Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I'm not having any trouble. I'm just thinking ahead and wondering, so consider this a "pre-emptive" post. If a motorcycle battery needs charging, what sort of charger and setting should one use? I have a charger for car batteries. Could I use it on 'low' mode? Or should I have a charger specifically made for motorcycle batteries? Could the "car" charger damage a bike's electronics?

Thanks!

Your car charger should be fine on it LOW setting. How much is that? Like 2 AMPs. I would not hook it up to more that 2 AMPs.

Yeah, I think it has three settings: 2 AMPs, 10 AMPS, and BOOST.

Johnj wrote:Your car charger should be fine on it LOW setting. How much is that? Like 2 AMPs. I would not hook it up to more that 2 AMPs.

The motorcycle owner's manual should have the information you need as to what setting for a battery charger. I'd check that before trying anything. (There are motorcycle specific trickle chargers available - probably the best solution).

P

I have a neat little black and decker charger that i bough at walmart for about $20. It'll 6V and 12V. Fast and slow. It's electronic, so you just plug it in and let it go to work. I've used it on my car and lawn tractor and then recently on my bike. I left the key on during luch at home one day and i had it charged and ready to ride in about 10 minutes.

When you charge a battery and want to get a good charge into it, charge it at 1/10th the amp-hour rating on the battery.
If you charge it too much it won't get a deep charge, and if you charge it too slow, well it's just going to take forever and won't be any more beneficial.

Be careful not to over boil battery. Most bikes with electric start should have no problem with a car charger. (most are 18-30 amhr, my BMW has a 45 amhr but my car only has a 28 amhr and HD has a 30) However many bikes with kick only may be as low as 1.5 amhr (Posties use a 2 amhr)

jahjlh wrote:I have a neat little black and decker charger that i bough at walmart for about $20. It'll 6V and 12V. Fast and slow. It's electronic, so you just plug it in and let it go to work.

I have the same little gadget and works great on the 2amp setting. The low setting (i.e. 2amps) of your car charger should do the trick.

During winter storage I do use a "Battery Tender Jr" which delivers a trickle charge of ~ 0.8 amps -- plugged-in throughout the winter, which also helps extend the life of the battery.

Safe riding,

I use the same charger that I use for the car or any other 12/6v rechargable battery

As noted above has two modes trickle and fast charge. A few hours on trickle did nicely when the ex flattened her car the other week, once it has enough charge to turn the engine over get out ther on a long ride, nothing gets a decent charge into a battery like a long daytime ride does.

Note:

Plug it in somewhere you can monitor it, touch it occassionally. Cold is okay, warm is okay, hot is bad.

If it is maintenance free then DO NOT try to take the top off. If it is not maintenance free then DO take the top off. Doing this the wrong way round can destroy your battery, and significant parts of the surrounding area.

Place the battery on a metal tray, or something similar.

Use the charger in a well ventilated area.

Do not ask what these lessons cost me, just be glad I am passing them on for free.