...I always put the bike on the lift...just enough to get it upright and the weight is off the wheels.
Winterizing?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,278
Likes: 1,138
From: southeast PA
Yes, a tender won't hurt the battery to leave it on, that's what it was designed for. A charger is a different thing, you don't want to leave it on a battery once it's charged up.
That time of year again...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: SE Illinois
Thanks for the responses guys. I have a lift, so I'm not worried about the tires. I don't have easy access to an electrical outlet and an extension cord would have to be drug across the floor, so even though I'm wired for a tender, that's not an option either. Should I pull the battery and store it inside?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 7
From: SE Illinois
My bike stays ready to ride at all times, and even in the middle of winter I still get it out & ride frequently. Longest I've ever not ridden in the winter was a couple weeks, so I don't do anything special for storage. During the coldest months when I ride the least, I will put some sta-bil in the tank and put it on the battery tender.
Prior to this year, my bike was stored in the attached unheated garage, However, I built a new pole barn this past spring, and I finished a special 12' x 16' room in it just for bike(s), tools, air compressor, etc. I have already put a small quartz heater in there that I will turn on when it gets really cold just to keep it at least in the 50s in there. Not that the bike is going to freeze to death or anything, but cold is hard on stuff, especially the battery, and it will keep the fluids warmer so when I do fire it up to ride it will be easier on the engine @ start-up.
I've mentioned parking it in the family room, but the wife didn't like that idea
Prior to this year, my bike was stored in the attached unheated garage, However, I built a new pole barn this past spring, and I finished a special 12' x 16' room in it just for bike(s), tools, air compressor, etc. I have already put a small quartz heater in there that I will turn on when it gets really cold just to keep it at least in the 50s in there. Not that the bike is going to freeze to death or anything, but cold is hard on stuff, especially the battery, and it will keep the fluids warmer so when I do fire it up to ride it will be easier on the engine @ start-up.
I've mentioned parking it in the family room, but the wife didn't like that idea
Last edited by Sharkman73; Oct 8, 2012 at 01:15 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,228
Likes: 3,237
From: west Michigan
I put an overnight two-amp charge on my bikes' batteries twice during winter storage. I got nine years out of my original '04 Road King's battery. I always change the oil and top off the gas tank before putting a bike up for the winter.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,199
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From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
Thanks for the responses guys. I have a lift, so I'm not worried about the tires. I don't have easy access to an electrical outlet and an extension cord would have to be drug across the floor, so even though I'm wired for a tender, that's not an option either. Should I pull the battery and store it inside?
I have an old fashioned battery trickle charger...the old type with the alligator clips. I just break that out about once winter. I'm too cheap to spend 30 bucks on a battery tendor....LOL honestly don't need it with the old school trickle charger.
Bike is an 06...and battery is original.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: NE ATL 'burbs
Would it be a disaster to run the extension cord out once every 6-ish weeks to "boost" it? That way the other 10 or 12 weeks of the winter nobody is tripping over a cord.
I have an old fashioned battery trickle charger...the old type with the alligator clips. I just break that out about once winter. I'm too cheap to spend 30 bucks on a battery tendor....LOL honestly don't need it with the old school trickle charger.
Bike is an 06...and battery is original.
I have an old fashioned battery trickle charger...the old type with the alligator clips. I just break that out about once winter. I'm too cheap to spend 30 bucks on a battery tendor....LOL honestly don't need it with the old school trickle charger.
Bike is an 06...and battery is original.
