Battery charging options without a garage?

[c-m]

A number of bikes have costly issues with damaged sprag clutches if started when the battery is low. Most notably the Sprint ST 955

Obviously that not an issue if you have a garage or private storage for your bike where you can hook up a charger or an optimate, but what are the options if your bike lives out on the street?
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Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[Moo.]

I just had to deal with this, i took the battery out and its currently inside my utility room charging.

Alternatively, if you buy the current classic motorcycle mechanics mag, theres an article on solar power charging your bike. It said they could use a solar power panel (On offer £10 from maplins) to supply a charge to their bike. Said it charged even when the sun wasnt out.

https://www.maplin.co.uk/12v-2w-solar-briefcase-348075

This is the one they show in the mag

Hth
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[c-m]

I did think about creating a solar array. Al the ones i've seen use hard panels though. something flexible that could sit behind screen would be better.

I haven't seen anything like it though. How would you go about leaving a hard solar panel on a bike parked in the street?
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Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[G]

Take the battery inside to charge it?

Shouldn't be an issue with a decent condition bike/battery however.

[c-m]

[G]

[c-m]

Take the Aprilia SL1000 Falco - it produces less than 13v at idle and even less at 4k - that can't be good on the battery for everyday riding.

A decent charging system would be producing over 14v
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Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[Chris750]

There are solar chargers out on the market for bikes.

We do this one

https://www.amazon.co.uk/OXFORD-SOLARISER-SOLAR-BATTERY-CHARGER/dp/B000R593JW

For the price you could probably rig your own one up using bits from Maplins and such.

We have done them for some time and we sell a few of them so they must be popular for people in similar circumstances.
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Current Rides: GSXR-750 WS, GSXR-1000 K5, KTM EXC 300

[andys675]

buy a few 2.5m optimate extension cables and keep the optimate inside, I've found I can run the extension cable out the window and still close the window as the cable is flat

[G]

[Walloper]

I didn't know the Sprag Clutch on ST955 failed if the battery was flat.
My bike had two clutches fitted but never a fault with the battery. 1y old and 18 months.
It's not the battery it's the shit quality of some bits on the Triumph.
I can testify to this as I had two one after the other and would never go near another.

I had a solar charger on my car as I never used it very often.
The charger fooked the battery.

I don't know why but I think due to the constant dribble it sulphated.
Perhaps I needed to load the battery more often.
Solar chargers don't stop charging I think they just drop off to very very very low output.

And due to light levels voltage would vary too I guess.

I use for my phone when camping but not for my car or bikes now.

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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[c-m]

[Rogerborg]

If you're going to use a solar charger, I'd suggest disconnecting the battery +ve lead if the bike has any electronics in it. I had one hooked up to my car while it was sitting up for a few months, and on starting it up, the central locking electronics were spazzed. I can't prove causation, but I wouldn't take the gamble again.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike