Optimate (or other charger) Recomendations

[rpsmith79]

With the weather drawing in, and all this chat recently about batteries and Optimates etc, i thought i'd have a look into getting one myself......


.......... what a bloody minefield, on the Optimate website themselves, they offer about 25 different versions, let alone other brands/makes of these sort of optimising chargers

So, recommendations please for a nice, cheap, simple hook up and forget battery charger, or are there good advantages to going for a more fancy one, and if so which one

Bike is a 2003 CB600FS Hornet, if that makes any difference
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Current Bike: Honda CG125 ES4 // Honda CB600FS Hornet // Triumph Street Triple R

[johnsmith222]

I've moved away from optimate and their christmas tree lights, when my optimate 4 broke after not having it too long.

Get a Ctek 0.8 amp (think the model is xs0.8), or do what I did, and get the 5amp model that does both car and bike batteries, if you're someone who messes with car batteries.

I have owned both Ctek models, and would say the quality was higher than the optimate. The car one is pricy (£60), but if you look at it as something you buy once, it should be worth it.


Ctek tends to be the charger that comes with high end cars like lamborghini, bmw etc.

For nice cheap/hook it up, definitely get the 0.8amp ctek I recommended.

[rpsmith79]

Ahh cheers Blue, will have a look at that one, i already have a car battery charger, so sorted on that front, although it is pretty old, so it might be worth an upgrade anyway, depending on how much more that 5 amp model is
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Current Bike: Honda CG125 ES4 // Honda CB600FS Hornet // Triumph Street Triple R

[Freddyfruitba...]

I have the Aldi one, which works really well for me. Won't get cheaper (if you can still find one in your local store)
https://www.aldi.co.uk/autoxs-car-battery-charger/p/095402169939100
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KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS

[ride_to_die]

I have a basic ctek charger. Used for years on bikes and cars. Still going strong.
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I'm not here for a long time, I'm here for a good time.

[rpsmith79]

[Mark65]

CTEK, I use mine once a week for the past year and a bit, will do the car also if needed.
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[Landy10]

I have the optimate 3 and the small harness you put on to the battery that gives you a small two pin plug you can have hanging out below seat etc. Makes it less of a faff having to remove seat to plug charger on

[rpsmith79]

[Islander]

I've got a couple of Optimate 4s that have given me a good few years of flawless service.

[haroman666]

I had a CTEK charger and it fried every single battery I ever put on it (3 car batteries and a bike battery).

I emailed them about it and they flatly stated that the charger was not at fault and the batteries were all duff. Despite the fact that the at least 2 of the batteries in question had been charged on other chargers earlier on in their functioning lifetime.
CTEK did offer for me to send the charger to them and they would test it but I was young and preoccupied with other things so I just bought an Oxford charger and haven't had an issue since.
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The mistresses: 2000 Honda CBR600f, 2000 Honda VTR1000

[Bikeless]

Had an optimate 3,it broke so i bought a Ctek 5.0,to be honest I've only used it a few times to top up my car during winter, never really needed chargers except when my bikes were laid up for winter.

[Howling Terror]

The £9 'wallwart' style charger from Lidl lasted nearly 8 years. RIP.

This is a couple of years old and does the job.
https://www.a1decoy.co.uk/ekmps/shops/a1decoy/images/oxford-oximiser-charger-365-p[ekm]1000x1000[ekm].jpg
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Courier265]

don't personally understand why all the talk about battery chargers, never used on in my life...

[A100man]

[rpsmith79]

[haroman666]

[Matt B]

[Copycat73]

[arry]

Own something like a Tuono with a sprag clutch that often gets damaged if the engine is turned over whilst the battery is not fully charged and you'll be ruing the decision not to keep it on the trickle.

[groovylee]

[M.C]

[Howling Terror]

^^^Ta for the info.

I can't recall why I chose that particular charger, it wasn't a price thing, plenty cheaper out there.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Ebbs73]

Have you bought one yet ?

I've not used mine for 5-6 years now , you are welcome to it if you want .

Just pm me and I'll get it posted .

Cheers

Chris