Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

Any time a battery goes completely "flat", some degree of damage is done. Unless exactly matched, one or more cells are likely "reverse charged" in order to make the average charge of the battery zero (or nearly). When recharged, there is no way to attain the previous charge balance between the cells, and some cells are not completely charged, lowering the overall capacity of the battery. Repeated drainings to a flat state only compound the problem and make it that much easier to happen next time- sort of a death spiral. For this reason, keeping an electronically monitored tender (as opposed to a simple trickle charger) on your battery at all times is the best insurance against problems.

Any voltage below 12.4V the damage from Sulfation starts... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfation

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html


Guess how many bikes I own?

The name Battery Tender is the brand name for one model that constantly measures the battery's charge and will only come on when needed. Basic trickle chargers are always on and if left attached continously they can do serious damage to a battery. There are other automatic chargers available that will do the same thing as a Tender, but I have had good luck with the Battery Tender brand except for one that malfunctioned and failed to cut off. It cooked a PWC battery. The charger was replaced under warranty, but I had to purchase a new battery.

same here, 3 bikes all with Tenders .... 24 / 7 / 365 days a year

bumping this thread in the hopes that you guys can offer a bit of clarity.

I got myself a battery tender junior but have not used it yet and have a few questions/thoughts for you pros.

1. My battery has been out of the bike for 3-4 months now, is it okay to just hook up the tender and leave it on constantly until spring when I can actually ride? I've heard people say they don't "trust" tenders and would never do this, but others saying they do it all winter.

2. Is it also okay if I just hook it up and leave it on during the hours I am actually at home or is that going to do more damage than good?

3. Does this particular model actually give and CHARGE to the battery, or does it simply maintain it?

If it matters, this is for a battery in a GS500F, so I'm not sure if there's any difference. I know nothing about bike batteries or batteries in general.

I'm cautious because I've already had a battery "explode" in my bike, which ruined the finish on the pipe and then I had the dealer explain to me that it must have been frozen solid in the bike all winter for that to happen to me(absolutely impossible since it was removed and store inside all those months) totally unrelated to battery tenders, I know...but enough to make me cautious as hell.

So I just don't want to deal with that again. Although it was a good excuse to get a new pipe.

anyway, thoughts or advice?

Only from personal experience:
1. I had mine on for a few weeks with no problems
2. I leave it on in the garage till am ready to ride on the weekend
3. Not sure about the junior, but the one i got charges and light goes green which means its maintaining.