Winter and Batteries

[dholmer]

Just wondering if anyone has just taken their battery out of their bike for the winter and brought it inside instead of using the battery budy to keep them charged. Is there any ramifications in doing that?

[Monkeyman]

Still gotta keep it charged I think.

[Scorpo90]

I have not done that, no need here in Florida. I do not think that unplugging it from the bike will have negative results on the bike, besides loosing your radio pre-sets. Maybe if you use a aftermarket Fuel management system, it may affect it if it is all digital, and does not save maps in solid state. Check with battery manufacturers on charging temperatures, to see if trickle charging on freezing weather has any negative effect on the battery. good luck.

[ringadingh]

I don't do anything special with the battery. Once or twice during the winter I'll put the charger on it for a few hours while Im out in the garage.
It seems that the guys in the warmer climated don't get the same lifespan out of the battery like us in the colder climates. I got eight years out of my original battery, and the one in my Argo is eleven years old and still cranking strong.

[jp58]

Extreme heat and cold are not good for battery's. My garage only drops to 40 degrees. well insulated. I hook up my battery tender, and forget about it till spring. Always starts right up. I've had 4 new bikes in the last 10 years. Longest was 4 years. So never had to replace a battery in any of them.

[ponch]

When I had my Nomad and before that Vulcan 800, as long as i rode it 1-2 times a month in the winter, they would always start. Never had an issue with them and had the original batteries when I sold it. With my current ride, the drain that is n the battery when not running is greater, with the multiple computers and other electronics, it seems like it doesn't like to sit long. I have to jump it once when we had a stretch of heat and my 6 year old found the key. The ignition was only on for a half our, but it drained the battery enough that it would only chatter when trying to start it. Never had that issue with the Kawasakis, but they didn't have all the electronic gizmos. If you live in cold climate and know you won't ride it for more than a month, get one of those smart chargers and don't worry about it.

[Top Cat]

Don't know where you live as it is not in your profile?
I live in NY State and we get cold and snow so it is not possible to ride all year.
We have at least 4 to 5 months the bike sits in an unheated garage.
Sooooooooo, I leave the battery in the bike and put it on a Shumaker smart charger for the winter.
The battery is a pain in the ass to get in and out of the Nomad. The only time I will do that is if the battery needs replacing.
The Shumaker is $20 at Walmart. A no brainer as far as I can see.

[ponch]

Don't know where you live as it is not in your profile?
I live in NY State and we get cold and snow so it is not possible to ride all year.
We have at least 4 to 5 months the bike sits in an unheated garage.
Sooooooooo, I leave the battery in the bike and put it on a Shumaker smart charger for the winter.
The battery is a pain in the ass to get in and out of the Nomad. The only time I will do that is if the battery needs replacing.
The Shumaker is $20 at Walmart. A no brainer as far as I can see.

4-5 months? We're going to have to do something about that. The longest I have gone is 2 months and it's usually because of ice and snow, although I don't fancy riding when it's colder than 15-20˚ out.

[Monkeyman]

I'm not nearly hard core enough to ride in the ice and snow. There's hard core, then there's just stupid. I figure on riding another few weeks (until it gets below about 40) then put it up for the winter (other than the occasional over 40 January day). A smart charger is at the top of my list of before winter things (along with an oil change, etc).

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Living in the south has some advantages. I will be riding some each month this winter.There will be days it will get in the 50s here even in January and February. When I can't ride it will be plugged up to the Shumacher battery tender. That way the battery will stay charged and anything on the bike that needs power will have it.

[ponch]

I'm not nearly hard core enough to ride in the ice and snow. There's hard core, then there's just stupid. I figure on riding another few weeks (until it gets below about 40) then put it up for the winter (other than the occasional over 40 January day). A smart charger is at the top of my list of before winter things (along with an oil change, etc).

What's stupid about riding below 40? As long as the roads are clear, it's a go.

[Monkeyman]

I will be riding some each month this winter.There will be days it will get in the 50s here even in January and February.

