What price should a new battery be for a 'big bike?' Phuket prices seem silly

[illy]

Need a new battery for my Ninja 650R.

Last time I bought one it was about 1900bht. Been looking now and some shops want 4000bht...I am pretty sure that's a 'farang in Phuket price"???

I know things have gotten horribly expensive in Phuket but that sounds ridiculous. The best price I can find is 2700bht for Yuasa brand, which is what I have now but it only lasted 14 months.

What should I be paying for one?

[NormanW]

About 3k is the norm for that type of battery.

[speedtripler]

I've bought them for 1600-1700 but Thai variety

Yuasa is imported from Taiwan and is a top brand so you should expect to pay at least 1k more than a Thai generic brand

Kawasaki @ rama9 charged me 1700 for my last versys battery which should be the same part number as your ninja battery if you can go there

[illy]

yes 1700 is what I paid last time now they want 2500bht @ Kawasaki Phuket. i am sure the battery is the same as the Versys.

thanks for the info.

[English_M_in_Bkk]

I just got one for an ER6N at Kawasaki Rama 9, was 2000.

Maybe they can ship you one?

[B1ade]

I ordered one for my 848, ordered it from ducati phuket over the phone, didnt think to ask how much, just presumed about 4k, went to pick it up and got presented with a 7200 bill! nearly fell over. I'll be shopping around next time

[CNXTim]

Yuasa is 100% Japanese and they have a JV factory for motorcycle batteries in Thailand;

http://yuasathai.com/english/company_profile.html

Or Google it if this link doesn't work

Importing from a factory in South Korea or Taiwan? I don't think so, especially for motorcycles manufactured here...

Edited August 7, 2015 by CNXTim

[carter1882]

Never worth skimping on a good battery...ask any decent bike rider or someone with a pacemaker.

[misterphil]

Before you fork out all that money for a new battery, get one of these.

http://www.optimate.co.uk/cg020001.htm

I work away and every time I came home my bike battery was flat and wouldn't take a charge. Since I started using this optimate over 3 years ago I've never had to buy a new battery.

They condition your battery, de-sulphate it, charge it and tests it all in one. This is the one I have and they're available in Thailand. Got mine from Kawasaki Pattaya. Think it was about 3,500 baht.

http://www.optimate.co.uk/optimate%204%20dual.htm

[speedtripler]

Yuasa is 100% Japanese and they have a JV factory for motorcycle batteries in Thailand;

http://yuasathai.com/english/company_profile.html

Or Google it if this link doesn't work

Importing from a factory in South Korea or Taiwan? I don't think so, especially for motorcycles manufactured here...

I left my suzuki bandit 1255cc unused for a year and there was no way to start it, even with jump leads so I called Dr bike..

He cleaned out the fuel tank and injectors and put in a new almost 3k battery and when I queried it he said the battery is from Taiwan from Yuasa and the price he charged was a fair price

I opened the bike to check and there is a Yuasa battery that says made in Taiwan on the sticker but I know stickers can say anything but Yuasa do have a battery manufacturing factory in Taiwan so he may be telling the truth? http://www.yuasa.com.tw/index_en.php

He gets the benefit of the doubt in this case but I would have preferred to use a Thai battery or at least be given the choice whether to use expensive parts or local made ones

[tracker]

bought one years ago for my tdm850. wanted the real thing. paid 4000thb. Got a yuasa. 1 year and 2months later it gave up on me (the old one lasted 5 years). I still had the old battery and compared. The only difference i found that the last bought one lacked the "made in japan" logo. I searched online and order a "yuasa" for 1200thb, home delivered. (you get the acid seperately so the shelf life of the unused battery is long).

[HooHaa]

Yuasa around 3k as i recall

[Si Thea01]

I know this is about motorcycle batteries but can anyone tell me why the price difference between a motorcycle and a car battery, the latter only costing between B1900 to B2500? I fnd that the car batteries only last two to three years, the later if you're lucky, so do cycle batteries have the same life span?

[illy]

the shops that sell the Yuasas here in Phuket all say they are imported from Taiwan, like that is GOOD thing!!??

looks like 2700bht is good deal...cant seem to find any other brand than Yuasa here in Phuket.

Thanks for the info folks...

[misterphil]

I know this is about motorcycle batteries but can anyone tell me why the price difference between a motorcycle and a car battery, the latter only costing between B1900 to B2500? I fnd that the car batteries only last two to three years, the later if you're lucky, so do cycle batteries have the same life span?

See my post #9

[illy]

yes I agree, in my experience 1 to 3 years tops for battery life car or big bike it seems. motorcycle batteries are usually sealed units.

I know this is about motorcycle batteries but can anyone tell me why the price difference between a motorcycle and a car battery, the latter only costing between B1900 to B2500? I fnd that the car batteries only last two to three years, the later if you're lucky, so do cycle batteries have the same life span?

See my post #9

[Si Thea01]

Before you fork out all that money for a new battery, get one of these.

http://www.optimate.co.uk/cg020001.htm

I work away and every time I came home my bike battery was flat and wouldn't take a charge. Since I started using this optimate over 3 years ago I've never had to buy a new battery.

They condition your battery, de-sulphate it, charge it and tests it all in one. This is the one I have and they're available in Thailand. Got mine from Kawasaki Pattaya. Think it was about 3,500 baht.

http://www.optimate.co.uk/optimate%204%20dual.htm

Can you get one for a car or are they only for motorcycles?

[Si Thea01]

I know this is about motorcycle batteries but can anyone tell me why the price difference between a motorcycle and a car battery, the latter only costing between B1900 to B2500? I fnd that the car batteries only last two to three years, the later if you're lucky, so do cycle batteries have the same life span?

