Quite simple i have a 916 and it is tucked up in the garage, waiting for the rain to stop :redface: ( this year ) can anyone recommend a trickle charger ? or something else to keep the battery in good charge. Thanks.
I am using one of the Datatool smartchargers: DATATOOL BATTERY CHARGER / CONDITIONER / OPTIMISER | eBay - came free with a CBR6 I rescued a year or two back? The charger lead stays bolted to the battery, & exits in a weather-proof connector by the left footrest, gets a bump-charge every few days if not used, plus a quick 5-minute top-up if I have time before a ride? Lots of quality smart-chargers around now from Optimate etc? :smile:
Ctek for me too and its one that has stayed working the longest for me. previous 3 Optimates all dead, 1/2 an Accumen Platinum (charges 2 batteries -or it did)
Had a Data tool charger working for the last five years. Used all the time and never let me down yet. Regards Steve
Optimate 4, has been switched on 24/7 for the last 3 years no problemo, I also have a cheaper oxford charger hooked up to the Fireblade, once again no issues, If I was to buy another I would be swayed by the latest optimate but it's your budget
Slightly away from the original thread but something i was told by an auto electrician recently. I was having the Averto alarm removed from my CB1300S workhorse as the alarm is shit and annoyed me. He noticed my optimate leads and asked if i leave it on permanently. I dont as i use it every day in all weathers but occasionally i treat it to a weekend on charge. He warned of some of these 'leave on permanently trickle chargers' drying out batteries and killing them. I said i used to have my 1098 on charge whenever not in use (as it wouldnt start well at the best of times) and it hadnt been an issue. But he would be classed as having more knowledge on the topic than me. Just a thought.
+ 1 Mine gets a bump charge then gets disconnected, smart-charger or not... cant do them good to stay connected?
My garage isnt attached to my house so I use an Oxford solar powered one. If the sun ever comes out it will work fine
The Oxford solar charger a good bit of kit,kept my battery going all thru the winter.mind u there was a lot more sun in the winter so was out on the bike more then than now.roll on November.
I use the original Spyball alarm charger that came with my ZX9R almost 20 years ago and I've only had to replace the battery twice (one of those times was due to the battery being off the bike and discharged over a winter). I use a CTEK MXS 5 on the Ducati and so far it's maintained the charge just fine. I can't say a trickle charger is/isn't good for a battery but you'd hope the so-called intelligent chargers like the CTEK are designed to do the job and tested thoroughly. I've also had an Optimate charger fail so I wouldn't touch one of those.
I'm using the same Datatool optimiser I've had for my 999 since it was new - around eleven years, I reckon. No problems with batteries or charger I've had an Optimate 4 now for maybe six months, for my 750. No problems with the battery or the charger.
My Optimate which i have had since 06 charges with an orange light then goes to green once done. I was under the impression at this point it does nothing. I have changed one battery on my 749 since 06, which is constantly used and on an Optimate. From experience i don't think it does any harm whatsoever, although my regular use of the bike may help.
I put my 749R track bike on charge on Sunday (Oxford trickle charger). It appeared to be doing its job but when I tried to start it yesterday it wouldn't as the battery was only at 11.5V. Either the charger is knackered or the battery. Bike started ok about 6 weeks ago and hasn't been out of the garage this year. Any way of checking if it's the battery or charger?
I'm sure there is a clever way of testing the battery and the charger but I use an old Testune multimeter that has a setting for load-measuring the battery. It alerts me when the battery is showing a healthy voltage but there's an issue with its current output - the sort of thing that happens when a cell goes bad. I suppose you could measure the voltage on the battery and then pop an ammeter in series with the battery charger to see what amps the battery is drawing when it's "charging". If the amperage is Nil or the same regardless of what voltage the battery is showing, that might indicate a fault with the charger but I wouldn't treat that as conclusive. Substitution tests are the only way to work out where the fault lies.
Got 2 optimates....both have never failed. Tend to put them on now and again....will be getting a third for my KTM supermoto.
