Storing Battery for winter???
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Storing Battery for winter???
Ok so I know that in the manual it says to take the battery out for storing and place a battery tender on it. Now I have heard some people say they store thier bike without doing that. They say a full battery will not lose power. The bike is going to be in storage for about 3 to 5 months. Can I just start the bike once a week or two and let it run for awhile or is it better to just take the battery out and put it on a tender?? Just wondering what most people do???
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From: OH, KY & WV
RE: Storing Battery for winter???
Leave it in, but disconnect the leads. You run a risk of electrical damage charging a battery often and leaving it connected. Blown fuses and so on. But, the battery will lose a charge over time. How fast, it depends on the age and battery condition. If you start the bike to just let it run, you're doing more harm to the battery. The battery doesn't charge on bikes until higher RPM's like 5000. That's why it's important to not add a lot of light and electrical equipment, while we are resting in traffic, we're killing the battery.
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RE: Storing Battery for winter???
ORIGINAL: doncollins
Leave it in, but disconnect the leads. You run a risk of electrical damage charging a battery often and leaving it connected. Blown fuses and so on. But, the battery will lose a charge over time. How fast, it depends on the age and battery condition. If you start the bike to just let it run, you're doing more harm to the battery. The battery doesn't charge on bikes until higher RPM's like 5000. That's why it's important to not add a lot of light and electrical equipment, while we are resting in traffic, we're killing the battery.
Leave it in, but disconnect the leads. You run a risk of electrical damage charging a battery often and leaving it connected. Blown fuses and so on. But, the battery will lose a charge over time. How fast, it depends on the age and battery condition. If you start the bike to just let it run, you're doing more harm to the battery. The battery doesn't charge on bikes until higher RPM's like 5000. That's why it's important to not add a lot of light and electrical equipment, while we are resting in traffic, we're killing the battery.
About the under 5,000 rpms not charging the battery, is that in the manual? Just want some confirmation so that if I tell that to other people, I will have something to back it up.
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From: OH, KY & WV
RE: Storing Battery for winter???
You can find that info in the shop manual, I don't think it's in the owner’s manual. Look up things like electrical trouble shooting and it will tell you to use a multi meter and rev the engine up to 5000 rpms to measure the out put of the rectifier.
edited to add: I understand the need to back it the info, I've always heard this and just took it as a fact. But, I too like to know why and see it in print from reliable sources.
edited to add: I understand the need to back it the info, I've always heard this and just took it as a fact. But, I too like to know why and see it in print from reliable sources.
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RE: Storing Battery for winter???
ORIGINAL: doncollins
You can find that info in the shop manual, I don't think it's in the owner’s manual. Look up things like electrical trouble shooting and it will tell you to use a multi meter and rev the engine up to 5000 rpms to measure the out put of the rectifier.
edited to add: I understand the need to back it the info, I've always heard this and just took it as a fact. But, I too like to know why and see it in print from reliable sources.
You can find that info in the shop manual, I don't think it's in the owner’s manual. Look up things like electrical trouble shooting and it will tell you to use a multi meter and rev the engine up to 5000 rpms to measure the out put of the rectifier.
edited to add: I understand the need to back it the info, I've always heard this and just took it as a fact. But, I too like to know why and see it in print from reliable sources.
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From: Indiana
RE: Storing Battery for winter???
my opinion is if you're going to disconnect the leads, you might as well take the battery out. it'll only take an extra 30 seconds. hook it up to a battery tender and forget about it till the weather gets warm.
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RE: Storing Battery for winter???
I was saying leave it in so he doesn't have to worry about placing it on the right material. You'll have to have a sheet of rubber to store it on. And if he leaves it on, he can quickly connect the the leads, roll the bike out to start it up for a while. 5 months is a long time to let it sit without running it.
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RE: Storing Battery for winter???
ORIGINAL: doncollins
I was saying leave it in so he doesn't have to worry about placing it on the right material. You'll have to have a sheet of rubber to store it on. And if he leaves it on, he can quickly connect the the leads, roll the bike out to start it up for a while. 5 months is a long time to let it sit without running it.
I was saying leave it in so he doesn't have to worry about placing it on the right material. You'll have to have a sheet of rubber to store it on. And if he leaves it on, he can quickly connect the the leads, roll the bike out to start it up for a while. 5 months is a long time to let it sit without running it.
Heck, there might be days during the winter where I could go out for a ride
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RE: Storing Battery for winter???
I'm using a battery tender this winter for the first time. I plan to leave the battery in the bike. I was just reading the instructions that came with the battery tender. Assuming our bikes are negative-grounded, where should I connect the negative (black) clip? Is there something in that area that I can use, or should I just connect it to the negative post? I can't visualize what's under the seat.
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From: OH, KY & WV
RE: Storing Battery for winter???
The battery is wide open... I just looked at mine in the freezing cold. Just connect it to the battery, but consider disconnecting the leads. You never know if your power gets a surge...