login
Charge on a Motorcycle Battery
-
No new posts
 2010-03-07 12:45 PM |
Elite  4235    Spring, TX |  Subject: Charge on a Motorcycle BatterySo I've been traveling a lot and haven't had time to do any riding on my motorcycle in the past couple of months. It has a fairly new battery in it, but I'm worried about the battery draining with it just sitting there. I know, easy answer is to stick it on a battery tender, which I think I'll do for this week. However, right now I have the bike sitting in the garage running with the intent to charge the battery. After thinking about it though, at 1000-1500rpm, I doubt it's giving much of a charge. Anybody know what it takes from the engine to give a good charge? This is an '04 K1200RS. |
| 2010-03-07 12:49 PM in reply to: #2712649 |
Elite 2729 Puyallup, WA | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery Engine speed doesn't affect the charge - no "better" or worse...just running will charge it. http://www.howtodothings.com/automotive/a2782-how-to-charge-your-car-battery.html OK...I lied..not intenionally. IF you have an alternator... the battery is being charged by the alternator which is spun by the belt which is affected by engine speed. But my source says run a bit higher than idle...but it also depends on how low your battery was... ETA: The helpful source says google "battery tender" - he says they are $20 and ensure engines that are stored don't die... Edited by lkc01234 2010-03-07 12:57 PM |
| 2010-03-07 1:17 PM in reply to: #2712649 |
Champion 5376 PA | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery I have a Yamaha FZ6 and I know that with the alternator on my bike, I get a good charge at 6k rpm for around a 30 min ride. I know this because my electric heated clothing will drain the batter after about 20 min of riding down around 4-4.5k. If I do that, I have to pop the clutch to start it, then keep the RPMs up around 6K for the trip home so I can start it with the electric starter. Basically, they are all going to be different. The best answer is to go for a 1 hr ride and keep the rpms up a little higher than normal. That way you can enjoy charging your battery.  |
| 2010-03-07 1:24 PM in reply to: #2712675 |
Elite 4235 Spring, TX | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery Pector55 - 2010-03-07 1:17 PM The best answer is to go for a 1 hr ride and keep the rpms up a little higher than normal. That way you can enjoy charging your battery. I like the way you think!
|
| 2010-03-07 1:26 PM in reply to: #2712652 |
Elite 4235 Spring, TX | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery lkc01234 - 2010-03-07 12:49 PM Engine speed doesn't affect the charge - no "better" or worse...just running will charge it. http://www.howtodothings.com/automotive/a2782-how-to-charge-your-car-battery.html OK...I lied..not intenionally. IF you have an alternator... the battery is being charged by the alternator which is spun by the belt which is affected by engine speed. But my source says run a bit higher than idle...but it also depends on how low your battery was... ETA: The helpful source says google "battery tender" - he says they are $20 and ensure engines that are stored don't die... I isn't too low. I know engine speed affects the charge. It takes a certain number of RPMs just to run the basic electronics on board. I just don't know if running it at idle is doing any good! And yeah, I have a battery tender. |
| 2010-03-07 3:22 PM in reply to: #2712649 |
Veteran 399 Puyallup, WA | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery I have my K12LT on a 2amp charge today. Same deal, not ridden for a month or so and it drains down. I don't like starting it with a low battery, seems to mess with the electronics. |
| 2010-03-07 11:53 PM in reply to: #2712683 |
Champion 10550 Austin, Texas | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery AndrewMT - 2010-03-07 1:24 PM Pector55 - 2010-03-07 1:17 PM The best answer is to go for a 1 hr ride and keep the rpms up a little higher than normal. That way you can enjoy charging your battery. I like the way you think!
