Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/751464
73 www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS nDecember 2016n Traveling Light Lithium Ion Battery BikeMaster DLFP-30L-BS $319.95 Bikemaster.com Reviewed by Robert Filla Electronic advancements during the last 20 years have propelled motor- cycles into an era of techno gadgetry unimagined by our fathers. With more innovative farkels being unveiled on a weekly basis, power requirements constantly tax both charging and stor- age systems. Toss in extra cubic inches and high-compression engines and you have a recipe for potential failure when you hit that button on an empty high- way and are greeted with an exhausted battery instead of a throaty roar. My 100th Anniversary Road King came equipped with an AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) battery. Many riders report great success with this unit, accruing a staggering number of miles and years of service. It has seen duty from 1997 to present on all H-D Touring models, demonstrating itself as a reliable product. But a few years ago I wrote a review on a lithium bat- tery, became hooked on the concept and eventually switched all my bikes over to lithium. That fi rst lithium was a tiny thing, in both weight and dimen- sions. With a weight of approximately six pounds, it was a dramatic change from the OEM AGM that tipped the scales at a massive 22 pounds. And even though it packed a substantial increase in cold cranking amps (CCA) over the stock battery, it was smaller which meant having to cram a siz- able amount of packing foam around it to keep it from bouncing around inside the battery carrier. So when I discovered that BikeMaster's Lithium Ion was exactly the same size dimen- sionally as the original AGM battery, I made the decision to try something new. Plus there was a 16-percent increase in CCA over my previous lithium unit (from 540 to 625), which meant cold starts on winter days would not be a problem. (Harley- Davidson does not publish ratings for their battery but my research indicates less than 400 CCA). Installation is a simple procedure, streamlined even further since foam spacers are not required. For improved heat dissipation BikeMaster does rec- ommend elevating the unit above the fl oor of the battery box using several self-adhesive foam pads supplied with the battery. The OEM top mount Z-bracket used to secure the stock battery was a perfect fi t. The positive and negative lugs come with both top and front connections that allow for various cable routing options. A nifty feature not seen before is a push button located on top of the battery that acti- vates an adjacent digital voltage dis- play. More than a novelty, this readout provides for accurate voltage readings on the fl y (you can even monitor your charging system by depressing the push button and watching the voltage rise and fall as you operate the throttle). Additional features include cylin- drical cell with energy storage welding technology for higher output, a built- in charge and equalizing protection board that prevents overcharging, an overall weight of 6.2 pounds, vibra- tion-resistant construction allowing for multi-direction installation and a two-year warranty. If ever needed, a conventional lead-acid 12-volt charger (without pulse charging function) or a specially-designed LiFeP04 battery charger can be used for charging. And since it contains no corrosive liquids or toxic heavy metals, it is environ- mentally friendly. BikeMaster was established in 1983 and is distributed exclusively in North America by Tucker Rocky. Two days after installation, I left for New Orleans for a 900-mile round-trip weekend. High temper- atures and plenty of rain along the ride made no difference in the unit's quality performance. I feel confi dent that BikeMaster's Lithium Ion Battery will provide years of maintenance-free, reliable service. 4