Monkeyman adds AlabamaNomadRider to his Ihateyou list. http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/images/smilies/icon_neutral.gif

[dholmer]

Thanks for all the replies to my question. Sorry, I think I have fixed the part that shows I live in Utah when I post, we'll see. Anyway, my problem is even though I have a battery tender, I dont have a way to plug it in this year. The place I live currently does not have any electricity in the garage that I am renting out... That is why I asked if it hurt to just bring them inside for the winter...

[Monkeyman]

What's stupid about riding below 40? As long as the roads are clear, it's a go.

You misunderstood. Nothing stupid about that temp, just my limit. Riding on ice/snow is stupid. You don't get any traction with 4 wheels. What makes anyone think they'll get traction on just 2.

[ponch]

You misunderstood. Nothing stupid about that temp, just my limit. Riding on ice/snow is stupid. You don't get any traction with 4 wheels. What makes anyone think they'll get traction on just 2.

No shite. I don't like ice or snow. I think my next residence will be somewhere warmer. -15 in the winter gets old fast. When the economy picks up, I think I will try to sell the house. ;)

[Dave]

I....... then there's just stupid. .....

I didn't know you knew BD. :)

[Top Cat]

Thanks for all the replies to my question. Sorry, I think I have fixed the part that shows I live in Utah when I post, we'll see. Anyway, my problem is even though I have a battery tender, I dont have a way to plug it in this year. The place I live currently does not have any electricity in the garage that I am renting out... That is why I asked if it hurt to just bring them inside for the winter...

In that case you have two options.
1-You can take it out of the bike and bring it indoors to hook up the charger.

2-They (I don't know who they are) make a solar charger that some use when they store boats or other things and have no electricity in the storage area.

That being said, if I were you I would bring it inside and keep a smart charger on it.

[ray2]

I leave the battery in bike all winter also no electric where I store bike if you have a window where you store bike you could use a solar pannel like I do. It wont really charge a battery but will keep it in good shape http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200422045_200422045?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top%20Sellers-_-Product%20Page

[cactusjack]

I ride my bike all winter. Sorry, can't help you.

[ponch]

I ride my bike all winter. Sorry, can't help you.

exactly

[waterman]

I ride my bike all winter. Sorry, can't help you.

Winter??:wtf: You don't have a winter!!!>:( For some of us, that equivalent to a cool snap.:D

[cactusjack]

Winter??:wtf: You don't have a winter!!!>:( For some of us, that equivalent to a cool snap.:D

We do too have a winter. We have on average 3 or 4 nights a year when we have to cover the plants to prevent frost damage. :wave:

[dank]

We do too have a winter. We have on average 3 or 4 nights a year when we have to cover the plants to prevent frost damage. :wave:

Wow! That is the same as Michigan. Three or 4 nights of covering for frost damage..........then the temps dip down below freezing and stay there, so covering the plants makes no difference.

[Loafer]

I think we should all move in with Gene.
I leave my battery in and I put a charge on it once a month thru the winter months. Got to get a trickle charger, that would be easier and better.

[Jared]

I don't know what TC is talking about. The battery isn't hard to take out. I'd pull it out and bring it somewhere where you can put it on a tender. Or get an extension cord and make it work on the bike. Leaving it all winter isn't the best idea imo.

[Top Cat]

I don't know what TC is talking about. The battery isn't hard to take out. I'd pull it out and bring it somewhere where you can put it on a tender. Or get an extension cord and make it work on the bike. Leaving it all winter isn't the best idea imo.

WHAT http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/images/icons/icon55.gif

The battery is a pain in the ass to get out on my bike. One of the poorest designs I have seen on a bike.
I have 70,500 miles on my bike. I took the battery out the first year but never did after that.
It has been in for 5 winter layovers with a smart charger on it and no problem here.

[nomadbehappy]

Gotta agree with TC, the battery is a PITA to take out, the designer should be taken out back and shot! However, that being said, I pull the battery each year and bring it inside to the basement where I leave it hooked up to a Schumaker battery charger (take MACs advice and get the Schumaker). In the spring I put it back in and she fires right up. Reprogram the Powercommander, set the radio stations, quick oil change and I am on the road in an hour.

