The world looks brighter when

[Oss]

your bike starts and you can take a ride

First the Valk was dead then the beemer

Put the Valk on the battery tender jr for 12 hrs at a time for a few days and it started but I didnt take it out because, well frankly the driveway was still icy

Went to start the bmw last week and just got the clicking noise  Think the clock and various electric doodads were draining the battery


Fortunately the tender jr comes with a separate bmw plug attached to a pigtail connector  Unfortunately the tender does not have a pig tail connector itself so I unhooked one of the two connected to my Valk battery terminals and hooked the alligator clips on the tender to that, then that to the bmw plug

A few hours later the bmw started,  

Now the bmw has a control to turn off headlight (cops are sneaky) so whenever I start it ALWAYS the headlights are off to use less juice

The ride itself?  There is still lots of snow on the lawn and I had to break ice along the entrance to the driveway building anticipation of said ride

Since today is now 56 degrees withbright sun no real wind the ride was awesome. Lots of salt still on the road which is why I took the police bike today. The ride up and down the east bank of the Hudson was a salve for my soul. Yes riding is fun, even saw two other motorcycles out today. Didnt take any crazy risks, didnt do triple digits but did let the bike have its way a few stretches of road

Spring must be around the corner

Oss

[The emperor has no clothes]

 

[Jess from VA]

Evan, get a Tender for both bikes, and pigtails for both bikes, and leave them plugged in when parked.  At least in winter.  When you want to go riding, a green LED tells you you are good to go (every time).  20 below, no problem.  Six months no run, no problem (carbs may be a problem, but no battery).  And your batteries will last longer.

My two bikes have been plugged in when parked at home for 10+ years.  No lost batteries, no lost tenders, no fires (fuse in each): replaced battery in each bike after 8 years, just because.  I plug my car and generator electric start batteries in 24 X 7 too. 

I suppose my electric bill is $15 more each year.  I can afford it.

[sandy]

Forget the Tenders. Look up CTEK 3300 smart chargers. I've had one for years with no issues. Try Amazon for the best prices. Get an extra battery hookup cable for the 2nd bike.

[Jess from VA]

I have only used the Battery Tender, but when I say Tender, I mean any smart charger..... there's a bunch of them.

Some have reported bad luck with Battery Tender, but mine have never let me down.  The guy that sold me one of my bikes threw in a Battery Tender Plus (bigger than the Jr) and it was beat up, and it stopped working after another 5-6 years.  It happens.  But none of my Jrs have ever died (X4).

[Cracker Jack]

I have two Interstates. I use one smart charger with two extension cords hooked in parallel with the extensions long enough to reach the bikes in their parking places. Unplug a bike and go for a ride, return and plug the bike back up to it's cord.

Use the Gerbings connector for hookup. Been using one charger like this for years, no problem.

If I had another bike, I'd add another cord in parallel with existing cords. The smallest wire you have is big enough for the less than one amp pulled.

[Cracker Jack]

Parallel hookup? Just hook the plus of the extension cords to the plus coming out of the charger and the minuses to the charger minus.

The charger I use has a red LED that comes on when the batteries are charged and the charger is off. It goes off when the charger is charging. Sometimes when walking by, I'll notice the light go off for a few seconds then right back on when the batteries need a "shot of juice".

[Jess from VA]

I'm no electrical engineer, but assuming no two batteries are in the exact same condition or in need of charge, wouldn't that confuse the charger brain or cause it to maybe overcharge one to charge the other?  Perhaps the miliamp involved makes it irrelevant to the batteries, but it would seem detrimental to the little charger, over time.   Though if it has worked for you..... 

[Robert]

Tenders never shut off and can fry batteries so having it hooked to 2 makes sense, since I doubt always staying on will cause any problems. More load, less charge to one makes it a win win.

[Alpha Dog]

So glad you could get out and ride Evan. Does wonder for the mind and soul.  I got out yesterday and will again this late morning.  Seems like in 2012 Spring just may have arrived a month early.  Black birds are back and smaller birds building new nests in my pines.  Geese heading north all seem to be a good indicator.  Sure hope so.

[Psychotic Bovine]

Forget the Tenders. Look up CTEK 3300 smart chargers. I've had one for years with no issues. Try Amazon for the best prices. Get an extra battery hookup cable for the 2nd bike.

+1 on the Ctek.  A few reasons why I like them over the Battery Tender.
1: no slots for things to fall into
2: higher current output
3: settings for different batteries (settings for higher current for car battery, winter, motorcycle storage setting)
4: smoother design, no sharp edges to poke a seat if you lay it on your seat.
5: can be turned off without unplugging to start your bike on occasion when storing.
6: can be wall mounted if you keep your bike in one spot during winter storage.

[Robert]

Wont be long and you guys will be out.   About the middle to the end of February I used to put the boat in the water, since I was itchen to get out.

[Hook#3287]

Evan, good for you.

I'm jealous.

[cookiedough]

I am not really against smart chargers, etc. leaving them plugged in all winter long, but me coming from a state where normally (except for yesterday got out) you cannot ride ever from Dec. 1st to mid to late March, why not remove the battery totally from the cycle or ATV or whatever you know  you will not use for near 4 months??

I have been doing it for decades never an issue where I take battery out,  put on my 1 amp no automatic shut off battery charger for 4-5 hours  goes up to say 13.8 volts settles back down to 12.8 volts or so after an hour or so and then maybe charge up for 3-4 hours again like I did yesterday when after sitting for 2-3 months registering 12.4 or 12.5 volts back up to 12.8 volts or so??  My batteries have lasted 4-5 years as is normal I think??  Maybe the smart battery tenders make a battery last another 1-2 years being 5-6 years or not??  My reasoning on why taking the batteries out is because I think the non heated garage in ZERO degree temps can be harder on the battery even if hooked up to an automatic smart charger going on/off continously for 3-4 months straight?? Maybe??

Glad you got out for a ride as well as me being near 65 degrees out yesterday.  I did put bike back up under cover but did do a quick cleaning on the rims since had road gunk on them and will probably have to sit for 1 more month unridden, well maybe?? 

[Hook#3287]

I am not really against smart chargers, etc. leaving them plugged in all winter long, but me coming from a state where normally (except for yesterday got out) you cannot ride ever from Dec. 1st to mid to late March, why not remove the battery totally from the cycle or ATV or whatever you know  you will not use for near 4 months??

That's the way I do it, batteries on the bench, charged up, waiting on spring. 

Didn't Britman have an issue with a tender?

[Harryc]

... Lots of salt still on the road which is why I took the police bike today.

Hey Evan. Technically I have the same weather as you (just a degree or 2 cooler up here) so I should be riding this weekend, but that salt thing. Your post made me smile because yesterday as I sat here jonesing for a ride I thought to myself I am going to make it a point this year to get an older bike or a beater that I don't care about just for days like today. Not saying your Police bike is a beater...but you get the point.

[Oss]

Its a beater, no offense taken.

I know the Santa Monica PD laid it down a time or two and the seat is beaten pretty good  However the ABS and the suspension with that monoshock makes it the bike to ride when you dont know the road surface conditions

The heated grips dont hurt things either  

You can find used police bikes around 4-5k from Hollywood motors pretty much all year round. Now is still a great time with so few buying in winter  If I were to replace it I would look at the 1200 version, a bit better on the legs

[Harryc]

You can find used police bikes around 4-5k from Hollywood motors pretty much all year round. Now is still a great time with so few buying in winter

Looks like Hollywood Motors has many KZ1000's at the moment...no BMWs.