Battery Tenders - should you use them or not?

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I have a battery monitor called Battery Bug that I bought for my Goldwing a number of years ago. When the battery voltage drops below 12 the BB starts beeping. I know then that it's time to plug in the charger/maintainer.

Unfortunately BB lost a patent infringement lawsuit and were forced out of business. The company that drove them into the ground never saw fit to put the product back on the market, which is really sad since the BB does a great job of displaying the battery's condition.

[Longtimer]

Make sure what ever one you use to put a ground fault wall plug or ground fault.cord on it then if something goes wrong with the charger it will kick the power off to the device

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I use battery maintainer for the long winter storage months in Alberta. Put battery maintainer on once a month for about 2 days then take it off which helps my peace of mind in not leaving it on all the time and maybe having some electrical/battery issues. I also add fuel stabilizer, pump the tires up to the max air and even roll it forwards and backwards monthly to help avoid tire flat spots. Have been doing this with motorcycle storage for over 30 years, seem to work for me.

If you pump the tire PSI to the about 45, on the tire you can stop moving it.... Spyders / Rykers are very light and this will prevent " flat spotting " ..... JMHO .... Mike

[FrogmanDave]

Yes but I have fried a couple of batteries leaving it hooked up all the time. I alternate my battery tender (Noco brand) between my lawn mower, two scooters, one motorcycle, and one Spyder every week or so. Others will argue whether the tender failed the battery but I have a good friend who owned a motorcycle dealership for many years and he agrees with me. He saw it many times over the years. If you only have one battery to maintain, hook it up for a day or so and do this weekly or monthly. Your battery will be just fine.

[HagermanSpyder]

I will disconnect the negative terminal on the battery of my 2016 Spyder RT-S if it will not be used for any extended period of time. My small part in not wasting energy and helping the environment. If one of my vehicles will sit all winter, when Spring comes I may put battery on charger and this has always worked for me. **Don't forget Sta-Bil in gas**

[troop]

Have used BT's on all my motorcycles since the late 1990's. That's approx. 12 bikes. Left the bikes on tenders year round. Never had a fried battery issue. I think my shortest lived battery was a 3.5 year old Advance Auto generic. YMMV

[Gunner3773]

I used a CTEK maintainer on my Valkyrie and changed the battery out at 10 years old. The battery tested good, but I changed it anyway since it was 10 years old. I just had my garden tractor's battery go bad after 9 years after keeping it on a CTEK maintainer. My Indian Scout and 2015 RT are constantly on CTEK maintainers and I have absolutely no starting issues. So YES, you should use a maintainer. BTW, I also use maintainers on my Ridgeline and Odyssey.

[canamjhb]

Peter's answer in post #15 is spot on. Keeping your battery on a maintainer all the time CAN mask a dead or dying battery. Happened to me when I rode 300 miles from home and had zero battery the next morning. Not convenient dealing with it 300 miles from home. During the riding season I ride 2-3 times a week and usually cover 175-300 miles each ride. No reason whatsoever to use a maintainer then. I will know if and when my battery is getting weak. If the bike will sit for more than a week or two, the maintainer gets attached. But, I will disconnect it a day or so before going on a trip just to make sure I do, indeed, have a good battery and not one that just has a surface charge..... Jim

[Bensonoid]

I leave my tender plugged in all the time. Battery tender makes a nice load tester that can give you confidence in your battery. If you're a DIY'er there are some nice power supplies that include a volt meter. I use mine to load test my battery every time I thumb the starter.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Peter's answer in post #15 is spot on. Keeping your battery on a maintainer all the time CAN mask a dead or dying battery. Happened to me when I rode 300 miles from home and had zero battery the next morning. Not convenient dealing with it 300 miles from home. During the riding season I ride 2-3 times a week and usually cover 175-300 miles each ride. No reason whatsoever to use a maintainer then. I will know if and when my battery is getting weak. If the bike will sit for more than a week or two, the maintainer gets attached. But, I will disconnect it a day or so before going on a trip just to make sure I do, indeed, have a good battery and not one that just has a surface charge..... Jim

X's 5 ..... Back in my V-Twin days, when BRP didn't use an Alternator to replenish the battery. There were issues caused from " parasitic " drains on the battery. I used my Maintainer almost all the time. .... Now the 1330 eng. w an Alternator, it is actually detrimental to use a Maintainer unless it's necessary because the Spyder has been stored .... good luck .... Mike

[staneric]

I've used them for 20 years on a slew of bikes and never an issue.

