More dumb questions from a newbie ....

[ArañaRider]

When is it necessary to leave the Spyder hooked up to a charger? when not in use for a week? a month?
Do I have to hook up the battery tender straight to the battery? If I have a USB installed can I just plug the tender into the USB port?

[LeftCoast]

I’m new at this as well but mine is hooked up full time to a tender that I got off Amazon for 24 bucks. Plugs into a pigtail in the frunk.

[Flamewinger]

Most dealers install a Battery Tender pigtail for use with their Jr battery charger/maintainer. There are many chargers but Battery Tender makes the better chargers and most bikers use their JR version which is easy to use. If you don’t have the pigtail the JR does come with one to permanently attach to the battery so you can plug the tender in when not riding.

If you ride a lot then you don’t need to do it but ride only on weekends it might be a good idea to keep the battery good.

[loisk]

There are no dumb questions... We've all been there

Re tender - I would say essential on the twins unless ridden daily. No need on the triple... it has different and improved alternator set-up vs the twins.

[LeftCoast]

There are no dumb questions... We've all been there

Re tender - I would say essential on the twins unless ridden daily. No need on the triple... it has different and improved alternator set-up vs the twins.

Hi Lois that’s shorthand for us newbies. One refers to the 990 the other to the 1330 right?

[RinconRyder]

There are no dumb questions... We've all been there

Re tender - I would say essential on the twins unless ridden daily. No need on the triple... it has different and improved alternator set-up vs the twins.

Don't know about the twin cylinder models but it is definitely necessary on the 1330's if not riding the Spyder for more than two weeks. There are systems that never go to sleep on the newer Spyders and they will drain the battery to the level it will not start if not connected to a battery maintainer. Do not use a charger for long term use.

[loisk]

Hi Lois that’s shorthand for us newbies. One refers to the 990 the other to the 1330 right?

Right ! 1330 is the triple. We couldn't leave my Rs or st untendered for any longer than a week, our f3s' are fine - longest without a ride is about six weeks, started right up.

Sorry for the shorthand lingo...

[Easy Rider]

When is it necessary to leave the Spyder hooked up to a charger? when not in use for a week? a month?
Do I have to hook up the battery tender straight to the battery? If I have a USB installed can I just plug the tender into the USB port?

No a USB port won't work. It is only 4.5 volts and is "one way".

Continuous use of a battery tender is not necessary.

If ridden 10 miles once a week or more, no need to worry about it. If the battery dies in a week, it was bad anyway.

If not ridden for 2 weeks or more, a tender is a good idea......but should not be needed if the battery is healthy and fully charged going in.

If it will sit a month or more, highly recommended.

And it can be connected to any 12 V connection point that is "hot" when the ignition is OFF.
And should be fused.

[Easy Rider]

There are no dumb questions... We've all been there

Re tender - I would say essential on the twins unless ridden daily. No need on the triple... it has different and improved alternator set-up vs the twins.

Sorry, bad answer.

The charging system on the vehicle makes little to no difference......unless it isn't working at all.

While it is just sitting, there is a tiny standby drain from some of the electronics and the battery itself loose charge over time.

It is the amount of "OFF" time that is important.....and the health of the battery.

[SilverFox1]

Plug the battery tender in all the time. It cost practically pennies to do so and what if it just happens that you should not use your Spyder for longer than you expected. Are you going to start keeping track of how long you haven’t ridden just to make sure the battery has enough power. What if it’s an emergency? This discussion has come up so many times it’s getting somewhat boring but please,,, keep asking questions. That’s how we all become better Spyder ryders. I have a 2011 RTLTD and I’m still on the same battery. I carry one of those small booster packs that I’ve used on my buddies bikes because they don’t believe in a “battery tender “ . My ATV is a 2007 Polaris 800x2 twin and I still have the original battery. I plow a 1 acre lot with a 60 in. Glacier plow all winter long ( in Northern Ontario). (You all know what a winch does to those small batteries) Never had a problem. I don’t plug it in when I’m on a trip, but at home why not? Happy ryding y’all.

SilverFox

[Bfromla]

One more thing, make sure battery connections remain tight, if you add any connection like a pigtail for a tender. That can cause more problems than a low battery. Average battery life seems to be around 3-5years when maintained in off season, riding habits & tempteture causes many variables as well as accessories lights & sound.

[Little Blue]

All very helpful Options and TIPS. I do not use the battery maintainer during the warmer months but I ride at least once a week. Maybe for more than a month with no ride time I would use the maintainer. Check and keep the battery at least 12.6 volts.

[missouriboy]

Right ! 1330 is the triple. We couldn't leave my Rs or st untendered for any longer than a week, our f3s' are fine - longest without a ride is about six weeks, started right up.

Sorry for the shorthand lingo...

HUH? Your lingo was not shorthand... mentioning the number of cylinders is equally as descriptive as mentioning the number of CCs.

[Easy Rider]

I don’t plug it in when I’m on a trip, but at home why not? Happy ryding y’all.

SilverFox

Since you carry a jump-pack this isn't a concern for you but for others..............

The "why not" is: Keeping it on a tender ALL of the time will "mask" a failing battery and ensure that it starts every time on the first try in your warm and convenient garage......and then fail out on the road somewhere, where it is NOT convenient.

