As title said, what brand do you use for battery tender ?
looking for one just charge once a while. I ride local everyday and don't really go on freeway that much to charge the battery fully. i just feel like the battery is weak. so the battery tender would help. thanks guys for answering.
Most use 'battery tender' brand battery tenders from Deltram. There are two popular models, the 'Plus' and the 'Junior'. The junior is a basic trickle charger that automatically shuts off when the battery is charged. The plus does the same but also 'cycles' the battery. You'll get more battery life if you use a battery tender 'plus' or another 'smart' battery charger, over an 'automatic' charger.
That's basically how you'll find them advertised. I would strongly suggest staying away from any 'manual' chargers, even if it's a trickle charger, as they can damage the battery. They work fine for recharging a dead battery but will overcharge and damage your battery if left unattended. Next up will be an 'Automatic' Charger, again, that's one that will shut it's self off. You can leave those on as long as you'd like, they won't damage the battery, and they will keep it 'topped off'. And, finally, a 'smart' charger, which will cycle and float your battery to help eliminate sulfates and other nasties.
What's cool about the Deltran models (and some others) is that they include pigtails you can install on your battery. You can leave them under the seat or leave them hanging out of the seat, and then when you pull it in the garage, just plug in the pig tails! If you can, plug it in to a smart charger whenever it's at home, it'll keep your battery lasting it's longest!
You may also consider a 'battery desulphator' or a model that does desulphation. Batteries can fail in a lot of ways (worn plates, shorting, etc.) but the most common is sulphate buildups. Now, I don't have any experience with this myself, but I have a family friend who has a 1995 Goldwing with the original battery in it. He has this high end battery tender with a desulphate mode on it, and each winter when he stores it, he turns it on that mode. Takes a few days for it to complete, but then the battery is good as new each time. Again, haven't tried it myself, but it's hard to argue with a 17 year old motorcycle battery.
__________________
"8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
2006 Vulcan 900 Classic LT "Couch-a-Saki/Mini-Bagger" Fire and Steel Highway Bars w/ pegs, Mustang seat, Harley-Davidson King TourPak, Shark 600W stereo, Rick's Stator, and more to come!
2011 Honda Shadow Aero 750 (Wife's) Memphis shades windshield, and one happy new rider!
Member of the Christian Motorcyclist Association
VROC: 34661
Patriot Guard Rider
Make sure that the tender is not covering up another problem or you might find yourself pushing.
+1 what he said. Check out the sticky on the 900 forum on the Stator information. Do those tests outlined there and post your results. Stator failures are common on the 900 and often start slow. If you feel like the battery is weak it could be anything from the charging system to a failing battery. Take the battery to a dealer or somewhere that specializes in motorcycles and have them test the battery. (Sfair can confirm but I've been told that automotive grade load testers cannot accurately determine if there is a problem on a motorcycle battery).
How old is the battery? What reason do you have to think it's 'weak'? Does it have trouble starting? Does it crank slowly? Does the battery need to be charged from time to time?
__________________
"8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
2006 Vulcan 900 Classic LT "Couch-a-Saki/Mini-Bagger" Fire and Steel Highway Bars w/ pegs, Mustang seat, Harley-Davidson King TourPak, Shark 600W stereo, Rick's Stator, and more to come!
2011 Honda Shadow Aero 750 (Wife's) Memphis shades windshield, and one happy new rider!
Member of the Christian Motorcyclist Association
VROC: 34661
Patriot Guard Rider
Most use 'battery tender' brand battery tenders from Deltram. There are two popular models, the 'Plus' and the 'Junior'. The junior is a basic trickle charger that automatically shuts off when the battery is charged. The plus does the same but also 'cycles' the battery. You'll get more battery life if you use a battery tender 'plus' or another 'smart' battery charger, over an 'automatic' charger.
That's basically how you'll find them advertised. I would strongly suggest staying away from any 'manual' chargers, even if it's a trickle charger, as they can damage the battery. They work fine for recharging a dead battery but will overcharge and damage your battery if left unattended. Next up will be an 'Automatic' Charger, again, that's one that will shut it's self off. You can leave those on as long as you'd like, they won't damage the battery, and they will keep it 'topped off'. And, finally, a 'smart' charger, which will cycle and float your battery to help eliminate sulfates and other nasties.
