So, I took what is likely the last ride of the year the other day and the bike is in my non-heated garage with half a tank of non-ethanol premium fuel in it. I let it sit for a month prior to the ride, and the battery didn't have enough juice to start it. I had to remove the battery, clean connections, and charge it in the warm house.
Bike then started right up. I'm planning on upgrading the OEM battery to a lithium unit that is lighter and higher-cranking.
The dealer I bought the bike from installed a battery tender plug-in, so it is ready to go. However, I think that you have to buy a battery tender that is specific for a lithium or AGM battery, correct?
I don't want to buy a battery tender for the OEM battery, and then when I go to upgrade to the lithium, need to buy another battery tender.
So, I'm thinking that the bike will just sit for the next four months and when I am ready to ride in the spring, just plan on buying the new lithium battery.
My last toy was a Honda Pioneer 500 UTV with an OEM battery and I would go out and start it once a month at least to let it warm up and even drive it around in the snow. It never needed a new battery in 4 years.
But, it seems like the OEM battery in the KLR needs fully charged after sitting in cold weather for more than a couple of weeks due to the KLR not liking to start in cold weather.
For those that don't use a battery tender with the OEM battery and are in cold climates, how often do you have to go out and start the bike in order to keep the battery from dying? Once a week? Every two weeks?
Bike then started right up. I'm planning on upgrading the OEM battery to a lithium unit that is lighter and higher-cranking.
The dealer I bought the bike from installed a battery tender plug-in, so it is ready to go. However, I think that you have to buy a battery tender that is specific for a lithium or AGM battery, correct?
I don't want to buy a battery tender for the OEM battery, and then when I go to upgrade to the lithium, need to buy another battery tender.
So, I'm thinking that the bike will just sit for the next four months and when I am ready to ride in the spring, just plan on buying the new lithium battery.
My last toy was a Honda Pioneer 500 UTV with an OEM battery and I would go out and start it once a month at least to let it warm up and even drive it around in the snow. It never needed a new battery in 4 years.
But, it seems like the OEM battery in the KLR needs fully charged after sitting in cold weather for more than a couple of weeks due to the KLR not liking to start in cold weather.
For those that don't use a battery tender with the OEM battery and are in cold climates, how often do you have to go out and start the bike in order to keep the battery from dying? Once a week? Every two weeks?