Maybe you don't need the charger then - can you turn the alarm off while the bike is garaged?

Don't worry too much about the centre stand - just turn the tyres every month the bike's not used. Turn them about 180 degrees. If you've got a bit of old carpet or some thick cardboard store the bike with it's wheels on that. Check the tyres are well-up on inflation BTW.

These things are really only a problem if the bike is static for many months on end.

Make double sure you do your checks before you set off after a long break. Brakes, lights, tyres, chain etc.

Very true but a damned sight better than paying for a new battery. There seem to be a lot of folk using these, especially if they have an alarm fitted.



I don't bother though, I just go for a run, when the weather isn't to bad.

am looking for gloves myself...will start a new thread...

Blandwit,
I can vouch for the optimate. I have had one for a year or so now & simply plug the lead on to whichever bike is not in use for a while-extra leads are about £2 so its a very cheap option.
Dont go for cheaper makes, there are one or two out there that dont do what they say on the tin.
I had a battery lying about off my datsun 280 zx-(thats another story) & the optimate "reconditioned" that no probs.

Cheapest way to condition a battery for winter is to go for a last ride then remove the battery and put it on the shelf. You may need to top it up once when you start biking again, but that would indicate the battery is in less than good condition. Shelf-life of a battery in good nick is up to 2 years.

If you store them for too long when they are a bit low on charge, or indeed if they are in poor condition and discharge  faster than they should while disconnected, then they can go into deep-discharge state. The Optimate can detect this and coax such a comatose battery back to a usable state. It's a good product.

BTW store the bike on the centre stand if poss... ::

I reckon the best bet is to take it out and use it every couple of weeks.  winter can provide some cracking sunny dry days even if it's a bit parky.  other wise charge the battery and dsiconnect it as mentioned - should last for at least a year - if it doesnt then it wasnt any good anyway.

Why dont you try ebay as there always going cheaper there?

Its a bit dear this one but they are other trickle charges out there going cheap cheap.
Optimate 3 on Ebay

Not any more I don't Oh, and oi! You cheeky young tosser... I have been out on my bike

Well.. I'm about to do the "stuff the weather.. ride it anyway and the problem is solved.." (imagine Peter Sellers saying the last word...) thing.

This is another of those problems that doesn't occur to me.

OK so daily use of the bike through the winter has it's own set of problems, but nothing that a hosepipe, good chain lube and a can of WD40 can't put right.

The last couple of days have been really good here.. it's pissed with rain overnight so all the salt and crap has been washed off the roads and with a decent set of tyres one may ride surprisingly fast...
and the tyres last a little longer being water cooled....

That's exactly what I need Snowdog. Ta very much... budget can stretch that far if I go without food 'til Thursday

However, on BikerDave's advise I have today been for a quick 100 miles to "top it up" Not sure about the new Micron... feels quicker but then I haven't been on it for a couple of weeks so could just be dreaming ???

BW, go without food til Thursday Buy the Optimate & you have the best of both worlds. Plug it in & forget it until you want to play.
My M8 runs a breakers in Newcastle & EVERY Spring he sells his stock of good batteries.
If you are going to put the battery on the shelf-trickle charge it once a month-they dont make em like they used to you know.

Found the Optimate for a good price here

Your looking for an Optimate charger or similar check it Here

Might be somewhat out of your allocated price range though.  :p

Zombie, I am rapidly reaching that conclusion myself I think a hefty pair of winter gloves are required... any suggestions (Hilts?) as to what's good but affordable? I run a post office (well, the wife runs it really I just wander about) so have the budget of a pauper

OK, I'm a girl. I don't plan to ride the bike much during the colder wetter months (so that's July pencilled in then ) but I am concerned.

I know, I know. You're all crying out as to why I should be concerned ???

Thing is, I've had a car sit in a garage through winter and... Jag XJ-S V12 for which said battery costs £150... and I've had to buy one a year for three years. I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS WITH MY BIKE

Someone mentioned a sort of plug in battery conditioner charger type thing that worked... anyone any ideas. I have a budget of £4.50 according to the wife so the cheaper the better

I thank you in advance for all your enormous help :oops:

I think it's an optimate for me then...

QUOTE

BTW store the bike on the centre stand if poss...

I've been looking for that and it would appear to be an optional extra on the Bandit As for a "last ride" I want to be able to hop on at will throughout the winter Hilts - sure there will be at least one day I can ride the damn thing before next summer ???

DP, think you may be right... and look at the price this guy is charging:

Optimate!

SD, I must be missing something... I've a saved search on Ebay for that and Bandit bits but nothing's come up! Better look at my spelting I guess

if you can run an XJS you can afford a battery, now get on yer bike

Forgot to mention gloves.. just now I'm using "Rayvens" as my first pair.. but I got a pair of Spada lightweights I keep in my rucksack or under the seat incase the Rayvens get waterlogged. Generally I find the problem is not with water soaking into the gloves so much as running down the sleeves of my jacket and in through the big hole where my hand goes in... (did I actually say that)

The problem is.. waterproof gloves are like wellies. as good at keeping water in as keeping it out so buy 2 or 3 pairs and rotate them between first, spare and airing cupboard/tumble dryer.. whatever...

Scooby-can you get your jacket sleeves over your gloves?

That way the water can't run into "the big hole where your hands go"

I sometimes do that, when its pissing down & I'm off on a 2 hour roadwork lesson.
Good tip about rotating gloves BTW-got 3 pairs floating about myself.

Have we had this discussion before somewhere? In a previous life perhaps.

If you pull your jacket sleeves up over your gloves the water blows straight in there! At least with sleeves inside gloves it only goes in when you go slow!

Ideally, a third layer  of waterproofing will prevent unwanted ingress of fluids...

Ho Scooby... this is what I think you'll be wanting...



 :laughcont:  :laughcont: