Replacing your ATV battery isn’t something you want to do every season (or every second season, for that matter). They’re expensive, so they should last! Thankfully, the market is moving away from the traditional lead acid types to lighter, longer lasting lithium batteries. Shorai is a leader in this type of technology, and last year, we had a chance to test one of the company’s LFX batteries.

Out of the box, the battery was surprisingly lightweight and it did not require charging (Shorai batteries come pre-charged to 90 per cent). We topped it up, however, to ensure its cranking power was up to par. We chose to test it in an older Yamaha Wolverine, an ATV that has been notorious for draining batteries.

After a simple, drop-in installation, the lights were back on, the quad started and it was once again ready to roll. Since then, we haven’t thought twice about the battery. Even after a winter and many weeks of sitting idle in the garage, the quad starts every time.

Compared to traditional lead acid batteries, Shorai LFX lithium batteries provide better starting performance because they operate at a higher voltage range and they maintain a higher voltage level during cranking. There is also less wear on the battery per start cycle, which means they last longer. And they don’t sulfate while sitting. To prove they are long-lasting, Shorai offers a three-year pro-rated warranty on its batteries.

What’s the overall verdict? A year and several kilometres later, the Shorai LFX battery is still providing the necessary cranking power to keep our old Yammy on the trail.

For more info, see the Shorai website.