Battery tender use with 2018 C650GT -- some questions

Rodan

Member
I assume the canbus system is alive and well on the newest C650GTs. I don't get my scooter till this Friday so I don't have a rider's manual yet. Is there a port on the scooter for hooking up a canbus-compliant battery tender? Is the battery hard to get to? Because I may want to bypass the canbus system and attach a regular pigtail directly to the battery terminals. I did this with my 2018 R9T so that I can use any run-of-the-mill battery tender.
 

Rodan

Member
The dealership just called me and said that they hooked up an SAE pigtail to the battery and brought the connector end out just under the fairing. They did this for free, without me asking them to. They said I will be pleased to see how they did it. This is great news -- don't need a canbus-capable tender now. IronHorse M/C in Tucson is the best!
 

Miro

Member
That's good that they did. On newer scooters the port in left "glovebox" (pocket) is actually a car "cigarette" style one. It's good for charging your phone (with a simple usb adapter) but that's about it. After messing with it for a while I wired the pigtail directly to the battery. I also made my own SAE to BMW style adapter from bunch of electrical parts laying around so I could use BMW charger. Obviously, you wouldn't need to do so for any other batter charger.
 

Rodan

Member
That's good that they did. On newer scooters the port in left "glovebox" (pocket) is actually a car "cigarette" style one. It's good for charging your phone (with a simple usb adapter) but that's about it. After messing with it for a while I wired the pigtail directly to the battery. I also made my own SAE to BMW style adapter from bunch of electrical parts laying around so I could use BMW charger. Obviously, you wouldn't need to do so for any other batter charger.
<thumbs up>

The first thing I do with a new bike is at least attempt to put an SAE pigtail on the battery for charging. Some bikes are extremely easy and it's a 10-minute job -- others are more challenging. If it's too difficult, I then let the service dept of the dealership do it.
 

exavid

Member
I wired a 12V coax socket directly from the battery through a five amp fuse to a spot on the handlebar cover just under the handlebar. I put it there so it would be a convenient spot to plug in my Gerbings heated glove and jacket liner controller. I use that connector to plug the battery tender into. I use a Harbor Freight tender (the better one of the two they sell). I've been using it for about three years now with no problems. When we get a long spell of uninspiring scooter weather it keeps the battery topped off nicely. It hasn't hurt the battery which is an original in my 1913GT.
 

Bornfree

Member
IMG_4545.jpgIMG_4547.jpgIMG_4548.jpg
Version 2 GT: ... I removed the top right tupperware to gain access to the battery, made a small hole in the back of the right cubby bin, ran the wires through it connecting it directly to the battery terminals allowing the battery-tender connection head to live in the right cubby. Took about 20 mins. Whenever I need to “battery tend,” I simply open the right cubby bin and connect it. (pics attached) :cool:
 

Rodan

Member
Yeah, the dealership proposed two methods of running the pigtail: (1) drill a hole and run cable into right bin (like you did) or (2) run the cable out the front without drilling any holes. They suggested the latter saying they don't like to drill or cut if they don't have to. I agreed. I was very pleased with how they did it.
 
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exavid

Member
Wow 1913 ... that is an old battery!

Ya young whippersnapper some of us geezers have weak eyes and faltering fingers. Besides what's a 100 years either way any how? Yeah, yeah I fixed it.

Seriously however you do it with a pigtail or a permanent socket for the battery charger it's a very good practice to put a current limiting fuse in the new hookup. A direct connection to the battery would make a lot of smoke and burned plastic if the wires ever chafed together.
 
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Miro

Member
I am just about to connect one more pigtail to the battery. Just got Zumo GPS from a friend of mine; it came with the fused mount. Planning to mount it just on a top of break fluid reservoir on the right side (RAM mount) and route wires to the battery. Not ideal, but I don't want to mess with BMW mount.
 

michael

New member
on m my 2017 i fitted mine direct to the battery then brought the lead out at right fok leg just tucks inside the fairing when not in uses along with it protective cover

i purchased the canbus lead as wel but doesnt fit the socket in the left cubby hole

as the male plug slightly too small asthis canbus connection being new to me

when checked online looked the male cigarette plug
which is to narrow one on the gt is deinely the Female Cigarette Lighter Socket type connection
if anyone can advise
my charger is a duo so does normal charging and canbus
thanks
 
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