See my post #9

Thanks, saw your post but tht doesn't answer the question.

[illy]

I use a similar thing called an "Oxford" not sure if its as good as the one you are talking about here. I have a bike in Australia as well which is dormant for up to 7 months of the year. I keep it hooked up when not in use and never have battery problems .

In Thailand I keep it hooked up to another "Oxford' and use the bike regularly but still the battery wont last longer than 18 months max.

The battery I have now will take a charge but wont hold it longer than 1 day so I think its a goner, [again]

so may as well buy cheap Thai battery as the Yuasa doesn't seem to be any better.

Before you fork out all that money for a new battery, get one of these.

http://www.optimate.co.uk/cg020001.htm

I work away and every time I came home my bike battery was flat and wouldn't take a charge. Since I started using this optimate over 3 years ago I've never had to buy a new battery.

They condition your battery, de-sulphate it, charge it and tests it all in one. This is the one I have and they're available in Thailand. Got mine from Kawasaki Pattaya. Think it was about 3,500 baht.

http://www.optimate.co.uk/optimate%204%20dual.htm

[misterphil]

Before you fork out all that money for a new battery, get one of these.

http://www.optimate.co.uk/cg020001.htm

I work away and every time I came home my bike battery was flat and wouldn't take a charge. Since I started using this optimate over 3 years ago I've never had to buy a new battery.

They condition your battery, de-sulphate it, charge it and tests it all in one. This is the one I have and they're available in Thailand. Got mine from Kawasaki Pattaya. Think it was about 3,500 baht.

http://www.optimate.co.uk/optimate%204%20dual.htm

Can you get one for a car or are they only for motorcycles?

Car, bike, boat any 12v battery.

[misterphil]

I know this is about motorcycle batteries but can anyone tell me why the price difference between a motorcycle and a car battery, the latter only costing between B1900 to B2500? I fnd that the car batteries only last two to three years, the later if you're lucky, so do cycle batteries have the same life span?

See my post #9

Thanks, saw your post but tht doesn't answer the question.

" I find that the car batteries only last two to three years, the later if you're lucky, so do cycle batteries have the same life span?"

Optimates condition and look after your battery, so they last longer.

[Si Thea01]

Before you fork out all that money for a new battery, get one of these.

http://www.optimate.co.uk/cg020001.htm

I work away and every time I came home my bike battery was flat and wouldn't take a charge. Since I started using this optimate over 3 years ago I've never had to buy a new battery.

They condition your battery, de-sulphate it, charge it and tests it all in one. This is the one I have and they're available in Thailand. Got mine from Kawasaki Pattaya. Think it was about 3,500 baht.

http://www.optimate.co.uk/optimate%204%20dual.htm

Can you get one for a car or are they only for motorcycles?

Car, bike, boat any 12v battery.

Thanks

Edited August 7, 2015 by Si Thea01

[tomyumchai]

if you surf ebay for a while looking at all the pretty pictures of batteries on there you will soon notice the casings are mostly indentical, only the name on the outside and the price changes. what this suggests to me is that theyre generated from the same chinese factories and sold as 'brand x' at whatever price brand x fancies.

just because it says yuasa doesnt mean its yuasa inside.

and to answer the question i buy my batteries from an electrical shop in pattaya on soi siam country club, 200m up from sukhumvit on the left side. cbr/fz/street triple sized batteries are 1100 bt.

and we bought a monster sized x11 battery in petchabun for 1200bt so id say you phuket riders are having your pants pulled down....

[pipeflaw]

I just replaced mine on a Magna 750 and it was 1000THB.

[tajtom]

D Tracker 250 genuine is 1420 baht

[tajtom]

Dear old Phuket...................... Isann immigrants landed to set up shop to rob falangs. Firstly you require schooling to complete a good rort LOL>

Yeah there dicking you

[speedtripler]

D Tracker 250 genuine is 1420 baht

Genuine kawasaki is Thai generic at least in their hq at rama9, my genuine versys battery cost 1700 and is a fair bit bigger than a Dtracker but that doesn't mean Yuasa or top quality import brands don't cost more whether we agree with it or not....

[brianj1964]

the shops that sell the Yuasas here in Phuket all say they are imported from Taiwan, like that is GOOD thing!!??

looks like 2700bht is good deal...cant seem to find any other brand than Yuasa here in Phuket.

Thanks for the info folks...

if you contact Tommy at Bangkok bike finder, he is very helpful,and he will send it to phuket, advice is always free from him

[Lokie]

I use an Oxford maximiser, leave plugged in (intelligent charger) and like the optimate can recover a poor battery, but if a battery is goosed then it is time for a new one and as said Yausa is one of the leading brands worlwide used by many bike manufacturers

ps, when using a maximiser on a bike I have never had to change a battery so more than pays for itself (mine was half price from MCN in UK) about 10 years ago

[menzies233]

I bought a new Yuasa for my Honda late last year, the Thai battery prices for a Chinese / Thai brand were about 450-600 Baht, but were just a little short of the recommended power for the Honda, the Yuasa came with bottles of acid mix that you had to pour in and activate then charge, it was 4 times the cost of the local batteries.

The original Yuasa had only lasted 2 years, gave absolutely no warning it was on the way out, worked fine Tuesday, completely dead Wednesday, 10 volts!

Saying that though, my Toyota Tiger goes through new batteries every 2-3 years, must be the heat as in the UK I never changed a battery in a car even after 10 years, here it seems to be normal. The best warranty even on a 4500 Baht battery is just about 2 years.