Hi Everyone,

I have a question about my 2007 Sportster 1200 Custom. It's going to be my first winter of owning it and I am wondering if it is possible to hook up a battery tender to the bike with the battery still inside the motorcycle? Also I noticed there is a black connector underneath the seat that sometimes hangs out. Is it possible to hook up a Harley brand tender to this connector? Basically just wondering what the easiest way of ensuring my battery is going to be okay for next Spring.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much.
-Mark

 

Yes it is possible to hook up the battery tender without pulling the battery. Just hook the clip to the positive battery terminal and then hook the ground clip to the ground stud on the primary cover (between the starter and the battery cover on the clutch side of the bike).

However, sounds like you might already have a pig tail hard wired in. If it looks like this:

http://roadcaptainusa.com/wp-content...10/pigtail.JPG

You can hook up a HD battery tender or save a couple $$ a buy a battery tender jr which will plug right in too.

 

This is what the local HD dealer recommended I do. I too have the HD batt. tender.

 

Best price around:

http://www.jafrum.com/Accessories/Ba...-PTBATTEND12JR

 

Connecting a battery maintainer while the battery is still in the bike is the whole purpose of having the pigtail. Connecting the maintainer while the battery is still in the bike will not hurt anything.

You may have to remove or partially remove the battery once to initially install the pigtail, but once it's in you should never have to mess with it again unless you replace the battery or work on something else.

I would check the existing pigtail to ensure it is properly connected to your battery which means the positive lead goes to the positive side of the battery and the negative goes to the negative side.

Check the battery wire connections to ensure they are clean, tight, and properly aligned so as to not come in contact with any part of the bike, such as the frame or other wires or parts.

Also check to see if your pigtail has a fuse or not. If it does, check it to ensure it is still good and that it is the appropriate size. The lead you have may have been used for something like heated clothing and may have a higher amperage fuse that would be inappropriate for use with a battery maintainer.

If you are satisfied with the current routing of the pigtail, then leave it the way it is. If you want to move it to a location that does not keep falling out from under the seat or one that is easier to access, then now is the time. I've got mine attached to the down tube in front of the right side cover. I can tuck it in under the down tube to hide it when riding and easily pull it out to connect it to a battery maintainer.

Keep in mind where you are going to park the bike and which side would be easier for you to use to make the connection. One side may be better for you than the other.

Also think about how frequently you want to connect your maintainer. Some people have had batteries last for years and years without ever using a maintainer. Others claim that using the maintainer helps the battery last longer. Using one will not hurt anything and the only thing it does is require you to take a few seconds to connect and disconnect it whenever you ride. My bikes are always connected to a maintainer whenever they are in the garage. If you park your bike for a couple weeks in the summer for weather or other reasons, you'll know that it will be ready to go whenever you are without having to worry about the battery.

Hope this helps.

 

Hello guys, good morning all

Just bought a new bike, 2005 RK Police, do you happen to know if the battery tender should be 6V or 12V?

If I may abuse of your knowledge, do you know if such battery tender will be the same for a 2001 sportster?

Thank you so much, safe rides for y'all,

 

Oh God, It's winter.

It's a 12 volt system.
And Promarky, a picture of this black wire thing would help.
There are a couple of plugs not used depending on options you don't have.

 

Even Studebaker went to 12volts in 1956.

 

A lady customer asked me that last week. I was like, "well, Harley hasn't built a 6v bike in about 50 years, ma'am" Her response: "So I should get two 6 volt chargers?"

 

It's quite a few years ago now, but one dark night the low beam on my bike went out, so I pulled into the first filling station, looking for a replacement H4 bulb. Lady behind the counter told me they don't sell motorcycle bulbs......

Fortunately, after a lot of debate about why she should say that (bikes are all 6volt), she did eventually produce an H4!