[Jesster72]

I use one on my bike and mower every year about this time. When I don't ride (or use) for weeks at a time, the tender goes on anything with a battery.

[canamjhb]

FYI; In post #33 here I explained how I use a tender. I had my bike on a tender for the 2 months I was recovering from foot surgery. Removed it a day before I was able to first ride again. Bike started just fine and went on a 150 mile lunch ride. I didn't plug it back in. A few days later tried to start bike and all I got was the dreaded clicking sound indicating my battery was going toes up! I'm glad I didn't keep the battery on the maintainer for those few days. Finding out my battery is expiring while at home is a lot more convenient than the alternative..... Jim

[Kilo]

Can I use this plug for a battery tender? If so where can I find an adapter for it?

[Bfromla]

Can I use this plug for a battery tender? If so where can I find an adapter for it?

Looks more for heated gear, so whatever diameter to SAE 290AB2DE-D600-42A3-A233-A617653C8E45.jpeg DEFINITELY double check polarity & if has a fuse

[Kilo]

It has a fuse and is attached to positive of battery

[Realtor]

No matter what was said above...

All batteries work, until they don't.

(I have 2 classic cars, 2 spyders, a riding mower, a electric start generator, and a boat all on maintainers all the time unless in use)

[cravenfun]

Battery Minder Plus on all my batteries. 10 yrs on a HD battery, changed due to age. Same on one of my snowmobiles with no recoil, 10 yr change due to age.
Just doubling the life of a battery pays for the maintainer. I only use the desulfating models with temperature compensation.
Currently have 8 doing their job on toys and equipment with 3 seeing routine subzero storage temperatures.

[Raven]

This same discussion is going on at a motorcycle forum I am on.
One person who is a dealer says he sells about 100 batteries a year, and half come back due to maintainer issues.
All I know is that I have had the sane Battery Tender Jr. for 18 years.
It has been used on three bikes in that time with no problems.
My Harley XR1200 has been on it for the last year and is fine.

[BCNewell]

Living in south Texas and riding year round, I very seldom use the tender. Only plugged my CTX1300 in once in 4-1/2 years. Have had my wife’s F3-S on it a couple times, but she doesn’t ride as often (or as far) as I do. My “quick rides” are usually around 25-30 miles. But ... I do have a Battery Tender. Just not used much.

[pidjones]

Can I use this plug for a battery tender? If so where can I find an adapter for it?

If the Spyder is wired like mine, it is only connected when the key is on. I use the Electrical Connection Power Portm which is relay switched. Have a standard SAE maintainer connector on the key-off connection and heated gear coaxial connector on the key-on buss.

[Peteoz]

Living in south Texas and riding year round, I very seldom use the tender. Only plugged my CTX1300 in once in 4-1/2 years. Have had my wife’s F3-S on it a couple times, but she doesn’t ride as often (or as far) as I do. My “quick rides” are usually around 25-30 miles. But ... I do have a Battery Tender. Just not used much.

Yes, that’s my attitude too, BC. I only plug in if the Spyder is going to sit for a while. If I’m about to head out on a multi day trip, I don’t want to disconnect the tender, get 300 miles from home and find my battery is flat the next morning as the tender has been hiding the fact that it was failing.

I had my first new F3 battery on a tender constantly, and my battery caught me out after 8 months after an overnight stop. I did not connect my 2nd battery to a tender (except for longer sitting periods) and it was still going strong after 4 years. I have adopted the same practise with my new RT.
There are so many variables, and no single correct answer as to whether a permanently connected tender is indeed necessary

Pete