Battery Tender?

[tnpete]

Ordered a Battery Tender for the bike. MICTUNING 6V 12V 750mA Intelligent Fully Automatic Battery Float Charger Maintainer.
Wire to the battery is (12" or so)short. So wondering if most are like this? And you have to just leave it around the handlebars. Or extend it and run it out below around the chrome cover over the fuel pump side?
I have everything to extend the wires. Just wondering what everyone else did?

[triton28]

I have my polarized lead from the battery zipty'ed to the frame rail just in front of the RH rear shock and that way I just set the charger on the rear foot board while in use.

[tnpete]

I have my polarized lead from the battery zipty'ed to the frame rail just in front of the RH rear shock and that way I just set the charger on the rear foot board while in use.

I like that ideal, will extend the wiring. Not sure why they would make up one so short to start with.

[SgtSlag]

To make the cable longer than 12 feet, they would need to increase the thickness of the copper cable, to avoid voltage loss, at the bike end. Copper is expensive, so they use a wire thick enough for a 12 foot length, without voltage drops below what is needed to charge the battery. It was designed for optimal performance, out of the box. If it is a 3-stage, or smart charger, you're golden, if you follow the instructions -- and plug it in, after every ride... Cheers!

[Van Voyager]

I've never needed to use a tender once I switched to AGM batteries.

[SgtSlag]

I agree: it is not "necessary", but it is, nice. The advantage? Your battery will be at a higher voltage, on the initial start. It will spin faster, and easier, due to the higher voltage on it, when you disconnect the Tender. I switched to an AGM, on my 1979 Honda 750 (owned it 2006-2012), from a standard, flooded battery. Both batteries exhibited a higher starting voltage, fresh off of the Tender -- it started more robustly, and faster, with the Tender, than without; I see similar performance differences with my Voyager. The battery reads about 1.0 volt higher, after the Tender, compared to sitting a week, without it. The clock on the Voyager XII does draw current -- not much, but a little. Even that will slowly lower the voltage across the AGM's terminals, over time.

Besides all of that, I had a Tender from when I used flooded batteries. Might as well put it to use, as the investment was already made. It also means my battery is always topped off, fully charged, between rides -- the radio never has a chance to drain the AGM, as it sits, between rides. I also have a Battery Monitor system (no longer available: the maker got sued for stealing the technology), which tells me what my battery's life is at, in a percentage reading, as well as showing the actual voltage across it (shows the functioning status of the charging system, as well as the battery, itself). It works -- I've proven that, the hard way. Between that, and the Tender, I'm golden. Hoping the Monitor gizmo lasts until I stop riding... Cheers!

[Van Voyager]

AGM batteries loose about 1% of their charge per month; regular use of a trickle charger doesn't really do anything and may result in overcharging the battery. Even after 6 months of zero use (as in winter storage) an AGM battery will still be at 94% capacity which is easily topped up by going for a short ride.

[ekap1200]

AGM batteries loose about 1% of their charge per month; regular use of a trickle charger doesn't really do anything and may result in overcharging the battery. Even after 6 months of zero use (as in winter storage) an AGM battery will still be at 94% capacity which is easily topped up by going for a short ride.

I agree with that/ After reading this post before going out to work in my shop, I thought it would be a good time to put the smart/charger and see the beginning percent of charge. I had been about a month since the AGM batt. was on charge. Within about 60sec's or so the percent read 98percent. - 2min. later it went to 100 % . Best battery I have used on the voyager.
Gene Kap

[tnpete]

To make the cable longer than 12 feet, they would need to increase the thickness of the copper cable, to avoid voltage loss, at the bike end. Copper is expensive, so they use a wire thick enough for a 12 foot length, without voltage drops below what is needed to charge the battery. It was designed for optimal performance, out of the box. If it is a 3-stage, or smart charger, you're golden, if you follow the instructions -- and plug it in, after every ride... Cheers!

Sorry but have to ask? Where did you come up with 12ft? Its 12" or 1ft now. And would only add 20" or so to it. Most others come with that from the factory. So no need to extend it longer then the bike.
Would say 36" would be the max. And then only maintaining the battery(Yes its a 3 stage). Not trying to boost or quick charge it.
As for the battery, not going to spend the money on anything other then factory. I'm old school, it works and no issues. Put the cash out 2 times for the higher priced battery's in my boat. Cash tossed away in the end.

[Nails]

I bought an AMG battery and loved it. Then I killed it with a bike problem that involved cranking the bike way too much, and then a defective charger (these batteries really are picky).

I liked it enough to buy another one, just like the one I had killed. (Replaced my charger too, duh.) I especially like how the bike starts -- I also use the starter cut-out hack to charge the carbs. With LEDs all around, I can't imagine running short of juice, even with heated gear.

Mine hasn't stored as well as Gene describes, but my bike has to spend the winter outside (covered, but also often covered in snow). After three months, it was very low (according to the meter's % charge). I wouldn't be surprised to find an electrical leak on my bike. I've brought the battery inside.

When I finish the garage, I'm looking forward to hooking the tender up on the pig-tail I mentioned above. (I expect to put the charger on my seat.) I don't think I'll need to do this very often, though -- probably just a couple times through the winter, and then maybe only just before I sneak in a quick ride. I'll periodically check the % charge and see how it goes.

[SgtSlag]

tnpete, most chargers come with 6-12 feet of cable, not 12". I assumed it was 12 feet. My apologies.

The AGM batteries are maintenance free: the cells are full of a gel, not liquid acid; the cells are sealed, so they cannot lose electrolyte -- you never have to fill them after the initial fill, when new; they operate at a slightly higher voltage compared to flooded cell batteries, which gives them more power to turn over your engine; they suffer extremely little internal voltage loss between the cells, compared to flooded battery types; they last typically twice as long as flooded cell batteries. Consider the fact that all modern automobiles use AGM/sealed batteries, from the factory.

The AGM battery has distinct advantages over flooded cell batteries -- if they did not, they would have faded into history long ago. Here is a blurb from the Internet describing some of their advantages: "AGM or Absorbent Glass Mat is an advanced lead-acid battery that provides superior power to support the higher electrical demands of today's vehicles and start-stop applications. AGM batteries are extremely resistant to vibration, are totally sealed, nonspillable and maintenance-free."

Use whatever type of battery you like, and prefer. This is just an explanation why most people choose AGM, or Gel batteries. Cheers!

[tnpete]

tnpete, most chargers come with 6-12 feet of cable, not 12". I assumed it was 12 feet. My apologies.

Thanks this one has a longer cable. But its on the charger end. Not on the battery end where it should be to start with. So I just added on the battery end. Removed the same from the charger end. Still the same length of wire. But in a different spot.

I may go with one of those battery's. If I keep the bike, not sure yet. I have a couple of bucket list rides. Then may not have a use for it after that. As my wife tells me. Why do all this work if your not going to keep it? I can't stand to have issues, when $$ can fix it.
So I will have a great bike to ride some. Or someone will get a great bike in Great shape if I sell it. We start traveling around the country this fall. Plans are to be gone months at a time in our RV. But have though of loading the bike up behind the sleeper of the Kenworth T600. Have room between there and the 5th wheel and camper. So may just add a lift to load the bike. And be able to ride where every I happen to be. Wife does not like to ride. But that's life.