I went with the Yuasa sealed. As for the size... bike bandit should be able to get you the right size. The web site looks like it gives you all the options that fit. http://www.bikebandit.com/2006-kawasaki-kl650-batteries/c/a660036?mg=43545&t=1 The link is from a Canadian site, but maybe the part numbers will work. http://dualsportplus.com/klr650/battery_electrical/klr650_battery.html
STOP! This is probably the best motorcycle battery I have ever bought. Cranks the engine faster and holds a charge longer than any others I've tried. Here is the right one for the KLR. $66.95 with free shipping. DEKA PowerSport Battery (ETX15L) http://www.tristatebattery.com/product_info.php?products_id=977
I bought my KLR in February, 2007, and one of the first things I did was put in one of these. It's been fantastic. You'll have to do some fiddling to get it to fit, but it's worth it.
+1 The Deka ETX15L is the way to go. Fits perfectly, it's an AGM and it's affordable. Plus it has the best terminals I've ever seen.
I buy the Walmart specials, they are $34.99 out the door and I get at least 3 years reliable service out of them with maybe one or two fluid level checks (if I remember to check at all ). Thanks CA Stu
No way would I use a regular lead/acid battery again. I cooked my OEM battery dry *twice* in 15 days on the Continental Divide ride The second time it was a goner (luckily it died for good in my driveway). Get the Deka AGM and be done with it
+1 with Bigger Al. My Odyssey has been in my A14 since 2005. Still going strong. (knocks on wood) And that is pretty rare for a battery in AZ.
On long rides my stock lead acid battery cooked off fluid regularly. Just had to keep an eye on it. One extra pain. AGM will solve that.
Funny, on the 2 KLRs I have owned, I have never had a problem. Yet. Did you modify the electrical system somehow? Add heated grips/ clothing / lights / something like that? Thansk CA Stu
I kind of shy away from the fluid batteries. I am a little anal about getting battery acid on things. When the temp. here gets into the upper 90's I woory about things. I might look into the Deka.
I went to Batteries Plus and got the Permaseal AGM Extreme. $80.00 xta14ahl-bs I noticed that the bike know starts with more "zing" in the starter So far so good!
+2 The wife has an Odyssey in her KLR and I am completely impressed. No mater how long the bike has been sitting it always cranks over and it has been in her bike going on 6 years. When the current old tech battery dies in mine I will put an Odyssey in my bike as well.
Well - riding consecutive long days at high temps (July), low humidity (NM desert), high rpm (14 t sprocket on front). I had to refill it once in the middle of the trip then it was dry again when I got home. Stock electrical system with no extras except a GPS ( hardly any draw).
It was your sweetie who showed me on her bike how the Odyssey would fit in a KLR! Tell her Joe said howdy!
Odessey batteries are a pain as you have to extend the battery cables and mount the battery on its side. just get a agm replament and be done with it. no mods,no fluid to check. its just easy.
I'm suprised that guys are cooking a KLR battery. I have a FJ that I have to keep a eye on but my KLR has never been a issue. I use the cheap walmart battery too and get four years out of them at least. I have five bikes and use the same model YB14LA2 in all of them. I downgrade the oldest battery to my kickstart bike. Ernie
Deka worked (and has been working) well for me. No way I'm going to worry about filling up a battery with distilled water on a trip. Especially without a kickstart.
