Battery minder. Worth getting?

[usa-vtwin]

Just wondering how people find these? I make sure I ride my bike regularly so the battery doesn't go flat from sitting. But lately I've heard of 3 bikes that have had the battery give out while riding and then needed trailering home. I haven't got a battery minder because I heard that they're not actually that good for your battery. Does anyone know if this is true?

I got one on my bike as the alarm drained the battery over winter when I missed a few rides. I plug my bike in after every ride and that way its gonna start for the next one lol. I'll show you 2morrow...youd be hard pressed to spot it.

[usa-vtwin]

My battery died prior to installing a battery minder and even trying to jumper cable it from my car didnt crank my bike over.

[breakaway]

How is using a jumper cable any different to using the actual battery that the bike normally runs on?

You're effectively running it off the healthy battery in the donor vehicle. I don't understand how this could possibly damage the bike or cause it to not start, unless you do something ridiculously silly like hooking them up + to - or somehow put 24 volts into the system. In both cases you deserve what you get

[Owl]

P.S. Just had a look and notice they're up to the Optimate 4. http://www.optimate-chargers.co.uk/?...FRBbagodRkHZaQ They do more than just charge the battery by the way.

I tried to buy the Optimate 4 a few weeks ago. I don't think Northern Accessories have them anymore although they're still listed. Even Cycletreads couldn't get them.

I ended up with one of these from Jaycar and it's great.

http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView....T&SUBCATID=295

Also have jump started my older bikes. Does anyone know if you can jumpstart the new harleys i.e. twin cam, fuel injected.

Should be ok, however make sure the doner vehicle is not running. Could be fine, but I've recently heard horror stories about fried rectifiers on Triumph D675's due to this issue.

[rosie631]

A flat battery should not force you to trailer a bike home.


Steve

No, I wouldn't have thought so either. Have bump started the old girl quite a few times when the starter used to have a resident gremlin. Sounds like these were riding along and then everything just died. That also sounds strange cos your battery should be charging as you're riding I thought?? Must be more to it, will have to get some more details of the breakdowns.

[CookMySock]

Sounds like these were riding along and then everything just died. That also sounds strange cos your battery should be charging as you're riding I thought?? Must be more to it[...]

Yes indeed there is something else afoot there. Either the stator has failed and they have ridden for sometime until the battery has completely drained, or else something more sinister.

An easy check is to see if dash or headlights work normally (after the engine has quit). If they are really dim, then the stator has likely had a catastrophic failure some hours ago. The only way I have seen stators fail, is they develop a short to ground - then they still work of sorts, but with a low output.

Even with a duff battery the bike should push start and ride indefinitely. The battery will run quite warm, the stator about normal, and the regulator should run cool.

A cold regulator/rectifier should be a useful way of checking battery condition actually. Anyone tried this?

Steve

[slowpoke]

I cannot imagine why you cannot bump/push start a modern fuel injected bike of any type. The big vee twins are a little reluctant - they can drag the back wheel if you dont slam your arse down hard on the seat the same instant you dump the clutch. Even my little 650 usually takes a few tries to get it going.

A flat battery should not force you to trailer a bike home.


Steve

Speaking from experience with my starter-less fuel injected race bike a knackered battery means a definite "failure to proceed" (in the words of Rolls Royce). The start/run relay doesn't pull in and that's a show stopper: no fuel pump, no iginition etc

[firefighter]

How is using a jumper cable any different to using the actual battery that the bike normally runs on?

You're effectively running it off the healthy battery in the donor vehicle. I don't understand how this could possibly damage the bike or cause it to not start, unless you do something ridiculously silly like hooking them up + to - or somehow put 24 volts into the system. In both cases you deserve what you get

I've done it a few times before whilst waiting for payday with a dead battery.

Just DO NOT start the car. Then you will have problems.

[CookMySock]

Speaking from experience with my starter-less fuel injected race bike a knackered battery means a definite "failure to proceed" (in the words of Rolls Royce). The start/run relay doesn't pull in and that's a show stopper: no fuel pump, no iginition etc

Yes, but you have no stator. The thread is about a road motorcycle.

Steve

[Coldrider]

Yes, but you have no stator. The thread is about a road motorcycle.

Steve

I have run batteries to the ground on a CBR600F2 and a ZX9R. Both bikes would not run, and just as well because the on the CBR was about to explode. It was really hot, emmitting a high pitch squeal, and stunk like 2 day old dog turds.
To recap, both road bikes would not run.

[bsasuper]

So you need this battery minder because

1. you dont ride that often and the battery goes flat

2.no1 is the only reason you'd want one, then--

3. you might as well sell the bike and put the money towards something you might use more often.

[CookMySock]

I have run batteries to the ground on a CBR600F2 and a ZX9R. Both bikes would not run, and just as well because the on the CBR was about to explode. It was really hot, emmitting a high pitch squeal, and stunk like 2 day old dog turds. To recap, both road bikes would not run.

Thats not the original fault that was identified. They had a previously working battery that suddenly faulted and let them down. Such a battery WILL be perfectly ok to get them home once the bike is push started.

Leaving a faulty battery in there and continuing to abuse it will get you bitten, as you suggest.

But really I don't think you posting to assist. I think you are deliberately trying to be a cunt actually.

Steve

[popelli]

Just wondering how people find these? I make sure I ride my bike regularly so the battery doesn't go flat from sitting. But lately I've heard of 3 bikes that have had the battery give out while riding and then needed trailering home. I haven't got a battery minder because I heard that they're not actually that good for your battery. Does anyone know if this is true?

total crap who told you that nonsense

I used to go through batteries every 6 -8 months

bought an optimate and a genuine harley gel battery and its lasted over 7 years

we have 6 bikes in the garage all hooked up to battery minders and it makes life so much easier


they pay for themsleves in less than a year with what you save in replacement batteries, not to mention the avoidance of grief with flat batteries

[rosie631]

So you need this battery minder because

1. you dont ride that often and the battery goes flat

2.no1 is the only reason you'd want one, then--

3. you might as well sell the bike and put the money towards something you might use more often.

Read the post. That's not why I need the battery minder. My bike does not sit for more than a week at a time and it averages 1000ks a month all year round, so no, I don't think I will be selling it anytime soon but thanks for your input.

[rosie631]

total crap who told you that nonsense

I used to go through batteries every 6 -8 months

bought an optimate and a genuine harley gel battery and its lasted over 7 years

we have 6 bikes in the garage all hooked up to battery minders and it makes life so much easier


they pay for themsleves in less than a year with what you save in replacement batteries, not to mention the avoidance of grief with flat batteries

OK, sounds like the battery minder is the way to go then.