any side effect to using trickle charger long term?

[VermilionX]

yeah... my bike wouldn't start yesterday but good thing my car was starting and i was able to jump it.

i need to remember to use both of them at least once a month.

[a_hippie]

yes, there is a side effect: your battery will be fully charged and your bike will start!

Remember to replace the battery every few years. They don't have a long life span.

GL, regards,

[VermilionX]

kewl thanks.

[pchast]

I'd argue with replacing a battery that often just on principal. I keep a Battery
Tender on my MC and have not replaced it in almost 4 years now. I've talked
to others with older batteries yet.

Batteries have some internal resistance/current leaks that need some support.
Some MC like my wife's with a radio or others with fuel injection computers ,
I'm told, can also use a small current to maintain settings.

Now I'm thinking I may need to set up something for may truck over the riding
season,.,..

[Grey Thumper]

My bike's on a tender anytime I'm not riding it. Park, wait for it to cool off a bit, hook it up to a tender. Aside from the new battery/fluids/tire change after I just bought the bike, I haven't changed the battery in the four years since I've owned it.

[a_hippie]

I'd argue with replacing a battery that often just on principal. I keep a Battery
Tender on my MC and have not replaced it in almost 4 years now. I've talked
to others with older batteries yet.

No argument with your logic what so ever--stretch the life as long as you can. Here is my point--I don't want to be stranded! For less than 100 USD, a battery is cheap insurance against me trying to push my huge bike attempting to start it with dead battery. I'm an old hippie, don't need that problem! Smaller bikes are a lot easier to push-start, but this old beast is not small and I have yet to get it going with a push--it just locks up the wheel (1st, 2nd, & 3rd!) and winds me in the process.

I replace my battery every 2 to 3 years.

Some of the newer type batteries are a different story--have no experience with these, I'm still running old lead/acid type here.

Regards,

[Wrider]

Check out the new Lithium Ion batteries. They discharge much much more slowly than a traditional type battery. I put a Shorai into a customer's FJR1300 and he cold started it after a month in sub-20F weather on the first try. I saw a youtube vid where the guy bought one for his GL1800. He took it out of the box, hooked it up to the GL (disconnected plugs so it wouldn't start), and cranked it over for 10 seconds 10 times. The last cranking session was just as strong as the first. Very very impressive.

[MmeMagpie]

The heat, here, kills batteries just for kicks. I replace mine every two years and it's the gel kind.

I believe battery tenders are specifically designed for long-term use. The one time I used mine, it worked great. I sure missed my bike for that 8 months.

[javafugo]

I ran some battery leads to the trunk of my bike so I don't have to tear the seat off to put it on charge during long periods of non riding. This 12 volt in the trunk also allows me to add the cigarette lighter style power port so I can use my air pump and other devices when setting up remote camps.

[MmeMagpie]

I ran some battery leads to the trunk of my bike so I don't have to tear the seat off to put it on charge...

Really? My charger came with leads that give me about 2' of wire to work with. The charger plugs into one end and the other is attached at the terminals. I have it tucked in so that it's under one of the side panels that pops off. Real convenient.