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  1. #1
    Active Member Barlock's Avatar
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    Question Winter battery maintenance

    What do people do with their Spyder batteries during winter months? My Spyder will be stored in a non-heated garage. On my previous bike I used to just remove my battery and bring it home, but then it was very easy to do on that bike. With my new Spyder it sounds like quite a hassle. Maybe I should just connect a trickle charger to it and leave it in the bike? Any suggestions?

  2. #2
    Registered Users rc51ny's Avatar
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    Mine is stored in an unheated garage as well. I just hook up a Battery Tender through the 12V outlet in the trunk. Works great and the battery is ready to go as soon as the spring riding season starts.

  3. #3
    Active Member Barlock's Avatar
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    Default Thank you

    Quote Originally Posted by hottrodd7 View Post
    Mine is stored in an unheated garage as well. I just hook up a Battery Tender through the 12V outlet in the trunk. Works great and the battery is ready to go as soon as the spring riding season starts.
    Thank you, Hottrodd7, I'll do the same.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Barlock View Post
    Thank you, Hottrodd7, I'll do the same.
    Make sure you move the #6 fuse in the right hand fuse box to the #7 position. See page 60 of your owners manual.

    And, BTW, and on your new .
    Last edited by OldCowboy; 09-26-2013 at 01:03 PM.


    Silver Shadow
    2013 RT-S Lamonster Edition (vented windshield,
    NBV highway pegs, Two Brothers exhaust)
    Additional Mods: SpyderPops BumpSkid, Elka 1+ shocks, BajaRon Anti-Sway Bar

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  5. #5
    Very Active Member billybovine's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by OldCowboy View Post
    Make sure you move the #6 fuse in the right hand fuse box to the #7 position. See page 60 of your owners manual.

    And, BTW, and on your new .
    That's only if he has a 2013. He did not share that info with us.

    2018 F3 LIMITED

  6. #6
    Very Active Member ARtraveler's Avatar
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    The trickle charger suggestion is the way to go.

    Currently Owned: 2019 F3 Limited, 2020 F3 Limited: SOLD BOTH LIMITEDS in October of 2023.

    Previously : 2008 GS-SM5 (silver), 2009 RS-SE5 (red), 2010 RT-S Premier Editon #474 (black) 2011 RT A&C SE5 (magnesium) 2014 RTS-SE6 (yellow)

    MY FINAL TALLY: 7 Spyders, 15 years, 205,500 miles

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  7. #7
    Active Member Barlock's Avatar
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    Default Thank you

    Thank you, gentlemen. I really appreciate your help and a kind welcome to the community. BTW my Spyder is 2012 RT-S SE5. Are you saying I do not have to move that fuse then?
    2012 RT-S SE5 with Web Boards, custom graphics and battery tender leads

  8. #8
    Motorbike Professor NancysToy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Barlock View Post
    Thank you, gentlemen. I really appreciate your help and a kind welcome to the community. BTW my Spyder is 2012 RT-S SE5. Are you saying I do not have to move that fuse then?
    You can charge the 2010-2012 Spyder RT directly through the 12V outlet without changing a thing. There is no alternate slot on that model anyway. You can also charge through the jump start terminals under the seat, or via a fused pigtail (included with most chargers) connected directly to the battery. Do not use a large automotive charger or a standard "trickle charger". It is best to use a battery maintainer meant for motorcycle (small battery) use, like a Battery Tender, Accumate, Optimate, or Xtreme. Any motorcycle shop should have an appropriate charger/maintainer.
    -Scotty
    2011 Spyder RTS-SM5 (mine)
    2000 BMW R1100RTP, motorized tricycle & 23 vintage bikes
    2011 RT-622 trailer, Aspen Sentry popup camper, custom motorcycle trailer to pull behind the Spyder



    Mutant Trikes Forever!

  9. #9
    Active Member Raknid's Avatar
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    We ran a pigtail under the seat and keep the BatteryTender hooked up if sitting more than a couple weeks.

  10. #10
    Very Active Member Chupaca's Avatar
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    Default There you go...!!

    both methods work. But if you don't want to remove the battery the battery tender is the way to go. To pig tail you would have to get to the battery to hook it up. So going through the power outlet (cigarette lighter) or alligator clips to the posts under the seat will save the work of going to the battery.....
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  11. #11
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    As far as I know,the Deltran Battery Tenders do not come with a charging plug for the 12 V outlet.

    Can you buy the adaptor that has the same pigtails for the Tender?
    2011 RT LTD. Pearl White

  12. #12
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    Question: How cold, does "cold" have to get before it becomes a problem?
    At what point does freezing become a possibility?
    2010 RT A&C, RT-L, RT-L , Orbital Blue, Cognac, Jet Black

  13. #13
    Active Member Barlock's Avatar
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    Default Cold

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Denman View Post
    Question: How cold, does "cold" have to get before it becomes a problem?
    At what point does freezing become a possibility?

    -40 is not an unusual thing here in Alberta
    2012 RT-S SE5 with Web Boards, custom graphics and battery tender leads

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spyder4Tess View Post
    As far as I know,the Deltran Battery Tenders do not come with a charging plug for the 12 V outlet.

    Can you buy the adaptor that has the same pigtails for the Tender?
    While the Deltran Battery Tenders do not come with a cigarette lighter plug, they do sell one as a separate accessory.


    Silver Shadow
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    NBV highway pegs, Two Brothers exhaust)
    Additional Mods: SpyderPops BumpSkid, Elka 1+ shocks, BajaRon Anti-Sway Bar

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  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Barlock View Post

    -40 is not an unusual thing here in Alberta
    If that temp doesn't freeze car batteries, it shouldn't freeze a fully charged motorcycle battery. As near as I have been able to determine, a fully charged battery will not freeze unless the temp gets down to -77F or -67C (http://www.batteryfaq.org/)


    Silver Shadow
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    NBV highway pegs, Two Brothers exhaust)
    Additional Mods: SpyderPops BumpSkid, Elka 1+ shocks, BajaRon Anti-Sway Bar

    A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America,” for an amount of “up to and including my life.”

  16. #16
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    Thanks for that info. I knew that a battery is good for well below-zero; I just wasn't sure HOW well...
    2010 RT A&C, RT-L, RT-L , Orbital Blue, Cognac, Jet Black

  17. #17
    Very Active Member rcturner's Avatar
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    If you use the pig tails, review many older posts to find out how to hook up the negative lead. Do not remove the connection you can see under the seat.

  18. #18
    Motorbike Professor NancysToy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spyder4Tess View Post
    As far as I know,the Deltran Battery Tenders do not come with a charging plug for the 12 V outlet.

    Can you buy the adaptor that has the same pigtails for the Tender?
    Adapters available from Deltran, Powerlet, and many other places. Specifically you are looking for an SAE-to-cigarette adapter.
    -Scotty
    2011 Spyder RTS-SM5 (mine)
    2000 BMW R1100RTP, motorized tricycle & 23 vintage bikes
    2011 RT-622 trailer, Aspen Sentry popup camper, custom motorcycle trailer to pull behind the Spyder



    Mutant Trikes Forever!

  19. #19
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    Thanks for the info.
    2011 RT LTD. Pearl White

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