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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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).

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

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by AlabamaNomadRider

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.

[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]

Originally Posted by ponch

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]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

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. ;)