New battery charger suggestions

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ReggieGasket · #1 Post by **ReggieGasket** » Mon May 18, 2015 5:02 pm

I want a new motorcycle battery charger. Any suggestions? I can't leave the bike on charge all the time as the bike is stored outside at present.

flatlander · #2 Post by **flatlander** » Mon May 18, 2015 7:16 pm

I have a rocster (so?) and an older optimate both seem to work fine but the optimate is years old so can vouch for longevity

#3 Post by **mangocrazy** » Mon May 18, 2015 7:22 pm

I've used Accumates for several years and they've been brilliant. I think they're essentially the same as an Optimate, but can sometimes be found cheaper.

D-Rider · #4 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon May 18, 2015 7:42 pm

Although I've an optimate which is plugged in next to where I park the Falco for those rare occasions when it needs a bit of a charge. I've also invested in one of the Aldi/Lidl ones (mainly use it on the cars and my son's bike).
I think they can't be beaten in terms of value for money - excellent.

Of course you have to be ready to buy on the fortnight each year that Aldi/Lidl have them in stock but if you are in no great rush ......

flatlander · #5 Post by **flatlander** » Mon May 18, 2015 10:58 pm

Sorry now that I hear the name acumate that rings more of a bell than optimate

I think aldi McClellan stuff is feb thro march reduced to clear in April

Wally · #6 Post by **Wally** » Mon May 18, 2015 11:06 pm

I have had a couple of these for years, I use them on the bikes, cars and a van. Really good quality and it comes with battery leads with a plug/socket and with croc clips.

http://www.outdoorbits.com/ctek-multi-3 ... p-470.html

Wally

ReggieGasket · #7 Post by **ReggieGasket** » Tue May 19, 2015 5:47 am

Thanks everyone. Interesting to hear you don't keep the battery on charge all the time. Must get rid of the Datatool too!

#8 Post by **mangocrazy** » Tue May 19, 2015 7:55 am

ReggieGasket wrote:Thanks everyone. Interesting to hear you don't keep the battery on charge all the time. Must get rid of the Datatool too!

Sorry - I DO keep the battery on charge all the time it's not being used. The Accumate (and Optimate, I think) have what they call a 'float' charge which just keeps the battery topped up. I got rid of the Datatool very early in my ownership of the blue Falco. The red one has never had an alarm fitted.

wayno · #9 Post by **wayno** » Tue May 19, 2015 8:06 am

If the bike is stored outside, get yourself a couple of solar chargers and put them in parallel, that's what I used to do when I lived in a flat and the garage was remote with no power.

Dalemac · #10 Post by **Dalemac** » Tue May 19, 2015 8:07 am

I have a lidl one which served me well, but 2 months ago i bought an optimate and it wins hands down.

The lidl one couldn't recover my battery. It kept saying it was fully charged even when i knew it wasn't. Bought an optimate, hooked it up and it spent the next 12 hours recovering and conditioning the battery - not had a single battery problem since.

So for the extra money I would definitely say an optimate or similar is worth it.

I don;t have the battery on charge constantly as it gets used every day. I top pop it on every couple of weeks though for a quick topup.

MartDude · #11 Post by **MartDude** » Tue May 19, 2015 5:20 pm

+1 for Ctek. One of mine is 9 years old, and has spent all its life outside, sheltered only by the bike and its cover. Still works fine.

scottyni · #12 Post by **scottyni** » Thu May 21, 2015 2:13 pm

i use a solar charger from maplins