Battery

[6R Blackout]

As most of you all know I haven't been riding the last 4 weeks due to my corpral tunnel release and won't be riding for atleast another 4-6 cause I am soon to have my left hand done in about another week.

I have been asking my dad who is 65 to just take it out of his garage and ride it around the block a few times just to keep things lubed and such. I ask him to do this two maybe three times a week, well since my surgery my bike has sat in his garage(cause I don't have a garage just a car port and thought it would be better in his garage) and hasn't been riddin. So I go there today and try to start my girl and she doesn't turn over.

My old man is no stranger to motorcycles and he has ridden mine before, that said I have a dead battery and now I am kinda pissed cause he didn't ride it or even start it once a day.

Can I just charge the battery and will it keep a charge or will I have to get a new one?
I know these are not like car batteries, I am under the impression that now this battery will never hold a charge and if the bike doesn't get taken for a ride once a week the battery will just die in a weeks time. Is this a stupid costly mistake or should I be O.K. with just putting it on a trickle charge over night and then maybe buying a battery tender junior or something to keep the maintenance on the battery till I am able to get on and ride again.

I also hope that my bike sitting up like that won't cause more problems like it not starting cause it sat up so long. Only good thing is I have no ethanol in the tank so I know I am good there. Can anyone give there input and know how on this.

Has this ever happened to anyone else with the battery dying from just sitting up. If so did you have to get a new battery or just give the dead one a little TLC.

Oh yeah the instrument panel lights up but the needle on the tack is very slow to go around when I turn on the key.

I am also hiring riders to come ride my bike for the next 4-6 weeks till I can! LOL!!

 

[CDN6R]

Well how old is you bike? Bike batteries are quite small but they are very powerful. If your bike is a 2009,,and the battery is original it may need replacing but first I would disconnect the +ve and -ve cables and try charging it over night with a trickle charger and see if indeed it will take a charge. If the bikes starts fine after a few short trips then the battery is probably OK. If the battery starts to loose it charge again,, perhaps it should be replaced or charge it up again,,take the bike to your dealer and have your charging system checked out. If the charging system is fine purchase a new battery.

 

[BKP]

There are a few smart battery trickle chargers designed for bikes... You keep them hooked up, and they charge when they sense the voltage is dropping, and at a very low amperage push. There is no problem keeping them plugged into these types of chargers for long periods of time.

Battery Tender is one of these ($28 at MCSS):

 

[6R Blackout]

Well how old is you bike? Bike batteries are quite small but they are very powerful. If your bike is a 2009,,and the battery is original it may need replacing but first I would disconnect the +ve and -ve cables and try charging it over night with a trickle charger and see if indeed it will take a charge. If the bikes starts fine after a few short trips then the battery is probably OK. If the battery starts to loose it charge again,, perhaps it should be replaced or charge it up again,,take the bike to your dealer and have your charging system checked out. If the charging system is fine purchase a new battery.

My bike is an 09' but it has been kept up really well, I don't think its the charging system that should work I am pretty sure its just the fact that it sat up for those few weeks and just went dead, atleast thats what I hope it to be.

 

[6R Blackout]

There are a few smart battery trickle chargers designed for bikes... You keep them hooked up, and they charge when they sense the voltage is dropping, and at a very low amperage push. There is no problem keeping them plugged into these types of chargers for long periods of time.

Battery Tender is one of these ($28 at MCSS):

So you saying if I give it a good charge over night with my big charger, I can get a battery tender and keep it hooked up and hopefully I shouldn't have this problem even if my bike sits for a few weeks?

I think I will invest in a Battery Tender Junior just for the hell of it, funny thing about it is 2 times before I actually had a battery tender junior in my hand at the store and talked myself out of it each time saying I will never need this though it is probably good to have. Shoulda bought it then and I wouldn't be in this predicament now.

Which brings up another question Are our batteries in our bikes only good for 2 years, wether you ride each day or not?:wtfgun:

 

[Rabbitman109]

If you put it on the trickle charger it should come back. Don't make a habit of it though as if you discharge it too many times the battery is done. Yes it is safe to put the battery on the trickle charger, and leave it for weeks at a time, in fact that is what you're supposed to do over the winter. The battery will last. You many more years than 2 because it is a sealed maintinence free battery. Shouldn't have to buy a new battery for at least 6 or 7 years unless you don't take care of it.

Sent from my Transform Ultra using Tapatalk 2

 

[BKP]

Do *not* use a standard car charger... Charging algorithms are different for cars and the smaller batteries bikes use...

