Battery question

[Disaster Area]

As I live quite close to where I work, the bike usually only gets used for short runs. My question is: how far do I have to ride the bike to recharge the battery with the same energy taken to start the engine?

The location of my garage means that I can't connect it to a trickle charger and I'm sick of having to take the battery out to charge it.

Thanks,
DA.

 

[John Armstrong]

I've read somewhere that a car takes 15 minutes to recharge the battery after a normal start, so I'd guess it'll be similar for a bike. Except that cars may / may not have the headlights / heated grips on. Thought about a solar charger plugged into the accessory socket?

Alternatively, I've taken a car battery and connected this through the accessory socket to greatly increase the time taken to discharge the bikes battery, and it was easy for me to carry the car battery to a charger, than taking it out of the bike etc etc just like you. I then had a solar charger charging the ex car battery as well.

 

[cookie]

Alternatively, I've taken a car battery and connected this through the accessory socket

risky

 

[Disaster Area]

That...

Is a cunning plan. I'll look at how feasible that is.

 

[John Armstrong]

risky

Not used to start it, only to maintain the batteries charge. Which wasn't totally clear

If I was going to jump start it I'd use the terminals you can get for the starter / left-hand cylinder.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

As I live quite close to where I work, the bike usually only gets used for short runs. My question is: how far do I have to ride the bike to recharge the battery with the same energy taken to start the engine?

The location of my garage means that I can't connect it to a trickle charger and I'm sick of having to take the battery out to charge it.

Thanks,
DA.

Have you thought about one of these ?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Solar-Battery-Charger-ideal-Caravans/dp/B000R0UBT8

Would take ages to charge a flat battery but would top one up.
(unless you're in Invercargill - then forget it)

 

[cookie]

Not used to start it, only to maintain the batteries charge. Which wasn't totally clear

If I was going to jump start it I'd use the terminals you can get for the starter / left-hand cylinder.

my concern would be if you connect a fully charged car battery to a partially charged bike battery, that the the car battery will try to dump massive current into the bike battery.

not good for the bike battery. very bad for the accessory socket wiring.

 

[John Armstrong]

my concern would be if you connect a fully charged car battery to a partially charged bike battery, that the the car battery will try to dump massive current into the bike battery.

not good for the bike battery. very bad for the accessory socket wiring.

Accessory socket is fused.

Easy way therefore is to connect the bigger battery when both are charged. Plus, when you jump start a bike with the leads on the battery, isn't that going to be in excess of what the battery can attempt to push into a partially charged bike battery.........?

 

[cookie]

jump start leads are rather bigger than the accessory socket wiring, but yes, it does dump current into the bike battery.

i'm sure your charging trick works, but i wouldn't be doing it myself.

 

[ahutcheon]

Ride the bike home via, say, Middlemarch once every week or two (on a nice day) to top the battery back up?

Or go for something solar; assuming you work during the day, those little 1.5w things might not be effective since they'd only work during the relatively rare sunny Dunedin weekends (but I've got one lying in a corner if you want to give it a try) but $100 or less at Jaycar gets you a 5w or 10w panel and a choice of charge controllers to build something better.

 

[Packer]

My commute is 7½ miles each way, about 15 minutes, the bike is very happy with that. The original battery lasted from Nov. '03 until two weeks ago when the bike failed to start at the Northumbria bash.

If your commute is shorter take the short way to work and a longer route home or commute by bicycle

 

[Roadcaptain]

I was told by a BMW mechanic that the recharge from starting is about 8 miles

 

[Disaster Area]

Not sure about Middlemarch...

Ride the bike home via, say, Middlemarch once every week or two (on a nice day) to top the battery back up?

Or go for something solar; assuming you work during the day, those little 1.5w things might not be effective since they'd only work during the relatively rare sunny Dunedin weekends (but I've got one lying in a corner if you want to give it a try) but $100 or less at Jaycar gets you a 5w or 10w panel and a choice of charge controllers to build something better.

I'd be interested to have a look at the solar charger before parting with money. By the way, can I ask who you use for getting a WoF? I could use someone realistic as the ABS lights are usually flashing!

Is yours the grey 1150 that is often parked in Queen's Gardens (opposite the Palms Restuarant)?

DA