Optimate, Yes Or No?

Today's bikes with immobilized ignition and alarms - drain battery real quick if not used. Optimate keeps the battery at it's peak.

 

I understand you... my hand also always goes quicker to the wallet than my brain process the buy.... But I have the 4 and it is an excellent product. While using my T100 (daily) I keep it charging my Honda 400 SW scooter (poor thing it never rode again since i got the Triumph) while on vacations or long weekends apart from the T100 (lonely weekends for my poor T100) I plug it on the T100. Great buy

 

I understand you... my hand also always goes quicker to the wallet than my brain process the buy.... But I have the 4 and it is an excellent product. While using my T100 (daily) I keep it charging my Honda 400 SW scooter (poor thing it never rode again since i got the Triumph) while on vacations or long weekends apart from the T100 (lonely weekends for my poor T100) I plug it on the T100. Great buy

 

A lot depends on your battery and what you've got fitted to your bike. As others have said, alarms and gadgets will drain a battery. If there's nothing draining juice then it's down to the battery. As an example the battery on my 1250 Bandit has never had an Optimate or any other "battery optimiser" connected to it, yet if you leave it for three months in the dead of winter it will then start at the touch of a button. If you have a battery that's come with a new Triumph bike like most of us on here, it's going to be dead in a few weeks. By the way, the battery on my Bandit is at least four years old.

 

I use something similar..... a $30 4-step, 12v, 750mA Battery Tender brand charger that monitors and keeps battery fully charged when the bike is not in use. Keeping the battery fully charged when not in use helps prevent sulfating and subsequent battery degradation.

 

It's easy to check your bike's battery drain over time. Simply disconnect one of the battery terminals and put even a very cheap multimeter on current between the battery and terminal.
If the meter says no current is being drained your okay. However, sulphate deposits on lead acid battery plates is generated when it's just left for very long periods without use (months not just a few weeks or even days)! So relax.
I'm going to fit a GEL battery to my T120 when needed, they are better in all ways and don't suffer sulphation like lead acid.

 

As others have said, yes and yes.

 

Of course, when the original battery finally takes a dump, get into the 21st century and replace it with a Lithium Ion battery and avoid all the BS of lead acid batteries. That is my game plan. Much lighter battery and none of the LA battery hassles.

 

You will also require a new Li specific charger to go with it!

 

True! If you need to charge it. But a Li battery does not have to be maintained to avoid complications like a lead acid battery does. And it will last several times longer on charge cycles than a LA battery.

 

Got a Li on my KTM690 Duke and it didn't survive the over winter layup.
Changed on warranty, but dealers said it needed a specific tender for more than 2 months of non use. Also Li do no like extreme temperatures

 

That also is true. But I am not in the habit of riding my bike at freezing temps, which is where Li batteries have their issues, primarily with charging. If bike is stored, just remove the Li battery. Not that great of a job.

 

True. With last years failure I will store the battery indoors this winter (makes it harder to steal as well!)
I store all my 18v Milwaukee batteries indoors but foolishly left the Li battery on the bike over the winter. live n learn eh!

 

A GEL battery is a Lead Acid battery ,it's just that the electrolyte is in a gel form so it can't leak if tipped over

 

Hi David .
Just plug the bloody thing into the battery when you are not using it & then forget about it .
Why would you want a lithium Ion battery unless you weigh 50KG & you need to be a racing god ... BTW don't try using a Li Ion battery below 5 degrees C cos it ain't going to work..