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Battery charger
Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:30 pm
by cmann
Hi,
I'm thinking about getting a batter charger that plugs into the little electricity port on the side of the bike. This seems like something that one would really want to have given that it is kind of a pain to get at the battery. Am I missing anything, or do you pretty much need a charger? Especially given that my wife has on my old bikes left the key on and run the battery down a few times!
Anyway, is there a particular charger that is recommended? Are there any other things I absolutely must have to plug in to the electricty port?
Thanks,
Casey
Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:52 pm
by DJ Downunder
Good idea...do you already have the socket on the bike?
Your dealer should be able to sell you a charger that has had the plug changed on it so it will fit the BMW size socket.
DJ
Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:40 pm
by CycleRob
. . . Especially given that my wife has on my old bikes left the key on and run the battery down a few times!
I smell a
killswitch demon hiding there. I blame lawyered-up MSF rider course instructors for poisioning her mind and turning her into a career M/C battery killer.
The best battery charger is a subjective answer. The best 2 are the
Deltran Battery Tender and OptiMate-3 chargers.
You can get a 900 milliamp Battery Tender Jr. for $20.95 + S&H from the linked site above and add a BMW accessory plug (correctly) to the battery lead wires in place of the terminal lugs. You're home free with a good system for under $40.
Use the photo below only to see what they look like:

Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 10:11 pm
by Sunbeemer
cmann - There are different types of chargers for different types of batteries (like the regular lead-acid batteries in most vehicles, absorbed glass mat (AGM) and gell cells), so you should use the correct charger for the type of battery in your bike to get the best life out of it. Some chargers have a switch that lets you choose which kind of battery to charge.
Also, the electric accessory receptacle on your bike has a 15 amp fuse so you wouldn't want a charger that can charge greater than 15 amps. Most of the smaller chargers don't go that high anyway.
Hope this helps.
Battery Tender
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:19 pm
by cmann
If I just want to plug the Battery Tender into a normal outlet in my garage, which voltage do I need -- 6V or 12V?
Thanks
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:32 pm
by owldaddy
12V
Re: Battery charger
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:55 pm
by NorseMan9
cmann wrote:Hi,
I'm thinking about getting a batter charger that plugs into the little electricity port on the side of the bike. This seems like something that one would really want to have given that it is kind of a pain to get at the battery. Am I missing anything, or do you pretty much need a charger? Especially given that my wife has on my old bikes left the key on and run the battery down a few times!
Anyway, is there a particular charger that is recommended? Are there any other things I absolutely must have to plug in to the electricty port?
Thanks,
Casey
I've got an extra battery tender for $20 plus shipping. Brand new. You'd need to get a portlet adapter for it but other than that, it's good to go. LMK.