Battery tenders

[Flounder]

Sorry if this is an oft asked question but the search function yielded zippo.

This is the first bike I've owned with a 12v accessory plug. Do you have a recommendation for an inexpensive battery tender for use with that plug? We have good riding weather much of the winter, so it won't be used too terribly much, thus the inexpensive part.

[EenyBear]

Your search function must have a glitch.

Having said that, the common route is to attach a fused pigtail directly to the battery with an SAE plug on the end. Then you can use just about any battery tender. Or, just get a "Battery Tender". It's bombproof, comes with a pigtail, and is reasonably cheap.

$25
Deltran Battery Tender Jr 12v Charger Hot Rod Trickle Car/Rat Rod/Indian/Ford/V8 | eBay

$50
Battery Tender Plus HARLEY DAVIDSON 12v Smart Trickle Charger! | eBay

Visit the site and decide which one works for you.

CTEK units gave been reported as robust too. However, the one I looked at did not use an SAE connector.

Why SAE? Because you can use it for so many things - tire inflator, power socket for charging you iPod, cell phone, etc. and so many other things.

$0.02

[gatzked]

there is also the battery tender option that plugs into the BMW accessory port on the side. little more expensive but i like it for ease of use and i didnt have to run any separate wiring

[ckcarr]

There is a difference between using a BatteryTender on the r1100s accessory plug socket and the r1200s accessory socket. Accessory socket works fine on the r1100s just order the $5.00 accessory plug, but not well (or not at all) on the r1200s.

It's advisable to update your profile to tell people what you are riding.

r1200s Accessory Socket Question - Bobby?



Or, for the r1100s

[ricky racer]

If you have a gel battery, a gel battery specific charger is recommended. These are also available from Deltran.

Battery Tender Plus - Batterytender.com

[Flounder]

Okay, sorry to drag up this thread again, but I didn't offer you guys all the information. I have an '04 R1100s with the 12v accessory socket. I have a trickle charger and the 12v plug attachment. No gel battery.

What's this with regard to the ignition sequence that I might need to do to get this sucker charging?

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by Flounder

What's this with regard to the ignition sequence that I might need to do to get this sucker charging?

Nothing. Nothing you need to worry about with an r1100s.

But, using a basic trickle charger is different than an BatteryTender, which will cycle on and off keeping the battery at the proper charge level. A trickle charger will just run & run, with possible bad consequences, especially with a basic sulfuric acid battery. It will eventually boil all the liquid out. A good BatteryTender will set you back $20 to $35 depending on BT Jr. or regular BatteryTender.

[Flounder]

Thank you, ckcarr.

I actually have the Battery Tender Junior. So just plug'er in and go?

By the way, I'm in Moab at least three times a year. Love that little sushi joint you guys have there.

Christophe