Disconnecting Monster 696 Battery for move

[CGDaveMac]

I'm moving and shipping my 2010 Monster 696.  The moving checklist and movers insist that the battery must be disconnected to be shipped.  From what I've read, all I need to do is take off the fairings, unscrew two bolts on the fuel tank, and lift it a bit to access the battery.  So that I'm not surprised the day prior to my move (I'll need to ride the bike until then) I wanted to make sure this is correct.

The service manual and owners manual both have steps in removing the battery, to include removing fuel tank breather hoses and electrical connections.  This is unnecessary, correct?

Anything else that I need to know so that I'm not surprised?

It'll be in transit for just over a month, so I feel this is almost unnecessary, but a requirement nonetheless.

[Raux]

military move?

yeah you need to dump the fuel and disconnect the battery.

take off the seat.
take off the tank top bolts
take off the side tank bolts
take off the front tank bolts (gotta turn the steering left and right for each)
slide the top tank cover off
slide the sides off (they have tabs holding them to the center panel so be careful)
take the bolt off the side of the tank (sometimes there are two, should not be though)
take the bolt off the underside of the tank (where the midpipe is bolted to the frame)
put a towel on top frame rails
lift the back of the tank a bit
wiggle it back out of the rubber mounts
set it off to the side a bit on the towel (the metal mounts are sharp that's why the towel)
Unhook the battery
tie down the cables so they don't move
reverse procedures

[CGDaveMac]

Yep.. thanks!

[alibaba]

Battery access in the 696 is a real PITA due to the tank covers.  Especially reinstalling them and getting all the Little holes and clips to line up.

Makes little sense to me.  I have shipped bikes all over the country with fuel drained but batteries connected - just tell them it is disconnected - without the key they cant tell without taking the bike apart.

Crazy Baba

[Raux]

they sit on ships in crates. i'm sure the connected battery with the salt air could be bad.

oh
forgot something. on the horizontal cylinder header there is a O2 sensor. the wire sometimes is clipped to the tank. i suggest you unclip it before moving the tank and reclipping it to the frame instead.

[Howie]

Disconnect the ground wire at the engine.

[CGDaveMac]

Disconnect the ground wire at the engine.

Where would this be located?

As to not doing anything, the pre-survey move guy explicitly stated it would be checked. Whether the movers care or not, is another question.  And, I'm sure they would see the blinking red light on the dash!

[Howie]

I'm not sure I remember on the 696, but I think it is towards the rear of the engine on the right side.  It will be a relatively heavy black wire bolted to the engine coming down from negative on the battery.

[Raux]

are you talking about the thick negative cable that connects to the battery? if so, i think it's under all the tank area as well. but not certain right now. there is a small ground wire at the back of the motor near the right swingarm bolt under a rubber cover. personnally i would rather do it the way they want, cause if anything happens, they won't cover any claims if it's not done to their specs.

OH very very important. make sure they crate the bike in its own crate. they can custom make a crate for it. and have bike guys who know what they are doing crate it. ask the movers to show you previous work. if they've done it they will be proud to show you

had someone come in here last year, they just tie strapped it in with other stuff... on the side stand... can you guess what happened.. yep new engine case needed when it shifted and the sidestand snapped its mount. totalled the bike according to insurance, brand new 696 dark.