Battery life and charging

[Spdrush]

I haven't driven my new for me 2013 C650GT for about a week and a half. I am concerned with parasitic drain on the battery while the ignition is off. Does anyone know how long the battery lasts without recharging?

What are the suggestions about recharging?

1. Through the accessory port. I read that a Bmw or alternate CanBus compliant charger is necessary, Wow $188.00 for a small charger or a cheap Ebay import.

2. Removal of the panel covering the battery and attaching a trickle charger. Does the battery need to be disconnected electrically from the scooter?

3. Attachment of a trickle charger stub to the battery and then charging when stored and parked for long periods.

What does everyone else do. For my summer cars I just attach the trickle charger to the battery and check it each month.
Can I use an automatic charger at the 2 amp setting with the charger settings jproper for an AGM battery.

 

[omniphil]

I have a small battery tender I used with my old motorcycle. I plugged it into the C600 the other day and it went to full charge within a couple of minutes. The C600 has been in storage (my living room) since Late October, so I'd say parasitic loss is pretty low. From what I can tell 6 months in storage isn't an issue, I bet it would fire right up. This may change in a few years as the battery gets older.

 

[Doraemon]

I purchased a motorcycle trickle charger with two end adapters; one gator clips and one ring ends. I attached the ring ends to the corresponding terminals of the battery and drilled a small hole for the opposite end to come thru the top of the nearest glovebox. when I think I need a charge to will not be starting the bike for a while I just open the glovebox and plug in the charger. works great. I also run my Dynojet USB cable thru there for changes to my fueling maps

I have gone up to a month without running or charging but haven't had any issues.

 

[Doraemon]

The C600 has been in storage (my living room) since Late October, so I'd say parasitic loss is pretty low.

living room? AKA Awesome man cave??

 

[yellasei]

i use the BMW trickle charger and i had to make up a fly loom when i first got the scoot as the socket in the l/h compartment is a car type plug. after doing this i bought a power socket and fitted it into the underseat bin, using the hole moulded in and the spare plug on the loom under the r/h rear side panel. neither of the sockets on the C600/650 run through can-bus so no problems, they run through a fuse.

 

[Tompierce]

Mine came with a dealer installed connection directly to the battery for a trickle charger. The plug on the end (called a SAE plug if I remember correctly) has 2 round terminals - one covered and one exposed.

I found out while installing my driving lights that when the battery is low, the bike will still crank, but the computer does not seem to turn on the injectors. The bike will crank but will never start when the battery is low - and the threshold is very slightly discharged.

I keep mine on a trickle charger at all times - even as short as overnight.

 

[omniphil]

The living room has direct access to my parking lot so its pretty easy to just roll it in the front door and put up against the wall out of the way. Certainly beats a storage locker.

living room? AKA Awesome man cave??

 

[Dale]

I use a Deltran battery tender junior, keep it plugged in all the time. When the bike is parked in the garage it is plugged in, I have never had a battery problem.

 

[JaimeC]

FYI: My scooter sat two weeks in the garage without a charger and it started up just fine the next time I tried it.

 

[Edumakated]

I find the BMW drains batteries really fast. Mine died after not riding for about three weeks to the point where I couldn't even get it to recharge. I replaced the battery with a lithium battery. Weighs less than half what the stock battery weights and cranks stronger. My Vespa starts right up after about 5 months of sitting.

 

[Skutorr]

I found out while installing my driving lights that when the battery is low, the bike will still crank, but the computer does not seem to turn on the injectors. The bike will crank but will never start when the battery is low - and the threshold is very slightly discharged.

All computer CPUs need a minimum reference voltage value to operate correctly. With the voltage drop in that situation, the voltage dipped below the threshold necessary for the computer CPU to operate...