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Ask the Builder: Lithium batteries are all around you — and they can catch fire
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Sep 29, 2023OPTIMA Batteries for Motorcycles? Maybe!
Apr 22, 2023Photo: OPTIMA
When it comes to riding motorcycles, there are few things more disappointing than hitting the start button and hearing that unenthusiastic "tick." Good batteries are pricey, but they’re usually a good investment.
The folks over at OPTIMA have released a line of lithium-ion batteries they’re calling their "ORANGETOP" line. These batteries contain a "microprocessor-controlled battery management system (BMS) that automatically monitors the performance of the battery." That microprocessor is part of what the company calls "OPTIMA CPR" which "detects parasitic energy draws and internally disconnects the power supply while retaining enough power to start the vehicle." That all sounds pretty great.
The Battery Management System attached to the battery. Photo: OPTIMA
The presser also contains some language about the batteries being IP67 dust- and water-resistant. If. like me, you’ve been running sealed AGM batteries this whole time, that particular feature seems a bit… self-evident?
With a bit of language like "With fitment to cover more than 95 percent of powersports applications" you would expect that there would be a fitment guide on the OPTIMA website for powersports applications. Perhaps (hopefully) this product is so new, their web designers have not had a chance to squeeze the "motorcycle" or "side by side" or "ATV" applications into their fitment calculator. That's right, these batteries do not officially fit motorcycles (yet).
But! If you look at the specs of the OPTIMA ORANGETOP batteries, you’ll see they’re called "Quad." This is not because they’re limited to ATV applications. It's a descriptor of terminal placement at all four corners. Anyone who's ever tried to retrofit the other "O" brand of battery into a KLR knows this struggle.
Also, the PHCA (similar but not quite equivalent to CCA) rating looks like it will support a bike just fine. And the physical dimensions will definitely qualify for motorcycle fitment. I checked, and the ORANGETOP QUAD16 is a pretty good fit for a 2005-2013 BMW R12GS. The Amp-Hours rating on these is a bit lower than a traditional AGM. Li-Ion batteries behave differently, though, so maybe that's no big deal.
Now all we need OPTIMA to do is release pricing and figure out which of these batteries will fit into which motorcycles. And then we wait for the early adopters to tell the rest of us all about their experiences in the ADV forum.