09-28-2018, 05:06 PM
Haven't replaced the battery in the RS yet, but I did put a Shoria LFX18L1-BS12 in my '92 Ducati about 4 years ago. Total game changer compared to every other battery I tried. That includes standard wet and gel cell types that my bike called for. First, the weight savings. Couldn't believe there was a battery in the box when it arrived. Most of the box was foam to make up for the smaller size of the battery, compared to stock. Second, the cranking amps were increased. On an air cooled Duc, that's a pretty big deal. One strange quirk I've noticed, and since read about, is when the bike doesn't start immediately, (after sitting for a few weeks the carbs are a little reluctant), the second turnover shows slightly higher voltage, opposite of what I'm used to seeing in traditional batteries. This may be where some of the cold weather opinions originate. Third, and most surprising, is that I haven't had the bike on a charger at all. With no parasitic load (alarm, clock, etc) it just hangs in there! I was forever charging batteries, mostly in the winter. This had been the norm for the first 24 years of ownership. I realize the old Ducati and my new RS are completely different animals when it comes to electrical load, alternator output and the like, but I think when that time comes, I will give Shoria a go. Hope you find more opinions (from RS owners, of course) to get an idea of what route you might want to take.
Cheers, David
Cheers, David