Battery Tenders, good or bad?

roadhawg · 01-10-2014, 12:56 PM

My last battery change, I went from the lead/acid to the Gel.
I have heard both sides of using a 2 amp battery tender all the time.
Some say it prolongs battery life, but some say it shortens life?
What say you VB forum?

landman · 01-10-2014, 01:04 PM

prolongs life !

**cnc** · 01-10-2014, 01:59 PM

It doesn't shorten life to my knowledge, a fully charged acid battery is a happy battery.
Where you may run into problem is if you always put the bike, car, boat what're ever on a tender when ever you are not using the vehicle.
You really have no way of knowing if the battery is starting to get weak till you have taken it off life support and driven off somewhere.
A battery in good shape should easily start our bikes even after sitting for 2-3 weeks.
I like to use a tender in the off season and not always full time. It gets moved around to other seasonal use stuff with batteries. During the riding season I rarely plug the bike in.

dshelly · 01-10-2014, 02:29 PM

+2 on prolongs your batt. Especially in the winter when you don't ride. However, keeping your battery connections clean is just as important.

**Top Cat** · 01-10-2014, 02:54 PM

I agree with Norm

Did I say that out loud ?
I keep our bikes and lawn mowers on a tender all winter but do not use a tender during the riding season.

blowndodge · 01-10-2014, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Cat

I agree with Norm

Did I say that out loud ?
I keep our bikes and lawn mowers on a tender all winter but do not use a tender during the riding season.

Oh sure........... lookie who's now "Mr. Maintenance Man!"

blowndodge · 01-10-2014, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnc

It doesn't shorten life to my knowledge, (what knowledge) a fully charged acid battery is a happy battery. (you dating one??)
Where you may run into problem is if you always put the bike, car, boat what're ever on a tender when ever you are not using the vehicle.
You really have no way of knowing if the battery is starting to get weak till you have taken it off life support (there's that knowledge thing again!)and driven off somewhere (most of us know where we are riding to).
A battery in good shape should easily start our bikes even after sitting for 2-3 weeks (or the time it take you to take a dump).
I like to use a tender in the off season and not always full time. It gets moved around to other seasonal use stuff with batteries. During the riding season I rarely plug the bike in.

I explained everything for you Norm!

**Top Cat** · 01-10-2014, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blowndodge

Oh sure........... lookie who's now "Mr. Maintenance Man!"

Not much maintence in putting a pigtail connector on the battery and plugging in a battery tender.
I can also change oil and filter and check the tire pressure

I could open my own motorcycle repair shop if I keep learning this stuff

**cnc** · 01-10-2014, 04:53 PM

Thanks Brad, I don't know what I would do with out you.

Tim, guess the planets align once and a while.

**ringadingh** · 01-10-2014, 06:32 PM

I don't use a tender and never have, I don't think they are neccessary at all for most conditions. If you are not using a vehicle for about 3-4 months or longer, perhaps its ok to use one, but for daily use they are totally uneccessary.
Even where I live in Canada I'll put the battery on charge once or twice for a few hours over the winter.

R_W_B · 01-10-2014, 08:21 PM

If you ride regular you don't need a tender, since the battery never sits long enough for sulfation to occur. A battery "slowly" discharges while sitting.

When a battery discharges past a certain point sulfates start to form on the plates. Once this happens the plates will not recharge in those sulfated locations.

There are two things that cause a battery to fail. One is sulfation to a point of not being able to recharge sufficiently to run normal operation, and two expansion cracks in the plates resulting from heat and cold exposure over time.

If you use a AGM (Absorptive Glass Mat) battery the need for a tender is reduced since these type batteries have a very low discharge rate. The are stated as being able to sit charged on shelf for up to a year and be sold ready to go. They are also less susceptible to plate damage since the glass mat is more flexible than the old type plates.

A bike rode distances everyday also suffers a mild overcharge scenario, the bikes charging system is constantly pumping the regulated 13.x to 14 volts. There is no shut off excess current going to the battery after full charge. This would be the only scenario I could imagine where using a tender would contribute to overcharge while the bike was running.

BUT if you rarely ride or you are storing the bike a tender will prevent sulfation.

Roy1965 · 01-10-2014, 11:42 PM

Do they help? Can't say for sure but have used them for a long time. Have a 06 Suzuki (bought in 05) and 07 Yamaha and still have the original batteries going strong. Keep them on a tender during the winter months. Do they help don't know for sure but what I do know they don't hurt anything.

degreaser · 01-13-2014, 03:16 PM

I bought a Battery Tender Junior 1.25amp for bike battery during winter storage, during riding season I use once a month for about 30 minutes. I leave the battery on the bike when I use the Tender

tonik · 01-13-2014, 05:06 PM

Depends on what kind of oil you have in your bike.

dshelly · 01-13-2014, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonik

Depends on what kind of oil you have in your bike.

Oil ??