The Battery Tender, and Battery Tender Jr. are tuned for bikes...

From a Battery Specialist on another forum:

"What happens when a battery is kept in the "top-off" (fully-charged) region is that the plates are electrochemically "fully formed", which keeps the 6 cells "reset" to within a few millivolts between cells. This minimizes cell imbalances during discharge, which have been shown to dramatically shorten battery life. If a battery is allowed to self discharge even slightly (5%, say) cell imbalances are far more likely --that's why it's usually a single cell that fails (open circuits) rather than all 6 cells at once.

Deltran's engineers exploit this in the design of their "tenders/maintainers", which is why the product line is famous among battery experts for significantly increasing battery life, and the company remains so successful. So if you own a Battery Tender Plus or Jr, keep it on your bike's battery 24/7."

 

[6R Blackout]

Do *not* use a standard car charger... Charging algorithms are different for cars and the smaller batteries bikes use...

The Battery Tender, and Battery Tender Jr. are tuned for bikes...

From a Battery Specialist on another forum:

"What happens when a battery is kept in the "top-off" (fully-charged) region is that the plates are electrochemically "fully formed", which keeps the 6 cells "reset" to within a few millivolts between cells. This minimizes cell imbalances during discharge, which have been shown to dramatically shorten battery life. If a battery is allowed to self discharge even slightly (5%, say) cell imbalances are far more likely --that's why it's usually a single cell that fails (open circuits) rather than all 6 cells at once.

Deltran's engineers exploit this in the design of their "tenders/maintainers", which is why the product line is famous among battery experts for significantly increasing battery life, and the company remains so successful. So if you own a Battery Tender Plus or Jr, keep it on your bike's battery 24/7."

So I need to take my battery out of my bike and invest in a Battery Tender Jr. and hook it up?

That should bring my battery back to life and keep it going until I am able to put it back in and ride in another 4-6 weeks?:noworries:RIGHT?

 

[6R Blackout]

Also what about it sitting up for another few weeks I have never owned anything that sat up that long, atleast not something gasoline powered. Not even the lawn mower in the winter time cause down here we still cut grass cause the winters are so mild we just cut every 2-3 weeks instead of every week.

I mean my chain is clean and sufficiently oiled, I am just concerned that it will end up being one of those "Well it ran when I put it up" type thing.:don'tknow:

Yes maybe I am being anal but this is my bike and I like all of you out there, I love my bike and I just want things to be right!

I do want to say thanks to all who respond and give me feedback, since day 1 when I joined I have learned so much from so many and I appreciate all of it even if it is some good old constructive critisizm, I can take it. But it has been said many times before and I will say it again. "This forum is family and all you guys and gals on here are great".
Too bad we all couldn't meet up for one huge FZ6R Forum member ride, Thanks again!:thumbup:

 

[Rabbitman109]

Don't worry about it sitting all that time. It will be fine. I had mine sit over winter for about 3-4 months before without a problem. I don't like the Battery Tender Jr's, I think they are too expensive. I have a Schumacher, and they can be found at Tractor Supply or Walmart. They usually have pictures of motorcycles on the box. What ever you get, just make sure that it is a Battery Tender, and you will be okay. You don't necessarily have to remove the battery, as you can hook the terminals on without removing it, but if you want to, that is fine too.

These are the ones that I have:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-XM1-5-Maintainer-1.5-Amp/15140193?findingMethod=rr

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-SpeedCharge-Battery-Maintainer-and-Charger/13005742?findingMethod=rr

 

[BKP]

So I need to take my battery out of my bike and invest in a Battery Tender Jr. and hook it up?

That should bring my battery back to life and keep it going until I am able to put it back in and ride in another 4-6 weeks?:noworries:RIGHT?

No need to take the battery out of the bike.

The Battery Tenders use a standard battery loop connector on one end, with a male/female connector on the other, called an SAE connector:

Once the battery is connected, you can zip tie/tuck the wire with the SAE connector in anywhere on the bike, permanently. Multiple types of devices are now accessible, without having to connect/disconnect from the battery (you just use the SAE connector), such as the Battery Tender itself, Powerlet outlets, SAE extension cords, etc.

 

[6R Blackout]

No need to take the battery out of the bike.

The Battery Tenders use a standard battery loop connector on one end, with a male/female connector on the other, called an SAE connector:

Once the battery is connected, you can zip tie/tuck the wire with the SAE connector in anywhere on the bike, permanently. Multiple types of devices are now accessible, without having to connect/disconnect from the battery (you just use the SAE connector), such as the Battery Tender itself, Powerlet outlets, SAE extension cords, etc.

