Portable battery tender
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,966
Likes: 2,060
From: Newport,TN area
Just a thought... This might/might not be a hassle. To reduce/eliminate any
parasitic draw, why not just remove the main fuse ? Reinstall when you want to go for a ride...
good luck,
T.
parasitic draw, why not just remove the main fuse ? Reinstall when you want to go for a ride...
good luck,
T.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,351
Likes: 1,933
From: Formerly Tampa Bay, FL, Currently Western PA
As someone mentioned, a '95 isn't going to have the parasitic draw that newer bikes have, if any. My '94 Ninja has no parasitic draw when the key is off, and I never have issues with the battery (won't start currently, but the battery cranks and cranks). And my 3 year old garden tractor also has no parasitic draw, and I have never put anything on the battery. Sits outside under a cover for at least 4 months during the winter, fires right up in the spring.
If it were me, I would just leave it be and see what happens. If the battery is dead when I try to ride, I'd get a new battery and either start pulling the main fuse or put a quick shutoff on the negative.
If it were me, I would just leave it be and see what happens. If the battery is dead when I try to ride, I'd get a new battery and either start pulling the main fuse or put a quick shutoff on the negative.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 297
Likes: 174
From: Alexandria, VA
As someone mentioned, a '95 isn't going to have the parasitic draw that newer bikes have, if any. My '94 Ninja has no parasitic draw when the key is off, and I never have issues with the battery (won't start currently, but the battery cranks and cranks). And my 3 year old garden tractor also has no parasitic draw, and I have never put anything on the battery. Sits outside under a cover for at least 4 months during the winter, fires right up in the spring.
If it were me, I would just leave it be and see what happens. If the battery is dead when I try to ride, I'd get a new battery and either start pulling the main fuse or put a quick shutoff on the negative.
If it were me, I would just leave it be and see what happens. If the battery is dead when I try to ride, I'd get a new battery and either start pulling the main fuse or put a quick shutoff on the negative.
I really don't need another bike, especially one that I will not ride a lot, but damn that thing is pretty . . .
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
I've long had vehicles and equipment, including bikes, that sit for months without running, no tenders in use. Some of them the battery is disconnected, because it's easily accessed. Others just sit turned off. Rarely do I have a dead battery. On those rare occasions it happens, it's almost invariably a several years old battery.
So I'd say you really need nothing. Let the bike sit, ride it when you want, and don't fret about it.
So I'd say you really need nothing. Let the bike sit, ride it when you want, and don't fret about it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,075
Likes: 11,096
From: San Diego, CA
There is actually a formula to determine how many bikes you need....
X = R + 1
X - how many bikes you NEED
R - How many bikes you currently own
Just sayin'.....
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 49
Likes: 8
From: Kansas
I am thinking about buying a very nice, very custom '95 Springer Softail. It's a beautiful bike and the price is right, but this would not be an everyday riding bike -- this would be the bike to break out every now and then for easy cruising on pretty days, parades, etc. So, I would want to keep it on a battery tender. The problem is that while I have well-protected covered parking, I do not have power in the parking area. Seems to me it would be relatively easy to set up a battery tender using a deep-cycle battery, or even a lithium battery as a power source to keep the the bike battery in good shape.
Anyone out there done something like this? Seems like it should be simple, but I want it to be efficient, and I don't want to fry anything.
Anyone out there done something like this? Seems like it should be simple, but I want it to be efficient, and I don't want to fry anything.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 297
Likes: 174
From: Alexandria, VA
I run a heavy gage extension cord 80 feet to a Deltran Battery Tender on the FatBoy. The battery tender needs heavier and heavier cords as the distance increases. I think I can go up to 100 feet. Would 100 feet get you to an AC outlet? I have never tried using one of those house batteries that has an AC inverter built into it. Acts just like an AC outlet. Funny thing, I have one out in the garage that I received as a gift about a year ago but never tried for this purpose.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,816
Likes: 11,104
From: NE Ohio
my bike is never on a tender ('04, no parasitic draw I'm aware of)
I'm a fair weather rider (30% chance of rain, or temps below 65, I'm not compelled to ride) which means in Spring like now, it might sit weeks between rides.
It starts right up
depending how long between rides, you may not need anything and are overthinking a problem that may not even exist
Nevertheless, if a solar powered tender (as mentioned) isn't an option, I'd buy one of those little lithium jump packs.
If not enough juice to start from sitting a couple/few weeks*, I'd jump pack it and get rolling.
bottom line, given my personal experience, If you have a good battery in the bike now, and we're talking a few weeks and not a few months between rides, I don't think you'll have problem whether tender'd or not
ETA...*If not enough juice to start from sitting a couple/few weeks,(with no parasitic draw to speak of) you need a new battery
..L.T.A.
I'm a fair weather rider (30% chance of rain, or temps below 65, I'm not compelled to ride) which means in Spring like now, it might sit weeks between rides.
It starts right up
depending how long between rides, you may not need anything and are overthinking a problem that may not even exist
Nevertheless, if a solar powered tender (as mentioned) isn't an option, I'd buy one of those little lithium jump packs.
If not enough juice to start from sitting a couple/few weeks*, I'd jump pack it and get rolling.
bottom line, given my personal experience, If you have a good battery in the bike now, and we're talking a few weeks and not a few months between rides, I don't think you'll have problem whether tender'd or not
ETA...*If not enough juice to start from sitting a couple/few weeks,(with no parasitic draw to speak of) you need a new battery
..L.T.A.
Last edited by Cap77; May 11, 2024 at 06:52 AM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 297
Likes: 174
From: Alexandria, VA
Yeah, that seems to be the consensus, and you're right, I may be overthinking it. It's just that my newer bikes are good for about two weeks (of course they have all of the electronic crap, so there's that). I'll try letting it sit, and maybe disconnecting the battery.
Thanks, WLW
Thanks, WLW
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 17,923
Likes: 3,561
From: backwoods
Once a month you are probably fine. Probably won't get as long out of battery
Bring a jump pack,and go for ride to charge it up. Again might shorten battery life.
People didn't always use battery tenders. Some is parasite draw of newer bikes. But I think a lot of it is people just got in the habit of doing it. And mob mentality
Bring a jump pack,and go for ride to charge it up. Again might shorten battery life.
People didn't always use battery tenders. Some is parasite draw of newer bikes. But I think a lot of it is people just got in the habit of doing it. And mob mentality