Shorai Lithium Iron battery install in my R1200R

I just bought A Shorai LFX18A1-BS12 for $186.95 plus $8.26 shipping.

Here is what it looks like packed in the foam pieces that you must trim to make it match your original battery:


Here it is compared to my 2009 R1200R's original battery:




Here it is with the foam cut to shim the battery:




The battery is 7 pounds lighter than the original. It is so light that it makes you wonder how it can generate any power.

The battery was a PITA to install because the nut to which the terminal screw attaches falls away and out of reach if you have an accessory wire attached to the battery in addition to the main cable. I had to stick a piece of the foam under the nut in order to keep it in place and within reach of the screw. Here is a comparison of my original battery's pretty robust terminal and the Shorai's terminal:



It would be nice if the nut was taller and the terminal itself was flush with the top of the battery. The way it is now, the leads of my battery cables are angled down to meet the terminal and probably don't have as good of a contact area as it would if the terminal was flush.

Further, the foam pads that shim the battery are exposed to water spray. I don't know how they will hold up or if they will retain water like a sponge.

If I had known that I had to cut foam to make this battery fit and shim the terminal nuts to make them work, I wouldn't have bought this battery. The weight savings isn't that important to me. I think an Odyssey battery would have served my purposes just fine.

Other than weight what other advantages are there... as that's a lot of dosh.

Mines just about toast and I should think about what I am going to buy as a replacement.

A big one is not losing the battery if it sits. I have some vehicles that don't get driven enough (an RV) and get sick and tired of worrying about it's two large batteries. These would be a godsend and in the long run, save me money.

Here is a good explanation of the benefits: http://www.novaelectric.com/life.php

Some advantages of the Lithium Ion Phosphate batteries are listed below for reference:

• 4X higher energy density than lead-acid battery: The gravimetric energy density of the LiFePO4 battery is ~130 Wh/kg, almost four times higher than that of a typical Lead-acid battery, at 35Wh/kg. For the UPS user, this means far greater run times while running on battery, without any space penalty.

• Light Weight: Despite the vastly higher energy density, the LiFePO4 battery packs are, in most cases, only 1/3 the weight of conventional lead acid packs. So for applications where weight savings are critical, the use of LiFePO4 batteries can result in significant reductions in overall system weight.

• Long Life: LiFePO4 battery packs typically achieve a minimum of 2000 cycles with 70% capacity remaining, with up to 5000 cycle potential. This is equivalent to the 8-12 year expected life the very best sealed, lead acid batteries offer. Further, LiFePO4 batteries do not suffer from the “memory effect” of some conventional lead acid batteries.

• Better Voltage Regulation: Unlike the Lead acid battery, the LiFePO4 battery terminal voltage remains relatively constant during high rate discharge. This equates to much better performance during high rate (short time period) discharges, yielding a much better AH performance during this type of application, typical in UPS systems.

• Wide Temp Range: LiFePO4 battery packs are typically sold for operation between -20°C to +60°C, charging between -10°C to +60°C, and storage between -40°C to +70°C. This is equivalent to the ranges that only premium sealed, lead acid batteries offer.

• Safety with power: Safety is equivalent to or better than the traditional lead acid type, without the risk of explosion or fire outbreak associated with some other new battery technologies. The LiFePO4 battery has hybrid characteristics: it is as safe as the lead-acid battery and as powerful as the lithium ion battery.

• A Greener Battery: The eco-friendly LiFePO4 battery packs are recyclable and non-toxic.

• Battery Management: All LiFePO4 Batteries are provided with a Battery Management System (BMS) which protects the battery cells within the Nova LiFePO4 Battery pack. The BMS will protect the cells to be sure they do not go outside of the normal limits of Cell voltage of the minimum discharge voltage of 2.8 V, the working voltage of 3.0 V – 3.3 V, and the maximum charge voltage of 3.6 V. The BMS also provides short circuit protection which prevents high current in the event of an external short circuit.

This would make more sense on my wr250r, but every bit of weight is less for me to pick up off the ground when the bike slides out from under me in the snow.

Have you considered installing a nut or spacer under the head of the nut and sandwitch the battery terminal wires between the nut head and the spacer. That would raise it.

Put one in my R1200GSA and after the same aggrevation as mentioned I ended up adding a couple washers to each side to so the main wiring harness end would be flush. I have 2 other connections to each side and the recess made it that much more difficult. I bought the battery for the lightness/extra CCAs but it would make this much easier if the terminals were flush with the top. I'd sent my issues to Shorai so maybe in later batteries they'll make a change.

A tip to help with the nut sitting too low to catch- find some small plastic tubing like that used for battery breathers, cut off around 1/4" or 3/8" section, and slide that under the nut. It will work like a little spring and will hold the nut up against the underside of the terminal.

Here it is with the foam cut to shim the battery:


couldnt you shim the top of the battery to lower the cog?

If I did, the battery cables would need to be modified to reach the terminals. The battery is so light that I don't think it would make much of a difference.

Just put the LFX18-BS12 Shorai into my 2005 12GS. Looks like a similar package to your "R".

Great battery and it's incredibly light! I'm surprised how robustly it cranks the bike. For a few years now I've had to be careful about leaving the high beam or the heated grips on for cold start.

On colder mornings it would have to catch on the first few turns or it was time for the jumper cables. This is with two different high quality "gel" replacement batteries that quoted higher CCA than stock, plus constant maintenance with a battery tender!

Now, fuggedaboudit. No worries about what accessories may be on, and I won't go to bed paranoid about whether or not I hooked up the tender. This is the best farkle I've bought in a long time.

And no, my alternator charges just fine. Checked it out...

It looks like closed cell foam which doesn't absorb water.

I'm getting one for my Suzuki GS1100 AND the KLR. The shorai equiv for my GS is supposedly 16.91 lbs lighter, but I'm thinking it is 6.91 lbs lighter. Still, that's a good bit of weight savings.

Go on a diet, its cheaper than a new battery

I have 3 B&D smart chargers that are used to charge RV, mower and BMW GS batteries as well as the 2 autos.

My RV chassis batteries are 800 CCA size in parallel, the house batteries are four 6 volt deep cycle batteries in series-parallel...

All the RV batteries are OE (11 years old) and still provide more than enough current to fire up the Cat diesel engine on a cold morning. Any battery needs maintenance...both mechanical and chemistry maintenance to provide good service.

Get a smart charger and keep your batteries charged and sulfate free...they'll last years longer if you do.

At least 2 inmates on here selling the super lightweight batteries:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=638441

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=629665

I've been using one from a different mgf in my Duc for a year with great results.

Mark H.

i was thinking the same thing too. on the wrr losing every bit of weight is important on the 1200r you will not notice any difference. i figured the odyssey battery was the best high dollar long lasting battery for bmws.

What prevents you from tapping the new battery with the old post bolt/nut to obtain the right height?

I just dropped a Shorai LFX21A6-BS12 into my R1200R and found it stupidly simple. It was nearly a perfect fit without any padding. It was about 5mm shorter and shallower than the stock AGM battery I was replacing so I threw one of the 5mm pads on the bottom for fun. I'm not sure I needed it but with it in there I had a nice tight fit. The 5mm depth difference didn't matter the way the battery strap is set up.

Also, the posts now come tapped so screw it in and you're done.

So far I'm impressed with the install, we'll see how the battery itself goes. It cranked instantly after being left sitting for 3 months so that's an OK start.

I own Shorai Power LFX18A1-BS12 since Aug 2013.
Today.... on the way from Pamir (Tajikistan to Moscow) that battery begin to show 3.45V...
I will never use/buy it anymore...
I am anoight...