Battery tender charging - how do you do it?

[TOG]

I’ve been told by someone that the BMW charger which plugs into the side of the GSA may not be effective at keeping the battery topped up.
I have to say, this seems to be my experience. Do any of you lug tails directly onto the battery for a more effective/reliable top up or has this not raised its head with you?
I’m guessing those of you with trackers fitted need a solution.

 

[leadfarmer]

When I had my 1200 I used a CTek with a fly lead connected directly to the battery, the original battery lasted 6 or 7 years

When I got my 1300 I had to get a lithium charger so I got the BMW charger Plus which I plug into the auxiliary socket (canbus), seems fine so far

 

[Pukmeister]

Tails on the battery, CTEK or NOCO used once a fortnight to replenish.

 

[siddo]

I’ve been told by someone that the BMW charger which plugs into the side of the GSA may not be effective at keeping the battery topped up.
I have to say, this seems to be my experience. Do any of you lug tails directly onto the battery for a more effective/reliable top up or has this not raised its head with you?
I’m guessing those of you with trackers fitted need a solution.

I got an Oxford one and the bike is always plugged in to it, connected by fly lead to the battery.

 

[wessie]

I would not use the accessory socket for long term battery maintenance. It is just another variable to go wrong if you get a power outage where they system might not reset correctly. Not great if you have a tracker and you end up with a flat battery whilst you are away for work or non-bike trip.

I have used the accessory socket on my R1200RS for a quick top up that was only necessary once or twice in winter. The battery on this bike was under a side panel so my Optimate 4 "canbus" model did the job. The difference here is that the bike was only left for one or 2 days on charge.

A direct to battery (or jump start post on some BMWs) connection is by far the best option.

 

[Buttertub]

I've always just used the canbus power socket via an optimate 4 and had zero issues so far, if its not out on a ride it sits plugged in 24/7. The battery is 7 years old now and is still ok. i wouldn't expect a fly lead to perform any different with an optimate but i dont have any experience with a BMW charger. Do you know if the BMW one is there own design or make or if its just a rebranded version ?

 

[MartinK]

I'm ctek straight onto battery, overnight, once a month when bike not being used ....
People who leave bikes on tenders all the time seem to have more problems.... IMO

 

[tjmouse]

Ctek plug wired to the battery. Did a recondition when I got the bike and it wasn’t used for a month whilst farkles were fitted and it wasn’t freezing.

Will be used about once a week now and more when it warms up so won’t go on the tender until next winter most likely.

 

[Andy63]

Ctek wired directly to the battery, only charge the battery until fully charged then remove, I never keep it permanently charging.

If i havent used the bike in a few weeks I stick it on charge, It usually shows full charge within 30 min.

Bought the bike in June 2021 still on the same battery from new.

 

[DJ123]

I've a tracker fitted, and don't leave my Bike on a battery charger/tender.

After a good ride out, the battery takes 2 weeks to drop to my alert level of 12.6v. And it'll stay there for about a month until it needs a run out, or if i can't get out it gets connected to a slow charger for a few hours to bump it back up.

 

[TOG]

Interesting responses. Lots of people straight to the battery and not using the auxiliary charging port. Thanks for replies.

 

[littleade]

Optimate 4 used on 4 BMWs now using the fused lead that comes with it connected straight to the battery

 

[Hartley]

I have optimate fly leads fitted directly to the batteries on my GSA 1250 and other bikes. Switch an optimate between them.

 

[leadfarmer]

Got a Honda branded Optimate on my scooter with a fly lead to the battery, was supplied by the dealer freebie when I bought the bike

 

[Smartbazza]

Always have a ctek charger on my bikes using the tail lead from the battery. I got a lithium Optimate for my 1300 which I connected thru the socket and it fried the battery and the bike.

On my new 13 it’s the BMW charger thru the socket. My K100RS has an Optimate on the battery lead.

Barry

 

[Bigcats]

Tails on the battery, CTEK or NOCO used once a fortnight to replenish.

This is now what I do

Zero issues

 

[G&T]

Is it OK to connect the positive battery fly lead to the positive post actually on the frame? Negative fly lead to the battery. I’m sure this is how BMW did it when they switched the leads over from px to a new bike.

 

[wessie]

Is it OK to connect the positive battery fly lead to the positive post actually on the frame? Negative fly lead to the battery. I’m sure this is how BMW did it when they switched the leads over from px to a new bike.

one hopes the positive lead is not connected to the frame as this would be a dead short!

however, if you mean the jump start post attached to an insulated mount then yes, this can be used to attach accessories and a battery tender lead rather than extracting the battery from its cubby hole to expose the + terminal

and the neg can go to the battery terminal

 

[G&T]

one hopes the positive lead is not connected to the frame as this would be a dead short!

however, if you mean the jump start post attached to an insulated mount then yes, this can be used to attach accessories and a battery tender lead rather than extracting the battery from its cubby hole to expose the + terminal

and the neg can go to the battery terminal

Thanks. Yes, the post. On the 1250 it has a little plastic red cap.

 

[Pablo1]

Always had the optimate fly lead connected straight to battery , helps when also using a compressor for tyre inflation.