[cnc]

If the battery is fully charged when you store the bike, and you can run an extension out to the garage once a month for a day or so of charging, it should be fine. Up hear I have snowmobiles that sit in temps as low as -30f for 2-3 weeks sometimes with out running and always crank over with no charging. In summer the batteries get charged about every 60 days.

[macmac]

I think they should crucify the SOB that designed that battery box. The 1500 was nice, the 1600 sucks. Never the less I store my battery in winter in a steady 50/55 degrees, on the shumaker. The bike goes in an enclosed trailer, since the barn is a work shop all year, and rolling the bike out on ice isn't a great option.

I want my battery to last 8+ years. I got better things to do with money than buy batterys. So like now, any time I am not riding that battery is on the shumaker. The volt meter is reading 13.32 dcv, and while i can't see it from here, I 'know' it is.

Since new that battery has lost it's capability to 1/10th volt, which isn't bad for a 06 battery. I bet I will get the next 2 years and then maybe more of it too.

[redjay]

I take the battery off the bike when it goes into storage here in Southern Ontario. I have no access to the bike in the winter. I put the battery in the basement and trickle charge it once a month.

[deacon]

You misunderstood. Nothing stupid about that temp, just my limit. Riding on ice/snow is stupid. You don't get any traction with 4 wheels. What makes anyone think they'll get traction on just 2.

When I was your age we rode motorcycles with car tires! And we rode through ............!

[dholmer]

I think I will take it out and just trickle charge it with a battery tender through out the winter. I read somewhere your power commander will have to have the program dumped back in it come summer, not sure how accurate that info is though. Thanks for all the imput..

[Monkeyman]

When I was your age we rode motorcycles with car tires! And we rode through ............!

In 1944? Uphill both ways? After milking 200 cows? Barefoot? :) :)

[macmac]

I take the battery off the bike when it goes into storage here in Southern Ontario. I have no access to the bike in the winter. I put the battery in the basement and trickle charge it once a month.

I do what you do. I don't have winter access to the trailer since the snow is way to deep to shovel out. I bring in the seats too. The vinals don't like real cold weather a bit. That sort of cold causes the stitches to pull overly hard on the vinals. The same for real leather.

The bike sweats bad in the trailer too. I clean it well before it goes in, and then I wax it leaving the wax on to turn white for all winter. To get that off I wax the whole thing again in Spring. That's it though, no more real cleanings till Spring, other than dead bigs off the screen.

I leave the bike preety loose on tie downs in there. I rodent proof the exhaust and intake, but so far no rodents have gained access to the trailer. I use no cover to let the sweating drip to the floor...

I would do this all different if I was storing in a bulding.

[macmac]

Thanks for all the replies to my question. Sorry, I think I have fixed the part that shows I live in Utah when I post, we'll see. Anyway, my problem is even though I have a battery tender, I dont have a way to plug it in this year. The place I live currently does not have any electricity in the garage that I am renting out... That is why I asked if it hurt to just bring them inside for the winter...
I would bring that battery indoors and plug it in behind a chair in the living room if there is no better place.

If i owned this place I would park the Nomad smack dead center in the living room as a coffee table show piece. But then my wife knows anyplaces I live are nothing but factories. If she didn't like that idea I would be swelling my tomahawks in the toilet.

A bed to me is just another workbench for painting bike parts on, or taping on, and the shower is a paint booth.

Here's proof:
The shower I painted Liberty in
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Liberty/c418.jpg

The bed
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Liberty/29cb.jpg

Another on the bed
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Liberty/cbce.jpg

Liberty done and outside to play
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Liberty/18c7.jpg

What you don't see unless you walk up for a better look.
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Liberty/f2b6.jpg

[usranger74]

Mac

Ref winter storage

You said

"I would do this all different if I was storing in a bulding."

I am all ears, what would you do.

