Recommend batteries

I'm going to have to buy a new battery.
It's been years since I've had a motorcycle, but I don't ride every day, sometimes once a week or even once a month.
In the past I've always had a trickle charger...id charge it every 3 or 4 days for an hour or so.
This has gotten me 5 years or so out of a battery. Now with the new technologies, what is the standard type battery.
I know there are lithium, gel, and other types of batteries.....

Lithiums are expensive but much less weight.
The silverwing is a big beastie at the best of times so the weight loss will be minimal and make bugger all difference.
I'd go with a quality standard battery, but its your money.
Good call on the trickle charger, stay with it.

Thanks Steve, I’ll take your advice.
It’s always worked for me in the past!

For what it's worth. I have an 08 SWing and put a Battery Tender Lithium Ion battery in mine almost 4 years ago and haven't had any problems with it. Here in MN during the winter I put it on the charger once a month to maintain the charge. During the summer I don't charge it because I'm riding it all the time. The weight difference to me wasn't a factor. The original gel cell weighed 8.5 lbs and the Lithium weighs 1.75 lbs.

http://products.batterytender.com/Batteries/240-CCA-Lithium-Engine-Start-Battery.html

This is the one I have and it looks like the price went up a bit since I bought mine. I paid just over $100 for mine, if I remember right.

What is wrong with OEM battery? For the 50,000 miles each of my new SilverWings went---OEM battery works fine/fits. Had one battery problem----ran it flat with tire compressor, My Fault, in Maine---compressor now in trash---got jump starts, rode back to TN. Bought another OEM battery, not cheap.

Have never owned battery charger or trickle charger---ride everyday and try to leave after market junk off bike----been doing this since 1955.

I bought a battery Tender Lith Ion battery for my previous bike, and it was giving me 4+ years and going strong before I traded in the bike. It has been claimed that a Li Ion battery will last 7 years, and for a bike, that's very good. I think I would have gotten at least that longevity, had I not traded in the bike.

Dale, that's how I tended my Li ion. If you get a Li Ion, follow Dale's post above. Also, in my research I found advice that says you should use a Battery Tender charger for a Battery Tender Li Ion battery, or even for a non-BT Li Ion battery. It seems the Li Ion has different characteristics that don't lend themselves to continuous trickle charging. Maybe some experts will have posts to explain this.

Steve's post above is also good to consider.

But, JimmyK, it seems that you are very good at maintaining your normal battery, and economy-wise, you might do better financially with a normal battery with your current trickle charger. Five years on a MC battery is much more than what is expected, with or without your limited riding times. Some folks who don't ride much tend to neglect the battery in their machines. Even a good new battery becomes insulted with neglect. I've seen them last as little as one year without maintenance.

While the subject of batteries is up, keep in mind that a cheap battery can rattle apart internally and short the plates. Not only can this leave you stranded with a dead battery, but out of service with a burned out stator.

Does it pay to buy OEM? You bet Yuasa it does!