When using a SuperSmart Battery Tender, should I unplug it before starting the engine or is it fine to keep the tender plugged in while starting the bike?

 

Always unplug it first.

 

If you could get a real long extension cord and leave it pluged in while you ride, it would be considered a Hybrid.

 

I started my bike with the Tender still on once and had no ill effects. However; I usually unplug it before starting.

 

I don't really think it matters, but why would you keep it plugged in while you were starting the bike anyway? I would think that would make it awfully easy to forget to unplug it and then you look in your rearview mirror and see it dragging behind you as you're riding!

 

unplug it. It can fry the transformer which depending on you particular model, should be in the range of 0.5-1.5amps. Basically if a load that requires more current than the tender can support, you can fry some of the electronics in it. Although in most cases, a healthy charged battery will have more than enough to handle the load requirements even if your forget to unplug it. But in the case if you had an old battery that doesn't hold a good charge anymore.......then it's gonna try to pull a little extra current from the tender which will damage it. So always unplug it first before starting.