and other moving parts.

Well, my daughter (lucky gal) just bought a new 2007 Pontiac Solstice, and lo and behold, the car comes equipped with synthetic oil from the factory. Corvettes, Vipers, and many others do too!

So, this must mean that, at least for some new engines, that it's perfectly OK to run synthetic oils from day one. Does this apply to motorcycle engines? Hard to say. I would assume that it depends on the manufacturing methods used, but these days, I assume most all automotive engines (including motorcycles, of course) use similar methods and are manufactured to close tolerances and require less rigorous break-ins than did engines made when I was a wee lad. So, the answer is: perhaps.

Enough of my uninformed rambling! What do the oil manufacturers say?

Oil filters are an important part of the proper operation of an engine - a quality oil filter is critical to engine longevity . While our choices are limited and budgets are tight, it's important to avoid falling for the false economy of a cheap oil filter.

I replaced my motorcycle battery last week. It stopped holding a charge sometime this winter.

The amazing thing about this is that the battery was manufactured in 1997. That's right - ten years ago. It was the OEM YUASA YTX12-BS battery that was in the bike when I bought my Honda CBR1100XX new in 1998.

Related Products
	Battery Tender Battery Tender Plus 12-Volt 1.25 AMP Battery Charger ASIN or ISBN-10: B00068XCQU
	CTEK MULTI US 3300 Battery Charger For 12-volt lead-acid batteries ASIN or ISBN-10: B000ZIXUZE

Selecting a sportbike or sport-touring motorcycle tire

I read with great interest an editorial in a recent issue of Sport Rider Magazine in which Kent Kunitsugu laments extreme tire bargain-hunting among sport bike riders (We're a Legion of Cheapskates, Sport Rider, March 2008) - including buying 'cheap' off-brand motorcycle tires and used race tires ("take-offs") for street use.

Expensive skins

While I understand the need to put quality rubber between me and the road, I can sympathize with the bargain-hunters. The last time I bought a set of quality skins (Metzeler ROADTEC MEZ6 front and rear) for my '98 CBR1100XX, I paid close to $400 for the pair, including mounting, balancing, California and local sales tax, and the obligatory California tire disposal fee penalty. If I ride as often as I can, I can expect the pair of tires to last about a season.

Weary of uneven wear

And, as is often the case for those who commute to work, or live a long way from the twisties, I ride long stretches of straight-up highway or secondary roads - that being the case, I can expect to throw away over 2/3 of the useful rubber on the tire - the center strip wears out much faster than the edges, and I end up feeling like I'm throwing good money away. I live where there are lots of mountain roads, so I do try to get out as often as possible and 'balance' my riding style, and put some wear out at the edges - sadly, I'm may not get a chance to ride the desired 'back road' miles...