So I can leave my battery in my bike and leave it hooked up, meaning not unhook anything such as +&- and plug it in and it should recharge my battery without harming anything else on my bike like the instrument panel or lighting or even fuses?

And it really doesn't matter if I leave it hooked up to the battery tender for a few weeks?
It won't get too hot and want to expand?

One more thing PLEASE tell me I shouldn't have to go buy a new battery then do all of this. Just getting a battery tender should charge me up and keep it maintained till I am able to ride again?

As I have said before I just want to make sure I have all this correct before I do it so I don't damage anything, and hopefully that giving the battery a recharge will do the trick and the battery will last me a few more years once I am riding again in a 4-6 weeks?

Thanks for all the help and explanations, I promise I will get it all together soon and quit asking questions and :deadhorse:

 

[Rabbitman109]

No new battery. Get maintainer/Trickle charger, and let it on and you should be fine. Check in a few days that it is receiving a charge.

 

[BKP]

As FZ said above, set it and forget it (no, wait... that's Ron Popeil's convection oven)... but, it works with the Battery Tender as well. The built in algorithm detects full charge, and reduces output to the battery.

Unless your battery has gone to full dead, and remained there a bit, you shouldn't have a problem resurrecting it.

 

[darksidefz6r]

Just a heads up but your battery should not drain low enough within a week to not be able to start it. A battery tender will help in maintaining the battery while it is being stored. If your bike won't start after sitting for a week then you either have a large parasitic draw or your battery is indeed faulty and should be replaced.

 

[Superzoom]

In terms of the way you're storing your bike, Blackout, 4-6 weeks is not really long term storage. You may be doing more harm than good starting it a couple times a week, especially if you don't get it fully up to operating temp, and you're running it at too low RPM to charge the battery.

I'd top up with non-ethanol gas, pour in a little fuel stabilizer, run it a little through the system, put the battery on the tender, and just leave the bike for the six weeks. It will be just fine.

 

[6R Blackout]

Just a heads up but your battery should not drain low enough within a week to not be able to start it. A battery tender will help in maintaining the battery while it is being stored. If your bike won't start after sitting for a week then you either have a large parasitic draw or your battery is indeed faulty and should be replaced.

No my battery didn't die after a week it sat up for close to 6 weeks, and even now I can turn the key on ans the instrument panel lights up along with the tail light and blinkers even work it just doesn't have the power to turn over the starter and if I hit the button it just goes tick tick tick tick!

 

[6R Blackout]

In terms of the way you're storing your bike, Blackout, 4-6 weeks is not really long term storage. You may be doing more harm than good starting it a couple times a week, especially if you don't get it fully up to operating temp, and you're running it at too low RPM to charge the battery.

I'd top up with non-ethanol gas, pour in a little fuel stabilizer, run it a little through the system, put the battery on the tender, and just leave the bike for the six weeks. It will be just fine.

Now that you said that maybe I did the damage by starting it every now and again and just letting it run a minute and not letting it get up to operating temp, and not getting the RPM's up either. I really thought I was doing some good since it wasn't being started or ridden at all, boy did I sure screw up. Thanks to you all I should have no problem when I am able to ride again.

 

[JSP]

Now that you said that maybe I did the damage by starting it every now and again and just letting it run a minute and not letting it get up to operating temp, and not getting the RPM's up either. I really thought I was doing some good since it wasn't being started or ridden at all, boy did I sure screw up. Thanks to you all I should have no problem when I am able to ride again.

The charging system on the FZ is something like 5k rpm. So just starting it and letting it idle is actually going to drain the battery, among other things that is not good for the bike oil wise. If you are not going to ride it for an extended period of time, winterize it. Fresh gas all the way full, stabilizer, and battery on a tender and fresh oil change.

 

[MNGreg]

I have this cord hooked up on my bike battery all the time. I used to have it routed under the passenger seat and would take the seat off and hook up my air pump or the Tender as needed. Got to be a pain removing the seat. Now I found that it it held in place nicely under the rider seat and routed and held in place by the grab bar, so no more removing the seat to hook up the inflator ever few mornings before work. I hook mine up obviously over winter, but whenever the bike will sit for more than 1 week. The Junior is a GREAT investment. Can get a 12 vlt cig. lighter socket that connects to this cord also if your air pump, or cell phone needs it. I use it for my cell also since my POS phone battery only lasts like 3 hrs now! Do not like riding w/ a less than full phone battery.