Battery chargers....... are they really needed?

[dan_t]

After a recent issue with my regulator, I got to thinking about trickle chargers for the bike.
The dealer seemed to believe that if the bike is being used regularly (minimum of once every week or two with a decent ride) I should be fine without charging the battery. So far, after a year and a half of Ducati ownership, this has proven to be true. I have heard many people challenge this thought and place their bikes on charge much more regularly.

I was wondering what most people here do & what the effects on battery life are if it is only constently getting 'top up' charges rather than running through a full cycle?
If you're in the camp of having and regularly using a charger, are there any that you would reccomend?

Cheers,
Dan

[Sundog]

I've had my bike for nearly two years now ('10 M1100), it sometimes goes without a startup for a month to 6 weeks during winter. I've never had a problem with the battery running down. I was given a charger upon purchase but it's still in the box. Flat or low charge batteries seems to be a problem with the older Monster's from my reading.

[vossy]

The condition and age of the battery has a huge amount to do with keeping it topped up. I agree with what the dealer said about the bike being used once a week or so, but when the weather is very cold and the bike isn't used very much this throws another player into the game.
I believe the new lithium ion batteries don't have an issue with running flat if not used. Is this correct?
I know they cost a $$$$ but it could be the answer.

[kyle]

My duc had a tender plug fitted when I bought it.. Figured that i'd ride it often enough to warrant not having it.. And this has proven true so far.
For the sake of ~$100 it'd be worth changing out batteries every 2-3 years anyway I think.

[ellingly]

I've had my 06 since new and in this time I haven't run a battery tender on it or anything, still on the original battery. Canberra winters are especially hard on batteries, too. I used to ride it more regularly than I do, but it still starts happily even after a few week break. I've run it completely flat twice (left the key on) and both times I charged it up and it's still happy.

It did need a charge after sitting at my mecahnic's workshop from Dec till March, I just didn't have a chance to ride it at all over that period and there was no point picking it up. He charged it up the day before I picked it up and no problems.

I dunno about running the lithium ones flat. I know that's a bad idea with the lithium cells in laptops. They do like a different charge routine: kick them in the guts rather than a slow gentle charge. They also have lower rates of self discharge so they don't go as flat as quickly from sitting around. I have one in one of the trackbikes and it wasn't started for a whole year, no trickle charger or anything and it wound over perfectly happily the other week when I finally got around to getting to it again.

(We do trickle charge the gf's Mazda 808 cause it has a crappy battery in it and it's lucky to get 3 months of rego every 12 months).

[Betty]

I believe the new lithium ion batteries don't have an issue with running flat if not used. Is this correct?
I know they cost a $$$$ but it could be the answer.

Lithium IRON?

[J5]

decent ride every week or 2 then no problem generally

from experience of riding over 10 years

bike batteries are barely adequate in size for the bike they are fitted to

bike charging systems are undersized and cannot handle working hard

my battery doc charger i bought 10+ years ago works great and was about $80

pleasure in hitting the button and bike starting is great despite weeks between rides

battery charger is cheaper than repairing inadequate battery and charging systems

[dragonworld.]

Swear by my C-TEK unit!!

Works well and has a function that keeps the cells in good condition! 

[heatherp]

Have the original 6 year old battery in my bike.  Never on a charger.  Have flattened it once.  Have left it up to 4 months without a start and it started first time no problems.

Not used as a commuter unless you count my frequent visits to the Snowies as a commute!

[dan_t]

Kind of echoing my thoughts here. I've had this bike about a year and a half and never had an issue (until recently, but that wasn't really battery related).

Given the really awesome weather that we had all through summer, it was frequently a month or so between rides and never had an issue starting. I guess I was more interested in other people's experiences & you've certainly provided those 

[Six95]

Swear by my C-TEK unit!!

Works well and has a function that keeps the cells in good condition! 

My Original 4.5yo OEM Yuasa died a few weeks ago. Due to the recent addition to the family my rides have petered off dramatically to once every month or two for the time being.

Upon replacing the battery (with the same Yuasa) I purchased a CTEK XS0.8 ($72). The charger has 5 different charging cycles and is designed to be left connect to the battery full time if desired, and I shall be.



I also got the comfort indicator connector which has a led indicator (traffic light system Green: charged, yellow: needs charging, Red: Don't bother trying to start.)


Mine is just cable tied along some of the existing loom behind the trellis.
The charger is supplied with the same connector, but without the led indication.

Hopefully I can ride to the shed party if anyone is interested to see (nothing special though).


 

[PhilB]

I have not had or used a charger for the last 18 years I've had my bike in SoCal.  But I bought and used the big Battery Tender to get me through winter 2010 in Cleveland, where a very cold ride once a month was the best available, and winter 2011 in New Hampshire, where it stayed dry enough to ride all winter, but it was typically around 30ºF each morning to go to work.

Now that it's warmed up a bit, I'm not using the tender anymore.

PhilB

[Betty]

I may as well throw our experience in the mix too.

The girls bikes:
- The 620 (2002) has had a battery replaced ... it was getting a little slow (still worked though)but did go for long periods without use. Neither battery has seen a tender.
- The 800 (2005) still has the orginal. Never been on a tender.

The big bikes (adopted later in their life):
- The 999 (2003) we were told was always on a tender but I have no idea how old the battery was. If left for more than a day off the tender it wouldn't start, even if it had been on the tender you still had to be patient
- The s4R (2007) similarly was always on a tender and apparently was used for only short trips. The battery would struggle if left off the tender for more than a week.

We replaced both the big bike batteries with Shorai lithium iron jobbies and they have performed admirably. Initially I put the 999 battery on charge a couple of times out of fear ... but that was many months ago. The S4r has not seen the tender.

I have been told that the big bikes give batteries a real hard time and also that the 999 may rob some charge through not-quite-idle electrics.

[loony888]

Flat batteries i can live with, it's the damage caused by turning a bike over with a low charge that i get concerned about, which is why i always use a tender.

[suzyj]

I don't use a battery tender.  I've seen how they're made and think there's too much potential for damaging the battery through overcharging, not to mention burning the house down.

Rather, if the battery is low I charge it.  I usually use a lab power supply for this, but that's just because I have one easily to hand.  It's not an ideal battery charger.