Upgrading The Battery In Late-Model KTMs - Dirt Rider Magazine

Gainesville, FL

In Dirt Rider's May 2010 Trail Tips there was a tip on upgrading the battery in late-model KTMs. I just noticed that same article is on your web page: http://www.dirtrider.com/tech/141_1005_big_battery_ktm_motorcycle_tip.The recommended YTX7L-BS battery is much taller than the stock YTX5L-BS battery. It is too tall to fit in a stock KTM battery box. I tried this on my son's '03 450 EXC and ended up having to get another model. The battery dimensions are: YTX5L-BS = 114mm x 71mm x 106mm. The YTX7L-BS = 114mm x 71mm x 131mm. What does work well is the Yuasa YTZ7S. It is 113mm x 70mm x 105mm so it is virtually the same size as the standard YTX5L-BS battery, but this one packs a serious punch. The YTZ7S has 130 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) versus the stock 80 CCA. In fact, it is much more powerful than the 100 CCA YTX7L-BS battery your article recommends. The YTZ7S is 25 percent more powerful yet. Dealerships typically will not accept returns of electrical components like batteries, so there might be a few sad faces out there.