I like to run my bike during the winter months instead of letting it sit. Yesterday when I went to start it up the battery was dead (6 month old Odyssey) Trickle charged it overnight and it still reads around 7 volts. I will have to get a new one next week, hopefully warranty. Question, can I use an automotive battery with cables and replace the dead battery all together just to start it and let it run. My thought is that it will only draw what power it needs and should be fine no matter what you hook it up to.

Just want to make sure though, any thoughts

 

i would think 12volts ok to do

 

I've started mine many times with a jump. I allways put the neg. jumper to the ground on the frame not the battery just to be safe. works for me.

 

I'll give it a try then,

Thanks

 

For roughly $19.99-24.99, why not just pick up a Battery Tender and leave it on trickle and maintenance charge all Winter? It won't ever over-charge and will be in top charge condition when you want to start your bike..

But yes, a 12 volt battery from a car or truck can be used to jump or start your bike. Just make sure it's 12 volts.

Starting your bike periodically over the winter could be more detrimental than beneficial to the bike. Once you start it, you subject it to the wear and tear of the cold starts to begin with and then condensation and water can form in the fluids. Not running the bike long and hard enough to burn off all that moisture is not good and doing it repeatedly only allows the moisture to build up in the fluids. So if you start in, at least take it for a good 15 -20 minute spin and allow it to get to full operating temperatures, which then helps to burn off the water in the oil. Just starting and running the motor parked in your garage for a few minutes does the motor no good at all.