01-10-2014, 12:56 PM	#1
roadhawg Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Starke Florida Posts: 856	Battery Tenders, good or bad? My last battery change, I went from the lead/acid to the Gel. I have heard both sides of using a 2 amp battery tender all the time. Some say it prolongs battery life, but some say it shortens life? What say you VB forum? __________________ "Ride it like you stole it"! 2008 1600 Nomad 56K miles "BlueBelle" 2004 1500 Nomad 102 K miles "Black Beauty" ABATE Black Creek Chapter Amvet Rider Post 86 http://www.facebook.com/AmvetPost86 Weston A. Price Foundation member. Vegetarian...... An old Indian word meaning "Bad Hunter" Legalize Freedom! Question Authority! "Im in love with the waitress, and I dont even know her name" "Boys" Gone Wild" ! Mainstreet Station 2012 Daytona Bikeweek Login or Register to Remove Ads
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01-10-2014, 01:04 PM	#2
landman Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: wheatland,wy. Posts: 3,642	prolongs life ! __________________ bob wittman VBA # 745 COG #11621 wheatland,wy. rallies-custer 09,kalispell 10,crescent city 11,kanab 12,estes park 13,orifino 14.,red lodge 16 2015 ninja 1000 abs 2014 concourse 14 2012 concourse 14-sold 2011 vaquero-sold 2008 nomad-sold 2005 classic-sold
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01-10-2014, 01:59 PM	#3
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	It doesn't shorten life to my knowledge, a fully charged acid battery is a happy battery. Where you may run into problem is if you always put the bike, car, boat what're ever on a tender when ever you are not using the vehicle. You really have no way of knowing if the battery is starting to get weak till you have taken it off life support and driven off somewhere. A battery in good shape should easily start our bikes even after sitting for 2-3 weeks. I like to use a tender in the off season and not always full time. It gets moved around to other seasonal use stuff with batteries. During the riding season I rarely plug the bike in. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
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01-10-2014, 02:29 PM	#4
dshelly Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgrade, MT Posts: 2,824	+2 on prolongs your batt. Especially in the winter when you don't ride. However, keeping your battery connections clean is just as important. __________________ Dave "(dshelly)" Shellenberger 2014 Harley Ultra Classic 2007 1600 Nomad (Black) Shellenberger Machine Belgrade, MT Various Bagger Member (Harley Chapter) VBA # 2395
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01-10-2014, 02:54 PM	#5
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	I agree with Norm Did I say that out loud ? I keep our bikes and lawn mowers on a tender all winter but do not use a tender during the riding season. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4] Login or Register to Remove Ads
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01-10-2014, 04:53 PM	#9
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	Thanks Brad, I don't know what I would do with out you. Tim, guess the planets align once and a while. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
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01-10-2014, 06:32 PM	#10
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	I don't use a tender and never have, I don't think they are neccessary at all for most conditions. If you are not using a vehicle for about 3-4 months or longer, perhaps its ok to use one, but for daily use they are totally uneccessary. Even where I live in Canada I'll put the battery on charge once or twice for a few hours over the winter. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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01-10-2014, 08:21 PM	#11
R_W_B Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Central Florida, 2011 Nomad Posts: 134	If you ride regular you don't need a tender, since the battery never sits long enough for sulfation to occur. A battery "slowly" discharges while sitting. When a battery discharges past a certain point sulfates start to form on the plates. Once this happens the plates will not recharge in those sulfated locations. There are two things that cause a battery to fail. One is sulfation to a point of not being able to recharge sufficiently to run normal operation, and two expansion cracks in the plates resulting from heat and cold exposure over time. If you use a AGM (Absorptive Glass Mat) battery the need for a tender is reduced since these type batteries have a very low discharge rate. The are stated as being able to sit charged on shelf for up to a year and be sold ready to go. They are also less susceptible to plate damage since the glass mat is more flexible than the old type plates. A bike rode distances everyday also suffers a mild overcharge scenario, the bikes charging system is constantly pumping the regulated 13.x to 14 volts. There is no shut off excess current going to the battery after full charge. This would be the only scenario I could imagine where using a tender would contribute to overcharge while the bike was running. BUT if you rarely ride or you are storing the bike a tender will prevent sulfation.
	0

01-10-2014, 11:42 PM	#12
Roy1965 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Lowell,AR Posts: 370	Do they help? Can't say for sure but have used them for a long time. Have a 06 Suzuki (bought in 05) and 07 Yamaha and still have the original batteries going strong. Keep them on a tender during the winter months. Do they help don't know for sure but what I do know they don't hurt anything. __________________ 07 Yamaha Stratoliner (charcoal gray), 2012 Kawasaki Voyager ABS (Pearl Alpine White / Pearl Luster Beige) VBA#2460
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01-13-2014, 03:16 PM	#13
degreaser Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 614	I bought a Battery Tender Junior 1.25amp for bike battery during winter storage, during riding season I use once a month for about 30 minutes. I leave the battery on the bike when I use the Tender __________________ 04 1500 sold, got an 800 now Atlantic Canada
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01-13-2014, 05:06 PM	#14
tonik Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cleveland Ohio Posts: 714	Depends on what kind of oil you have in your bike.
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