I finally got a battery tender for my VFR but in past years on a good looking day I'd just put a day permit on him and go for a ride - best way to charge the bike up and enjoy the process at the same time! |
| 2010-03-08 10:18 AM in reply to: #2712649 |
Elite 3371 | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery Excuse my ignorance... battery tender = trickle charger ?? I've always used a trickle charger on my bike after the winter months. After a few hours with the charger I'm good to go. As a side note, I rode my motorcycle to work today! First time all year, supposed to reach 70 degrees in SC today! |
| 2010-03-08 12:20 PM in reply to: #2712649 |
Expert 749 Oakland, Fl | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery battery tender is a name of a trickle charger typically used on motorcycles. I have actually let my bike sit not started for 9 months while I recovered from a blown out shoulder. I didnt even put the stuff in for the gas...surprisingly, it's been fine and I've been back riding on it for more then a year. If a bike sits and idles after losing it's charge, it will not re-charge, you need to get in the 3K RPM and higher range. Easiest thing is to bump start it and go riding, that way you can use up the old gas too. Happy riding! |
| 2010-03-08 1:08 PM in reply to: #2714340 |
Sensei Sin City | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery As every one has said, you NEED a battery tender. Edited by Kido 2010-03-08 1:09 PM |
| 2010-03-09 4:34 PM in reply to: #2714495 |
Extreme Veteran 454 Canton, MI | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery Kido - 2010-03-08 2:08 PM As every one has said, you NEED a battery tender. +1 for 6000+rpm 30 mins. (or bring your jump cable with you and beg people to jumpstart ) As for battery maintenance, if you leave it outside below freezing temp for 6 months, expect to replace battery every other season. if you leave it inside room temperature without charging the battery during off season, expect a 4-5 years lifespan. best bet is to leave it on a battery tender, or manually charge it for about 5 hrs every few weeks. I never have a battery (or bike) last that long, but I heard up to 7 yrs lifespan If you riding a big twin, expect lot of batt juice to start the bike. If you have a 2-stroke with kickstart... who care about batteries! |
| 2010-03-09 4:38 PM in reply to: #2717259 |
Elite 4235 Spring, TX | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery yorkee - 2010-03-09 4:34 PM Kido - 2010-03-08 2:08 PM As every one has said, you NEED a battery tender. +1 for 6000+rpm 30 mins. (or bring your jump cable with you and beg people to jumpstart ) As for battery maintenance, if you leave it outside below freezing temp for 6 months, expect to replace battery every other season. if you leave it inside room temperature without charging the battery during off season, expect a 4-5 years lifespan. best bet is to leave it on a battery tender, or manually charge it for about 5 hrs every few weeks. I never have a battery (or bike) last that long, but I heard up to 7 yrs lifespan If you riding a big twin, expect lot of batt juice to start the bike. If you have a 2-stroke with kickstart... who care about batteries!
Yeah, it's on the tender for this week. I'm hoping for good weather when I get home this weekend so I can give it a charge the fun way! |
| 2010-03-09 5:01 PM in reply to: #2717265 |
Sensei Sin City | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery I should turn mine over tonight or this weekend. It's been many months. |
| 2010-03-09 5:39 PM in reply to: #2712649 |
| 602 | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery Both my snowmobiles have the R1 (yamaha 1000cc bike motor) They sit in the trailer for 7-8 months with no tender on them. They always start right up, however they are sitting when its warmer and this DOES effect battery life. Low charge in batteries can allow them to freeze, if they freeze they are almost always toast. |
| 2010-03-09 6:35 PM in reply to: #2712649 |
Master 1993 Riverside, IL | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery My mechanic at my dealer once told me, that starting up a motorcycle (I ride a Harley big-twin) is the biggest drain you can put on a battery...and that once I put the bike up for the winter, I should NEVER start it unless I was planning on riding it for at least 30 minutes and making sure I hit the higher RPM's which is how the battery gets charged. I've been following that advice for 7 years now, and every spring when I first fire up my Harley...it has ALWAYS turned over on the first try. But that's basically what everyone has already stated, so you've already received good advice. ETA - oh, and I do keep my bike hooked up to a trickle charger over winter and extended periods of not riding it. Edited by nscrbug 2010-03-09 6:37 PM |
| 2010-03-09 6:55 PM in reply to: #2712649 |
| 602 | Subject: RE: Charge on a Motorcycle Battery Its also very hard on the internals to start them for only a few minutes and shut them off. Contaminents in the oil never get fully removed, excess fuel in the crank case can dillute the oil coverage on the bearings etc. All internal combustion engines will run longer and be more healthy if every time they were started the vehicles got up to operating temperature. We have all heard stories of the little ol gramma car that only had 40k on it, from going 1 mile to church daily and 2 miles to the grocery store......them motors are in bad shape. My little honda accord is the same way. Got it from the inlaws, only 120k on it. But only used for a few miles at a time. This thing burns oil like a mosquito fogger |
|
|
|
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK