Battery Tender for the Winter Months

[Baltimore Buell]

For those who have to store the bike over the winter, does anyone have any good advice for using a battery tender? Do I leave it on 24/7 for the next 4-5 months or is once a week good enough. Battery is about 2 years old.


I am looking at this guy since its small and seems to have some "brains" to regulate its modes.

http://batterytender.com/motorcycle/battery-tender-junior-6v-at-0-75a.html

 

[xl_cheese]

That's a great battery tender.

You just leave it plugged in. It knows when it's topped off and will only charge as needed. It will not overcharge your battery.

-wes
PinkGorillaCycles.com

 

[vroom]

Pretty sure you need the 12V model. I got this one from eastwood. Same brand.
http://www.eastwood.com/battery-tender-jr-12v.html

 

[Stevenc150]

I agree with xl, but for reasons I don't understand, when I left mine plugged up full time, it would hesitate badly at the next initial startup. I started charging once-a-week and it's golden - fires right up.

 

[ronmetzler]

do you disconnect the battery from the bike when using the tender? or can you leave the battery connected to the bike?

 

[vroom]

Leave it hooked up. The jr comes with a dongle like thing that you hook up to the battery and leave. I routed mine so that it exits next to the rear brake resevoir for quick connecting. I don't have to remove the seat. The link I posted before has a video that shows what I'm talking about.

 

[ronmetzler]

Cool. I have been considering ordering tenders for my 3 bikes and I think I will. Another question- What if a battery is already dead, will the tender fully charge it up or does the battery have to have a charge in order for the tender to work?

 

[vroom]

The tender will charge it so long as it's not bad. It'll just take longer. It uses low amps, where a normal charger uses higher amps.

Edit:
Some good info
http://batterytender.com/resources/frequently-asked-questions.htm

 

[ronmetzler]

Thanks. The battery I'm referring to is only 2.5 years old so it should still be good.

 

[lifeisafractal]

The lowest amperage setting you can use is best whenever charging a lead acid battery. The lower, the slower, but it is best for extending the usable life of the battery. Pretty much any battery tender you see is essentially a voltage controlled current source, aka, when the battery hits its peak charge of about 14v the charger stops outputting. "over charging" is not really an issue, but make sure you check with the manual for your changer for safety's sake.

For the record, if there is one things lead acid batteries hate its being fully discharged and left like that. One full discharge on a battery followed by letting it sit for even a few days and its toast.

 

[Baltimore Buell]

Poster thanks for all the helpful tips.

Vroom,
You are correct,[up] I need to purchase the 12V model. My bike will be in storage in a garage with no access to an outlet. If I completly remove the batter and bring it indoors for the winter months, will there be an issues with the bike? Sorry for all the questions but this is my first bike and Im not trying to completely botch the winter storage procedure.

 

[lifeisafractal]

removing the battery should be fine. All data in the ECM is stored in a non-volatile EEPROM that doesn't need power to save the settings. Should be just fine, its really not too bad of an idea either, I used to do it with all my other bikes, I just got my Buell this season however, but I plan on pulling the battery.

 

[ronmetzler]

I ordered some tenders for my bikes. If I hook them up with the wires that "bolt" on to the battery positive and negative, can I permanently mount them to the bike and secure them to a location that is out of the way, but easily accessible? Or should they be removed when not in use?

 

[chevnut55]

do not buy a cheapo tender,you will burn down your house/garage and more important your bike!
i have 1 brand name tender that works fine. i have10 other batterys that need to be kept up so i bought some cheap ones since they are a bit expencive. i tryed one out it was a small tender with a plug,looked safe enough. i checked on it the next day and it was hot and melting! luckey for me i did not just leave it until spring.

 

[oldman61]

i use a battery tender all the time. my xb12scg came with the quick connect harness already installed from the dealer. i installed the harness on my sportster. go to the battery tender web site for more information. jpcycles.com has the battery tender plus other goodies to get. any cycle shop should have them too.