OptiMate Lithium - " ten years on and even better "
\ When TecMate exhibited at the Indianapolis Dealer Expo in 2010 , CEO / CTO Martin Human was on a mission - to research the emergence of lithium batteries , a then new power source that was said to be a more powerful and lighter aftermarket replacement for lead-acid batteries . Following visits to the likes of Shorai , Ballistic and other exhibiting battery companies , it became apparent that there was a need for a dedicated aftermarket battery charger for lithium batteries - one that could be relied upon to safely recharge the battery , especially from a deep discharged state , which is when it is most vulnerable to damage . Following his subsequent research into the specific lithium technology primarily in use at the time - namely Lithium Ferrous Phosphate ( LiFePO4 , also known by its acronym LFP ) - the OptiMate Lithium LFP 4s 5A ( TM-290 series ) was released in 2012 . It quickly became the reference charger for powersport lithium batteries , endorsed and globally recommended by Honda , Kawasaki and Yamaha as the lithium battery charger of choice for their worldwide network of dealers . It also formed the basis for other OptiMate lithium battery charger models that followed , including the highly popular ' riders ' charger ', the OptiMate Lithium LFP 4s 0.8A ( TM-470 series ), also endorsed
and recommended by Yamaha and Kawasaki . Ten years on , and lithium starter batteries have reached ' mainstream ' level , with motorcycle OEMs now releasing models with a lithium battery as stock . Motorcycles have also ' moved on ' in technology , with electronically adjustable options for suspension , engine power and torque and ride modes , with larger screens that display and connect with phone and GPS information . Many rider options remain only selectable when the engine is not running , for obvious safety reasons . That can be a problem for the smaller lithium battery that typically has two to three times less amp-hour capacity than the lead-acid battery it replaced . Some advanced lithium batteries include resettable protection against deep discharge , turning off power when the lowest allowable charge level is reached , but a standard lithium battery should not be discharged too low . Martin says that " the new OptiMate Lithium LFP 4s 6A ( TM-390 series ) addresses all those concerns . It includes all the safety and charging features of the ground-breaking TM-290 series , and it offers two more features to cope with modern demands . " A TUNE mode that delivers a stable 13.6V with up to 5 amps of power that protects the battery against discharge when the parked motorcycle ' s rider settings are adjusted . " The second is a pushbutton activated BMS reset function that will reset and re-energize a battery with built-in deep discharge protection . " The OptiMate Lithium 4s 6A ( TM-390 series ) replaces the OptiMate Lithium 4s 5A ( TM-290 series ), and is now available from TecMate worldwide , including the newly formed TecMate Japan ."
TECMATE Tienen , BELGIUM Tel : + 32 ( 0 ) 16 805 440 www . tecmate . com www . optimate1 . com
XRADICAL gaskets for Beta RR / Racing 125 / 250
Described as offering " maximum engine protection ", Spanish gasket manufacturer Artein ' s XRADICAL Super Gaskets range is growing with the addition of kits for 2018-2022 Beta RR and RR Racing models . The company offers gaskets and kits for every maintenance task and set-up - including complete gasket sets , top end sets , smart kits and individual spare gaskets . Specifically designed to meet the unique demands and rigours of Off-Road and MX , XRADICAL top end kits include the essential gasket kit for cylinder set-ups - cylinder base and head , exhaust and valve , distribution chain tensioner gaskets and all the necessary replacement washers and O- rings . Artein ' s SMART kit is a convenient , extended gasket kit for top end repair , which includes cylinder base , cylinder head , exhaust , exhaust valve , distribution chain
tensioner , reed valve , clutch cover and friction disc cover . " For the ultimate in workshop preparedness , the XRADICAL complete set is the indispensable gasket set for complete engine maintenance ( including valve stem seals ) and for those with a very specific requirement ; all XRADICAL gaskets are also
available individually ". All XRADICAL gaskets are properly packed with protective packaging that ensures protection and safe delivery . All two-stroke sets include " several thicknesses of cylinder base gasket - three or four depending on the kit - to ensure the dealer has the right option for a perfect and customised set-up ". Export Manager Esther Junca told IDN :" our cylinder base gaskets are always in Victor Reinz AFM34 , except when the original is metallic . We use Victor Reinz AFM34 ( in soft green ) for low compressibility applications which require a very high precision , like the cylinder base . It is a top grade , internationally recognised material with 5-8 % compressibility and 55 % recovery with high temperature resistance ( peaks of 400 degrees C )."
ARTEIN GASKETS Fornells de la Selva , SPAIN Tel : + 34 972 201 272 info @ arteingaskets . com www . xradicalsupergaskets . com
50 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - JUNE / JULY 2022 www . idnmag . com