What's cool about the Deltran models (and some others) is that they include pigtails you can install on your battery. You can leave them under the seat or leave them hanging out of the seat, and then when you pull it in the garage, just plug in the pig tails! If you can, plug it in to a smart charger whenever it's at home, it'll keep your battery lasting it's longest!
You may also consider a 'battery desulphator' or a model that does desulphation. Batteries can fail in a lot of ways (worn plates, shorting, etc.) but the most common is sulphate buildups. Now, I don't have any experience with this myself, but I have a family friend who has a 1995 Goldwing with the original battery in it. He has this high end battery tender with a desulphate mode on it, and each winter when he stores it, he turns it on that mode. Takes a few days for it to complete, but then the battery is good as new each time. Again, haven't tried it myself, but it's hard to argue with a 17 year old motorcycle battery.
+1 on the Deltran Plus. They also have a two battery model so you can use one unit for two bikes.
I use a Deltron Plus. I picked it up when I got my new Ducati 748 and the battery was weak (it was a year old, new bike when I bought it, which I think might have killed the battery). I could literally ride all day and the battery wasn't strong enough the next night to start the bike, luckily it WAS strong enough to start it the next morning. I put the tender on it and it never failed to start for the next 5 years until I sold the bike, and kept the tender, haha.
Most use 'battery tender' brand battery tenders from Deltram. There are two popular models, the 'Plus' and the 'Junior'. The junior is a basic trickle charger that automatically shuts off when the battery is charged. The plus does the same but also 'cycles' the battery. You'll get more battery life if you use a battery tender 'plus' or another 'smart' battery charger, over an 'automatic' charger.
That's basically how you'll find them advertised. I would strongly suggest staying away from any 'manual' chargers, even if it's a trickle charger, as they can damage the battery. They work fine for recharging a dead battery but will overcharge and damage your battery if left unattended. Next up will be an 'Automatic' Charger, again, that's one that will shut it's self off. You can leave those on as long as you'd like, they won't damage the battery, and they will keep it 'topped off'. And, finally, a 'smart' charger, which will cycle and float your battery to help eliminate sulfates and other nasties.
What's cool about the Deltran models (and some others) is that they include pigtails you can install on your battery. You can leave them under the seat or leave them hanging out of the seat, and then when you pull it in the garage, just plug in the pig tails! If you can, plug it in to a smart charger whenever it's at home, it'll keep your battery lasting it's longest!
You may also consider a 'battery desulphator' or a model that does desulphation. Batteries can fail in a lot of ways (worn plates, shorting, etc.) but the most common is sulphate buildups. Now, I don't have any experience with this myself, but I have a family friend who has a 1995 Goldwing with the original battery in it. He has this high end battery tender with a desulphate mode on it, and each winter when he stores it, he turns it on that mode. Takes a few days for it to complete, but then the battery is good as new each time. Again, haven't tried it myself, but it's hard to argue with a 17 year old motorcycle battery.
thanks for the reply, very detail answer i'm looking for and i remember while i was installing the speakers, 2012 model do came with pigtail that i can hang out of the seat, what a nice touch. i just plug in and charge with the battery tender.
+1 what he said. Check out the sticky on the 900 forum on the Stator information. Do those tests outlined there and post your results. Stator failures are common on the 900 and often start slow. If you feel like the battery is weak it could be anything from the charging system to a failing battery. Take the battery to a dealer or somewhere that specializes in motorcycles and have them test the battery. (Sfair can confirm but I've been told that automotive grade load testers cannot accurately determine if there is a problem on a motorcycle battery).
How old is the battery? What reason do you have to think it's 'weak'? Does it have trouble starting? Does it crank slowly? Does the battery need to be charged from time to time?
Its 2012 model i just bought in april, bettery seem fine, bike start right up.
But after i installed the pair of rumbleroad ultra amped speaker, i tested around and may have drained some battery while testing and i ride local only. so maybe the reason never charged up fully. I'm not saying right now at this moment the battery is bad, I just want it to be fully charge up once a while. I know its hard to charge up a battery if i only ride local everyday and each way about 8 miles plus i listen to the music while riding. dont want the stator work too hard keep charging th battery because it was low, maybe ?? i think.
just something to help out the charge. nothing major.
What brand of battery tender do you use ?
2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT
Linear Mode