ABTW, outstanding art work on the gas tank:tup::tup:

[crazygene49]

Mac, beautiful work on the tank!

[macmac]

I did that paint in 02 asap after 9-11. When the Nomad speaks to me one day it will get paint.

In a building would depend on the building. The more air the better, the warmer the better. In a typical garage i would clean it polish it and do every bit of maint to be done long before Spring. I may cover it with a dust cover and I for sure would not stuff it in a corner near shelves due to things can fall.

I would not need worry about sweating or condensation. Out of sun light is better, but some north light is best. A steady 50 to 55 degrees would be good and in a dry place nothing above 50 % humidity. Clean polished and ready to go.

My trailer isn't bad, but it isn't great for long term winter NH winter storage. Mainly due to the wild temp changes and I can't access the doors after snow well.

A part of that is the snow. To get this place in shape after a snow can take 2 full days, and by the end of that I am beat. That counts cleaning off rooves and one is the trailer. The snow gets over the bottom of the trailer doors to the point I loose access. We can have around 6 feet 6 inches of snow on the un-plowed flat and level and I can't keep up with the snow around the trailer a bit.

There is 3 trucks, 1 car , one van and the trailer to get cleared off and I tend to loose the van too. Then the barn roof and the shed roof, sometimes the 12 12 pitch house rooves.. The drive way is 1/2 mile from the hose to the street, then there is the field a place to put all the snow.....

So most any building would be better, even the barn, but big projects happen in the barn and the bike would have no place to get moved to if i could.

Last winter 3 commercial belt grinders weighting over 2 tons each were rebuilt there, and the bike would have been covered in grinding dust and welding slag. The summer before a oven was built in the barn over 40 feet long 6 feet wide and 6 feet tall with a converor belt running thru all 3 ovens. The barn is 36 feet long....

This past summer was a little slow and so the bike was in there and is right now, and might be till first salt. The cold is no problem, that road salt is.

Like I said if I had my own place the Nomad would sit side by side with Liberty in the middle of the living room.

I lived in an other place back when I painted Liberty too. It was a barn loft apt. Liberty had a shed there. Today Liberty is high and dry outside the bed room door. If I had room in here Liberty would be in here., and my wife would like it.

Speaking of my wife, she is the one who drew Liberty for me. She also helped me get the tape right. Liberty is one of 10 hand drawn sketches, and i just selected the one I liked best. The stars and stripes just happened as they happened. If you count clear coat there is 8 colors.

[macmac]

This is funny......

When I saw this I got scared thinking I messed up
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Liberty/6e0e.jpg

But when I saw this I knew it would work
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Liberty/aa91.jpg

[Loafer]

Bill, that's awesome!

[Top Cat]

You guys should see it in person. They did a great job on it.:tup:

[Monkeyman]

Mac -- First, THAT'S F***IN' AWESOME!!! Second, I've parked scoots in the middle of the living room. I pretty much lost my 3rd ex over a 1400 Intruder I parked in the middle of the living room. (I have my priorities.) I rent but if I could fit the Nomad through the door, I'd put it in the living room this year. Way too many projects to do in the unheated (but attached...it's a start) garage. Might have to hunt for a big electric heater.

[macmac]

Mac -- First, THAT'S F***IN' AWESOME!!! Second, I've parked scoots in the middle of the living room. I pretty much lost my 3rd ex over a 1400 Intruder I parked in the middle of the living room. (I have my priorities.) I rent but if I could fit the Nomad through the door, I'd put it in the living room this year. Way too many projects to do in the unheated (but attached...it's a start) garage. Might have to hunt for a big electric heater.


Yeah you seem to be the hard core type, that would park a bike over winter in the living room http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif Don't get hot with me as I would to, and have done so in the past.

My current Bride knows I will soak tomahawks in the toliet if there is any form of disagreements. Tomahawks need occasional swelling anyway right ?

This is about 1/10th of my modest collection.
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Hawks/dc39.jpg


I hear ya on un-heated too. I figure un-heated is good for me. I can't say I enjoy it any.