Winter Battery Care
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 486
Likes: 35
From: St. Louis Mo.
Check with your supplier, if it is a "tender" you are good for as long as you want to leave it on. If it is a charger only it will fry the batt.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,067
Likes: 394
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
I now store my bike in the garage at home but previously had to store it in a seacan at work here in Edmonton where it gets down into the minus forties and it was fine in the seacan with the battery still in it and the tender plugged in all winter. A fully charged battery will not freeze, so as long as it's on the tender your fine.
Retired Admin
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 21,865
Likes: 9,047
From: Wisconsin
Don't overthink this guys. When was the last time your car battery froze overnight? Been riding for decades. I put the battery tender on and leave it all winter. No problems. The tender does warm it up a bit too. Not that there's any need to worry.
I now store my bike in the garage at home but previously had to store it in a seacan at work here in Edmonton where it gets down into the minus forties and it was fine in the seacan with the battery still in it and the tender plugged in all winter. A fully charged battery will not freeze, so as long as it's on the tender your fine.
Alan
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 36
Likes: 1
From: Midland ON Canada
Ah, someone who understands winter! I constantly marvel at forum posters for whom winter means "I had to put on a jacket," whereas, on my rides during the past week or so, I've worn full leathers, long underwear, and a beanie under my helmet.
I've owned two vehicles (a '64 BMW 1800T sedan and a '51 Fargo pickup) where I had to remove the battery each night, take it inside, and put it back in the the vehicle the next morning. That sucked.
Thanks!
Alan
I've owned two vehicles (a '64 BMW 1800T sedan and a '51 Fargo pickup) where I had to remove the battery each night, take it inside, and put it back in the the vehicle the next morning. That sucked.
Thanks!
Alan
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 988
Likes: 8
From: Clinton IA
I store in an unheated garage as well; if I can add one thing, it's be sure if you cover the bike, don't cover too tightly. Make sure it can breathe. When things start to warm up and the snow starts to melt, you'll get condensation.
Otherwise, I treat the fuel and store all Winter just on a battery tender. No need to take it out of the bike, and my battery was new in 2011. Still going strong.
Or, another option, you can be like my buddy and once the snow and cold hits, take the battery out of the bike and use it all Winter ice fishing (powers his flasher with it). Keeps it up by charging off and on year 'round.
Otherwise, I treat the fuel and store all Winter just on a battery tender. No need to take it out of the bike, and my battery was new in 2011. Still going strong.
Or, another option, you can be like my buddy and once the snow and cold hits, take the battery out of the bike and use it all Winter ice fishing (powers his flasher with it). Keeps it up by charging off and on year 'round.
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