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Registered
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: McLean, VA
Posts: 13
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Battery Tender
Can some of you folks who use Battery Tender give me a read on its effectigveness and long-term reliability?
Does it come with the male plug required for the BMW accessory socket. Many thanks. Peter Adler |
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06-19-2002, 11:27 AM
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Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Union Pier, MI, USA
Posts: 572
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You can get the "BMW" version or the rgular version Battery Tender. I have the regular version and just attached the supplied connector to my battery terminals. Anyway, my bike has lived in Chicago four winters now and is still going strong on the original battery (knock wood!). Always use a Battery Tender.
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06-19-2002, 12:33 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Columbia MD
Posts: 320
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The BMW relabeled verison of the Battery Tender is the same price (same everything) as the Battery Tender "brand" unit. In fact it is the same unit, but comes with the correct adaptor for BMW saving a few bucks over buying the plug yourself. I've used the same battery Tender for over three years, I've never had a battery issue. Most of the use is in winter (every nights); I will just plug it in after I came home form work. I have a short ride to work, and the heated clothes and grips put a hell of a draw on the charging system. Teh battery tender fixes that every night.
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Matthew Is everything we experience a mere appearance, or are these appearances manifestations of actual things which are more or less as they appear to be? |
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06-19-2002, 01:49 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 415
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during winter storage, is it a good idea to keep the tender hooked up all the time? does this accelerate water evap. (since it's such a pain to refill on the S)? or would you advise weekly or monthly charges.
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06-19-2002, 01:52 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Posts: 391
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Padler
I've just replaced the stock battery with an Odyssey brand sealed unit. As I'm not really mechanically minded I had the local bike shop do the work. Total cost was AUS$430. When I was picking up the bike, the shop owner recommended buying a battery tender (Cost AUS$60 approx) which he guaranteed would extend the life of the battery. As I only predominantly ride on the weekends & less in Winter, he suggested plugging the tender in overnight at least once a week. 
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06-19-2002, 04:51 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Union Pier, MI, USA
Posts: 572
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I don't ride after the Salt trucks come out. For those three months in Chicago, the bike stays garaged under a cover with the Battery Tender plugged in. Temps reach down to -20 degrees farenheit. No problems and no excess evaporation.
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06-19-2002, 05:05 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Bay Area, CA USA
Posts: 895
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padler,
You may also want to take a look at the Battery Doc. I purchased it online a few months ago to hook up to my old bike. Like the Battery Tender it won't over charge the battery. It comes with case and several connectors including one that fits the BMW plug. Also, it's much smaller than the Battery Tender. Do an online search if interested.
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Jim '18, Ford F-150; '07, Lexus IS350; '01, R1100S; '80, R65; '76, Honda CB750 Four; '73, Ducati 750 GT; '70, VW Beetle; '65, BMW R60/2; '64, Triumph Bonneville; '64, MV Agusta 125 GTL; '60, BSA Gold Star; '55, R25/3 |
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06-19-2002, 08:55 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: No. CA
Posts: 2,921
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One thing to keep in mind on the tender are what the lights mean. The tender has 4 signals (flashing red, solid red, flashing green, solid green)
. Once while charging the bike the tender was flashing an indicator that the electrical system needed checking (or something to this effect) However, after inspecting the tender's plug it was noted that the wires into the plug were loose. Took the plug apart and re-tightened the two wires and plugged it back into the bike without any further problems. . Just a heads up to look for when your tender is telling you that your battery system needs checking.
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06-19-2002, 09:27 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Catch me in Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,182
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My S still has the original battery since 1999. I have used the Battery Tender religiously and highly recommend it.
Used to use an older 1 amp job on my last BMW tended to boil the battery. Battery Tender does not! Cheers Tomas 
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06-20-2002, 12:21 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Columbia MD
Posts: 320
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The Battery Tender is the "fire and forget" - "smart missle" of the charging world; its pretty safe to leave pluged in all winter. Thou I hate to be the guy that walk into the garage to find a smoldering pile of metal where his bike use to be... with the little green light smiling at me from the battery tender...
But I trusted my Battery Tender for weeks at a time.
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Matthew Is everything we experience a mere appearance, or are these appearances manifestations of actual things which are more or less as they appear to be? Last edited by t0land; 06-20-2002 at 08:02 PM.. |
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06-20-2002, 07:59 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: No. CA
Posts: 2,921
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Tominator,
I really like your avatar. That really rocks. . Pat
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06-20-2002, 09:34 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Catch me in Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,182
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Pat,
Yours isn't bad either! Avatar: Just like my S...a lil TOP heavy ;-) Cheaper than a Phychiatrist! Tomas |
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06-20-2002, 09:48 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: No. CA
Posts: 2,921
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I like to change mine around. Think I'll hang with Morpheous until I watch the movie again. (for the 11th time)
. Stay focused Trinity you can rock my world anyday. . . 
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06-20-2002, 10:13 PM
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