I rarely use my Tender during the riding months since I ride everyday. When I put the bike up for the winter, I connect the Battery Tender and there it stays until the next riding season.

 

+1 on the Noco Genius, smartest charger out there, do the research. I have the 1100 on the bike whenever it's parked. Wired it so that I just plug it in a Powerlet outlet, fast and easy. The Car gets the Noco 3500 during cold weather like now. Batteries last longer when a full charge is maintained. The Noco can do so much more then the Harley Tender, it's worth looking at.

 

Whenever you park the bike use the tender. That's what's it's for.

 

Always, turn the bike off, take the helmet off, plug in the tender. Just part of the process. Should extend your battery life by a year or two or three. SJ Ron

 

I always use it and got almost #7 yrs out of the OEM battery..

 

I NEVER use a tender. Original battery lasted something like 10 & 1/2 years. I never even unhook the battery cables during winter storage since I'm able to get the scoot out a couple times during winter.

 

I use a tender on my bike year round, unless I get back from a ride and know for sure I will ride the bike the next day. I still have the stock battery from 2007 with over 20k on it and it's fine every time. Remember the ALT in the bike does not charge on idle, you have to be about 2500 RPM's or so to chrage so leting the bike idle in the garage will pull the battery down as it's not like a car. Like was said it's not good to start the bike and not ride it for about 20 mins to a 30 mins. My bike has not been started in over 3 months, just seafoam in the tank and a tender on it.

 

I hook up to the tender normally once a week, just to ensure battery is fully charged.

 

Hello all
I plug the tender in when the bike has cooled or the next day and my bike is an 05 model.
tbone

 

Trickle chargers don't charge unless your voltage drops below a set preset voltage determined by the specific charger. With that being said outside of winter I ride from spring to snowfall as a season rule. I don't use the tender in the summer only when the bike might set for a month or so before riding. I replaced my nearly 7 year old battery this year although it was working fine. Just did it for age sake. Used the tender for 4 years without issue.