How hard it is to realize:"I haven't ridden the Spyder for a few weeks; better connect the tender for a few days" ???

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

All very helpful Options and TIPS. I do not use the battery maintainer during the warmer months but I ride at least once a week. Maybe for more than a month with no ride time I would use the maintainer. Check and keep the battery at least 12.6 volts.

This past winter I deliberately didn't use my maintainer ( 1330 RT ) .... because I wanted the Battery to FAIL ..... well it DIDN'T ........... fired right up after 4 + months ........go figure .............. Mike

[Easy Rider]

.. because I wanted the Battery to FAIL ..... well it DIDN'T ....

Which is pretty good evidence that in a lot of circumstances you really don't NEED a tender.
Thank you for your support.

[CanAmChris]

When I pull either of my bikes into the garage, part of the dismounting ritual is to connect the battery tender. A few cents a day to make sure the battery is topped of is worth it. Always connect the pigtail directly to the battery. If you put it in the right place, you can also use it to plug in your heated gear.

[Motorcycledave]

Almost everyone I know who ride use some type of battery tender and when finished riding for the day
plug it in. and leave it plugged in until your next ride, this will add a lot of life to your battery.
Dave

When is it necessary to leave the Spyder hooked up to a charger? when not in use for a week? a month?
Do I have to hook up the battery tender straight to the battery? If I have a USB installed can I just plug the tender into the USB port?

[Easy Rider]

this will add a lot of life to your battery.
Dave

ONLY if:
The charging system does not keep it fully charged.
AND
It sits for a LONG time between rides.

If the charging system is working good AND it is ridden fairly often, the AGM batteries in Spyders really don't NEED a constant tender.

As a matter of fact, keeping it connected all the time will tend to mask a failing battery and ensure that the final failure will occur AWAY from home.

But I've said that a lot on here lately and it appears the almost nobody understands it.
When their battery dies 100 miles from home on a Sunday afternoon maybe it will sink in.

[Highwayman2013]

ONLY if:
The charging system does not keep it fully charged.
AND
It sits for a LONG time between rides.

If the charging system is working good AND it is ridden fairly often, the AGM batteries in Spyders really don't NEED a constant tender.

As a matter of fact, keeping it connected all the time will tend to mask a failing battery and ensure that the final failure will occur AWAY from home.

But I've said that a lot on here lately and it appears the almost nobody understands it.
When their battery dies 100 miles from home on a Sunday afternoon maybe it will sink in.

I can find no verification of this happening. Perhaps some kind of article you could list to prove it.

[Peteoz]

I can find no verification of this happening. Perhaps some kind of article you could list to prove it.

As much as it pains me to say it, I have to agree with Easy Rider on the second part of his statement based on personal experience, Highwayman.

I leave my battery on its tender whenever I remember to plug it in. If I didn’t remember to plug it in, it wouldn’t start after a few days. Alarm bells should have started to go off, but the F3 was only a little over 12 months old, so I assumed it was a parasitic draw of some kind, not the battery.....poor assumption. I never got around to checking for parasitic draw.

Recently, I took the tender off in the morning and headed off on an overnighter. Sure enough, it wouldn’t start the next morning. I used my RuggedGeek to get going to the nearest bike shop and the battery was cactus. Luckily they had one in stock.

So if you do have your Spyder constantly on a tender, it could well be that your battery is slowly deteriorating without you knowing it, and your first overnighter could leave you with a flat battery. This will not be a problem for anyone carrying a jump starter like a Rugged Geek, but could prove vexing if you are riding alone without a jump starter. For me, I will continue to attach my tender when I park at home, and keep the Rugged Geek on the F3 for backup.

Pete

[gerald37]

I have a Battery Tender but have only used it in off riding season. I have never used it during riding season on any motorcycle I have owned. My bikes never set more than three maybe four days without riding. The only time I ever had a bike that would not start it probably needed a battery replaced. I always make sure everything is turned off on the bikes so they would not run the battery down.

[gerald37]

ONLY if:
The charging system does not keep it fully charged.
AND
It sits for a LONG time between rides.

If the charging system is working good AND it is ridden fairly often, the AGM batteries in Spyders really don't NEED a constant tender.

As a matter of fact, keeping it connected all the time will tend to mask a failing battery and ensure that the final failure will occur AWAY from home.

But I've said that a lot on here lately and it appears the almost nobody understands it.
When their battery dies 100 miles from home on a Sunday afternoon maybe it will sink in.

I purchased a new BMW LT in 2005. I purchased a new Battery Tender from him at the time. He told me to only use the tender if I was not going to be riding for a long period of time. The battery would last longer if it does go down and up. I have also been told this by other people I have no facts to this. I do know I never use one only through the winter months and I never leave it on only maybe one day then take it off for several days.

[Easy Rider]

I can find no verification of this happening. Perhaps some kind of article you could list to prove it.

How about my own experience......and the experience of many others ??

And maybe just a tiny bit on knowledge about batteries and trying to apply a little logic to the situation ?????

Don't accept it if you don't want to. No skin off my nose.

[Easy Rider]

The battery would last longer if it does go down and up.

BAD advice, especially for "wet cell" batteries and other types to some degree.
Most last longest if kept within 10% or so of fully charged.

Different rules apply for the old NiCad rechargeables and some of the newer designs.
Lithium cells seem to like to be used.