| Author | Message | ||
     Cpilot |
I am new to the list, and have done several searches, but wasn't able to find the answer to my question. My local dealer said that I should keep the XB12X on a battery tender when parked at home. He said the Buell design was very sensitive to low battery voltage. He said that it could even cause it to run only on one cylinder. Does anyone have information on this? It sounded like the Buell continues to draw power even when the switch is off. How concerned do I need to take this? Thanks, Dennis | ||
| Reepicheep |
I think a battery tender is a decent investment for people that will leave a bike sitting for long periods of time (more then 45 days or so). It will extend the life of a $75 battery more then enough to justify the $20 device. I just bought a $6 one at harbor freight... Any XB shouldn't be drawing any significant current while parked with the ignition key out. A bike with no battery will run really badly. Nothing Buell specific here... and it sounds like the dealer may be over stating their case a bit... but the advice isn't bad if you won't be riding the bike year around. | ||
| Dentfixer |
I surmise that the stock battery is just barely sufficient for the needs of the Buell's electrical system. Therefore any voltage drain will be noticeable on start up. Perhaps these AGM batteries have greater voltage loss from sitting around than the normal lead acid type. | ||
| Sparky |
The XBs have a clock. Granted it's probably a few milliamps but, over time, that will lead to running down a battery when combined with the typical battery's self-discharge characteristics. So, yeah, a Tender is a good investment towards maintaining a healthy battery. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I think the battery is fine, and is in fact one of the better motorcycle battery systems in production bikes today. Any battery will have a "self discharge" rate. I believe they are something on the order of 1% per day. So any battery (car, motorcycle, digital camera, or laptop) will benefit from being left on the charger if it's going to sit for a month or two. Lead acid batteries (car, boat, motorcycle) are damaged by full discharging, so they benefit even more. A digital clock will draw fractions of a microamp, significantly less then the battery looses to it's inherit self discharge. So like you say, it's not a significant factor. | ||
| Dentfixer |
If my bike sits a week without riding I can tell that the battery has discharged some by how the starter feels. I think a weeks time is too short for that to happen. I was a certified Honda tech back in the 80's and even the bikes that sat on the showroom floor for several weeks without being started never showed as much self discharge as my 06 Buell does. I even have 75 Suzuki GT750 that doesn't show as much self discharge. | ||
| Cpilot |
When talking with the local dealer he is talking not about the bike sitting for a couple of weeks, he his talking about a problem of it setting for a couple of days. He said they were bringing in electrical connections to put all their Buells on the showroom floor on battery tenders every other day. Just didn't seem quite right to me, that the bike would be that sensitive to low voltage. There must be something that is draining the batteries. Of course I don't know what the voltage threshold is. Just wondering if other owners were having problems. Thanks of the input. | ||
| Reepicheep |
My 9sx has gone as much as a full month with no problems starting up after the fact. | ||
| F_skinner |
Cpilot, it depends how long they have them sitting on the showroom floor. However, this would not cause the bike to run on one cylinder. At least not to the best of my knowledge. I usually get about 4 years out of a battery if I ride it all year round which is hard sometimes in this part of the country. I switch off between a XB12R and a S2T just to make sure they are getting regular use. When they go dead, they go dead hard and have never run on 1 cylinder. Sounds like to me, and this is only my opinion, that your salesman or whoever told you this may not have any knowledge of V-Twins or Buells. My girlfriend just bought a 2007 Nightster and they gave her a free battery tender which I tried on the S2T and it did take a while for it to become charged (by charged I mean the charged light came on) however, I did not notice any difference in the ability to start the bike before hand or after. BTW: I think they gave her the free battery charger due to the alarm that is on her bike. I can not turn it off so it is on all the time the bike is parked.... I have a feeling that may become a problem this winter. I would be very interested to know what your dealerships technical explanation of Low Battery = running on 1 cylinder. BTW: A battery tender is not a bad investment if you do not get to ride every few days. Frank | ||
| F_skinner |
Cpilot, I just looked at your profile. Send me an email at f_skinner@yahoo.com I am down the street from you. Frank | ||
| Sloppy |
A Battery Tender is a GREAT investment and does much more than a battery charger can do. And it works for all your vehicles. It's saved me a few hundred dollars in battery purchases over the years I've had it. The dealer is either overstating the problem or owns a BMW. They are known for having electrical problems (specifically with their ABS) when the battery voltage drops. No you don't need one, but, like most tools in your toolbox, it's a wise investment that will quickly pay for itself for the one time that it gets you out of a bind... |
