Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

In the UK, just been hit with lots of snow, so the GSXF hasnt been out of the garage for 2 weeks now. Its stock but with alarm and immobiliser fitted. I've bought one of these battery tenders:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BATTERY-CHARGER-DELTRAN-BATTERY-TENDER-RIDE-BEST-BUY_W0QQitemZ310152345916QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycle_Parts?hash=item483685393c
and intend to use it without removing the battery.
How long would people recommend I leave the bike before I put on the battery tender?
Wasn't expecting a "white xmas" this year but the snow came unexpected here in the UK.
Any advice appreciated? Cheers
Dan

I have 5 bikes, 5 Tenders, on 24/7 this time of year, just put it on and forget about it

+1 Always use them, like an umbilical cord.

I'm relative newbie to motorcycling. Thought battery tender was just another name for battery charger. Luckily stumbled across a forum post alluding to differences before I used the charger and fried my battery!
When bike was in storage for several weeks, I hooked charger to a timer and charged it once per week for 5 minutes.
Right now I wait for good snowfall, open garage door, mount up & start bike, and run it in garage for 15 minutes while watching the snow fall ........... dream of Spring!

I not only use my tender during the winter months but if i know for a fact that i am not going to ride for more than a week, due to a vacation or business trip, i hook mine up, its just a good way to make the battery last a much longer time.

NorCahUnter

Can you guys recommend a good one?

I don't know anything about them or what to look for.

Are all motorcycle batteries the same? I ask because right now I have a GS500 and I'd like to keep the battery in good shape over the winter, but I also plan on getting the F in the spring.

The Battery Tender Junior is all you need, motorcycle-superstore has them on sale for $19.99 sometimes

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/60/950/ITEM/Battery-Tender-Junior-Charger.aspx

what is the difference between a 6 volt and 12 volt model? which would I need?

sorry I'm so clueless.

12V will work for both the GS500 and the GSX650F when you get it

From all I've read, Battery Tender Junior gets almost universal thumbs up.

Thats the one that i use on both of my bikes, and i have never had any issues of any kind, they are easy to use.

NorCalHunter

As a testament to the worth of these great devices, I still have the original battery in my '03 SV1000S- it has always had a Tender attached.

Wow! That's quite a testament.

Thanks to this thread, I went out and bought a battery tender (made by Yuasa at $34.00). Have a Suzuki Burgman 400 just sitting in the driveway under a bike cover I haven't been riding in months since I got the 650-F. Somewhat of a hassle to take the cover off and crank it up. Hadn't been cranked in probably five or six weeks so I wasn't too optimistic she was going to start up but she did...but barely. Seems I got to it just in time.

been working out of the country since before Xmas .. not used bike since 17th December. Came to start it today and flat battery !!

It's been in the garage with the Suzuki alarm on since I last used it .. I know it's been cold here in the UK (-15 some nights) but my other bikes without alarms all started ..

maybe it needs to be on a trickle charger if I am going to not use it for a few weeks ??