[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

For several years I thought my battery was getting weak but I always kept it on a maintainer so it most always worked just fine. But the last couple of weeks even on the maintainer it acted like it just didn't have the CCAs it needed to spin it past the compression strokes as it once did. Just a sound and a feel. On the last ride it acted like it was tired when starting it after the lunch break. Then here at home I put it in the shop and didn't hook up the maintainer for two days. That was all it took. She would spin up to a compression stroke and just stop. Slapped the maintainer on it for a few minutes and she was off and running.. and putting out 14.5 volts so...the time has come. I guess 5 years is OK.

I know a lot of you have gone with different batteries over the years and would be interested in hearing your experiences and recommendations.

5 years.... I'd go back with what ever you got now. That's not bad for something that is not used everyday. At least it got you home.

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

5 years.... I'd go back with what ever you got now. That's not bad for something that is not used everyday. At least it got you home.

Yeah probably will. I had a LI Shorai battery in my Brute Force that spun it like an air starter...loved that thing and it was so light. But for these the cost of even a cheap LI is well over 200 bucks and a Shorai is...well not even close to what I want to spend. Good AGM batteries are also not cheap. It, like all the rest came with a Yuasa YIX30L-BS (M6230X) at about $103.

I've never heard of li shorai. Are they good bats. I don't mind spending the money if it ain't going to leave me stranded.

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I've never heard of li shorai. Are they good bats. I don't mind spending the money if it ain't going to leave me stranded.

Shorai make Lithium Ion batteries (LI) Probably have to use at least one of these...the 405 CCA,  and you also need the special maintainer as well. But...what a battery!

https://shoraipower.com/battery?type=179&make=380878&model=382412&year=382412

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I went a head and pulled the top cap off to see if or how low the water/acid levels were and ..wow...it was almost bone dry..and had been for so long that all the visible plates were completely swollen together and crusted with sulfation. So much for "maintenance-free". It either was not filled completely from the dealer or these really will loose a lot of their water content over time. No leaks anywhere so..must be one of those reasons. I think from now on every couple of years I am going to check the fluid level and add distilled water if necessary. At least when it fails, it won't be because of exposed plates. Oh...and I have a new Yuasa coming.   

Yuasa gets my vote for best quality & life expectancy. I wouldn't want to know the number of batteries I've filled & initiated over the years....it would be in the hundreds & more likely thousands. Hold up one hand, probably less than the number of Yuasa failures.....I'm a stickler for proper orientation.....for long life.

In my less than 3 years with CFMOTO brand & their Chinese batteries supplied with Cdn units......I've never seen so many battery failures......not even as good as junk. The big laugh is how the distributor wants the dealers to have high end expensive conditioners to tell them their batteries are junk 

As far as your low fluid levels, I've a small solar system that I've installed in my fifth wheel. I have learned how critical correct charging is & most get it wrong. That would include how vehicle charging system's work....blame that for your fluid levels 

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

Yuasa gets my vote for best quality & life expectancy. I wouldn't want to know the number of batteries I've filled & initiated over the years....it would be in the hundreds & more likely thousands. Hold up one hand, probably less than the number of Yuasa failures.....I'm a stickler for proper orientation.....for long life.

In my less than 3 years with CFMOTO brand & their Chinese batteries supplied with Cdn units......I've never seen so many battery failures......not even as good as junk. The big laugh is how the distributor wants the dealers to have high end expensive conditioners to tell them their batteries are junk 

As far as your low fluid levels, I've a small solar system that I've installed in my fifth wheel. I have learned how critical correct charging is & most get it wrong. That would include how vehicle charging system's work....blame that for your fluid levels 

I wonder if it depends on the country they are being imported into but mine came with a Yuasa battery..and it says "Made in the USA" which got a head-scratch out of me. Why would CFM bring over batteries just to send them back..and there is you in BC you get Chinese batteries.. weird. I use a smart maintainer..but it's an older one. Think I'll get a new one just to be safe. 

I'm on year 3 with the stock battery.  No issues.  Throw it on the maintainer every now and then. 

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I'm on year 3 with the stock battery.  No issues.  Throw it on the maintainer every now and then. 

While I was waiting for the new one to come I pulled the old one, filled it with distilled water...cause it was way below the top of the plates, and put it on a 1.5 amp maintainer for a week and a half. It did finally come back up.. so now I have a perfectly good battery sitting on my bench. Was thinking about dropping it in as a second battery but...don't need it.. or the extra weight. Guess I'll just toss it.

I usually keep them, in case I need a core and don't have another battery to turn in.

Finally had to replace mine after 4 years. Oh well, can't complain..

If it had visible sulfation then I'd think it might be a zombie battery, should be dead but still stumbling around.
5 years is good service for an ORV battery. 
(BTW, sometimes I read people refer to it as a 'batter'. No Y. Can't quite wrap my head around the distinction but oh well...)

I've had the same luck with my batter as with the rest of the machine. I'm on my third year now and it can sit all winter in the toy hauler, no maintainer ever (though usually I am a stickler for that and the King Quad needs it or it will go right flat over winter), and even so I just turn the key in the spring and it spins like a sewing machine and fires right up. Go figure.
But when the time comes for a battery it'll be a good old Yuasa.