preparing a spyder for winter

[BigGuy66]

Where to hook up the battery tender

(snip), then slap it on the
battery tender or maintainer, not a charger. Then you should be good till the next practical
ryde time.

New to hooking battery tender to my 2010 RT. Can I hook the tender to the terminals under the seat or do I need to attach directly to the battery terminals? Please let it be the under-the-seat terminals.... I read the manual about how to get to the battery... :shocked:
Jim

 

[robmorg]

Good evening, We are in Chicago and usually I just try to start my bikes once or twice a month and take her around a 5 mile trip I lay out and never winterize her. Any suggestions, pro/con either way? I do the same with all my small engines. I just read about fogging/wheels off the ground/take batt out and inside to stay warm and charged. I do have a batt tender. It's times like there I wish I lived in a much warmer climate. The bike is originally from Tampa so this will be here first winter. Thanks, Mike

If you plan to ride it a few times during the winter, I think your plan sounds OK. That's what I do, plus I keep it on a Battery Tender over the winter months. Just one word of caution... Don't start the engine unless you do plan to ride it about 5 miles or so. The reason... water is a natural byproduct of internal combustion engines, and unless you get the engine up to full operating temperature for a while, the water won't entirely evaporate and can corrode internal engine parts.

 

[wmh9680]

I do have a 5 mile course I ride in the winter in addition to letting her warm up 1st. I only go out if the road are clear and clean. I just hate not to ride all winter. Thanks, Mike

 

[rcturner]

5 miles is not enough to burn the moisture out of the engine. You are better off not to start it at all. Also, you would probably be better off covering the bike with a blanket or sheet if you feel the need to cover it at all. A little dust will not hurt anything. Moisture captured by a cover could.