Battery chargers

shop_addict · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Karma :

Ok....so I left my bike standing over xmas....outside, in the cold (although it had a cover on - which is the best I can do). And now of course the battery is utterly dead.

The breakdown people are on the way to start me up, and then I'm off to buy a charger so that next time I have to leave the bike standing for a few days, I can sort it out myself.

So can anybody recommend a charger? As with most things, I'd rather pay for a decent one than have to buy two crap ones.

Ta
Jo

shop_addict · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Karma :

Ahem.

Yamaha TW125 Owner's Manual - Section 5.1:

"...to enable starting, one of the following conditions must be met:

a) The transmission is in the neutral position.
b) The transmission is in gear with the clutch lever pulled and the sidestand up."

Embarassed

I went outside to check that no-one had flicked the engine cut-out switch, and then the eureka moment struck - it was still in gear! Amazingly, when I actually did start it, the battery was sound and it started up first time!

The only good thing to come out of this (apart from the fact that I hope I never do it again) is that I realised the stupid mistake myself, rather than when the breakdown guy got here.

Tune in tomorrow for the next installment of Novice Cock-ups. After all, there are plenty more for me to try - running out of petrol, dropping the bike, forgetting to remove the lock before I pull away..........

robbiehall · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 Jul 2003 Karma :

Optimate chargers (or similar Intelligent ones) are good. You can get a wire harness to attach to the bike and simply plug in when your bike is tucked up in the garage.

Rob
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satans_BIG_helper · Nearly there... Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Karma :

freestyler_onli · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Karma :

Im charging my battery. I hope i haven't fucked the bike up in another way cos i love it to bits. It's only a 125 but i like it! Bloody cold weather!

Steve H · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Oct 2003 Karma :

Optimate trickle chargers are fantastic, mine's on the bike as soon as the cold weather appears! If you've got a local Hein Gericke they're selling the Oxford Products version of the Optimate for half price at the moment as it's just about to be superceded by a newer model.

I bought one for my Dad for Christmas and it does the same job as the Optimate for less than £20.00 Thumbs Up

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Craggles · Traffic Copper Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Good to hear you sorted it!

I remember sitting there for a few minutes wondering why my bike stalled as soon as I put it in gear... sat there messing about with the clutch cable etc...

Then I put the sidestand up and had no problem (apart from a very tight clutch)!

The GPZ dosn't have a sidestand switch so don't get that anymore... just have to make sure its up before I pull off!

Craig
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