Motorcycle Tech
Buying a replacement motorcycle battery? Who made it, and how to make it last longer.
Here are a couple of resources that can help you choose a new motorcycle battery.
First, here's a Consumer Reports automotive battery article that says, in part:
Most auto batteries are made by just three manufacturers, Delphi, Exide, and Johnson Controls Industries. Each makes batteries sold under several different brand names. Delphi makes ACDelco and some EverStart (Wal-Mart) models. Exide makes Champion, Exide, Napa, and some EverStart batteries. Johnson Controls makes Diehard (Sears), Duralast (AutoZone), Interstate, Kirkland (Costco), Motorcraft (Ford), and some EverStarts.
D.I.Y. hydrogen-powered motorcycle
Here's something you don't see every day: a do-it-yourself hydrogen-powered motorcycle.
Alex Bell and Andres Pacheco (who are engineering majors at Swarthmore College) spent two years and approx. $10,000 developing the motorcycle for a class project.
Synthetic oil during engine break-in? Here's what the oil manufacturers say...
I've heard it said that one should not use synthetic oil during break-in, because it can impair proper wear-in of the rings and other moving parts.
Well, my daughter (lucky gal) just bought a new 2007 Pontiac Solstice, and lo and behold, the car comes equipped with synthetic oil from the factory. Corvettes, Vipers, and many others do too!
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So, this must mean that, at least for some new engines, that it's perfectly OK to run synthetic oils from day one. Does this apply to motorcycle engines? Hard to say. I assume that it depends on the manufacturing methods used, but these days, I assume most all automotive engines (including motorcycles, of course) use similar methods and are manufactured to close tolerances and require less rigorous break-ins than did engines made when I was a wee lad. So, the answer is: perhaps.
Enough of my uninformed rambling! What do the oil manufacturers say?
The Oil Filter Study - An Oldie But Goodie
Oil filters are an important part of the proper operation of an engine - a quality oil filter is critical to engine longevity . While our choices are limited and budgets are tight, it's important to avoid falling for the false economy of a cheap oil filter.
The Amazing Ten-Year Motorcycle Battery
I replaced my motorcycle battery last week. It stopped holding a charge sometime this winter.
The amazing thing about this is that the battery was manufactured in 1997. That's right - ten years ago. It was the OEM YUASA YTX12-BS battery that was in the bike when I bought my Honda CBR1100XX new in 1998.
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