Short trips help

[adam277]

Yo.

I'll try to keep the questions brief.

I currently have a 2007 R1200GSA.
After parking it up for a few months it would not start (dead battery) So I jumped it
Rode it for like 30 minutes and hopefully when I go to ride it again shortly it will be fine.

So first question... How long should you drive a motorcycle to top up its battery? Like a min of 30 mins once a week?


Also I want to use the bike for commuting but as my job situation has changed my new commute is 3.4 miles. (Yea, not a lot lol) But I'd rather take the bike if I can as parking will be free.
Will this cause any issues to the bike? i.e load of short trips every week. I presume it wont heat up fully.
If it is a potential issue I guess I can keep taking the car.


Thanks.
____________________
Bikes: Previous Bikes: Piaggio x8 125: 2012/2013, YBR 125: 2013/2013 BMW R1150GS 2013/2017, Honda CBR600RR 2017/2017, Honda CB500 2018/2018, Suzuiki Address 110cc 2019/2020, BMW R1200GS 2021-2023
Current Bike: Honda CBF 125: current

[stinkwheel]

Ideal excuse to buy a scooter/moped I'd say.

I doubt 30 minutes would take a battery from flat to fully charged. I'd suggest parking it up and hooking it up to a trickle charger rather than doing really short runs once a week. Or if you're not taking it anywhere in particular, charging the battery up, taking it off the bike and storing it in the house.

Multiple short trips on a winter commute on a big touring motorcycle is probably the highest wear activity you could do. That said, I suspect the only real issue you're likely to experience is increased condensation in the oil and possibly mayonaise formation.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[ThunderGuts]

Yo.

Can't be sure on the battery question; I'd use a trickle charger (Oximiser type thing) instead as that way you know you're giving it what it needs. If the bike has headlights on, heated grips etc.. not sure how much is left for charging the battery, plus without knowing how much is "missing" from the battery, it's all guesswork.

3.4 miles? You're right, it probably won't heat up fully. At that commute distance though I'd query how effective a motorbike is anyway as the "tog time", plus any security measures faffing, would make it close to not worth bothering with? I'd cycle at that distance. A car isn't going to warm up either so will probably have the same negative effects as the bike would in terms of wear and tear.
____________________
TG.

[ThunderGuts]

[grr666]

My scooter is broken. Needs a small amount of welding and I don't know who to call.
____________________
Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Freddyfruitba...]

If you're going to keep using the bike for this purpose, you definitely want a dedicated trickle charger of some sort... eg an Oximiser or an Optimate - just plug the bike in each night. But if you stop using the bike for commuting, but leave it for several months without using it, then what you need is... a dedicated trickle charger.
____________________
KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS