two batteries for the FJR?

[racer]

It has been said here that the FJR could use more battery power. I replaced a two year old battery with a new one when I was having trouble starting the bike after it sat for a few months, a not uncommon occurance. It's happened to me before. I found a little cubby hole where the ABS unit sits on my non-ABS bike, that looks like it would house a second battery. Would I be harming anything, or helping anything for that matter, if I wired a second battery in parallel to the first?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Fred W]

No

I mean yes.

No, really. No.

 

[Ignacio]

If you're not starting your bike after several months and the battery is going down...a second probably isn't going to help as it will down at the same rate as the first. By far less weighty and easier would be a battery tender or to put the one battery on a charger before you start it each infrequent time.

Or use your bike more...or loan it to me and I'll ride it more.

 

[RadioHowie]

loan it to me and I'll ride it more.

Whadda guy. That's why we love us some Iggy. Always offering to help out a fellow forumanian.

 

[chrisflock]

loan it to me and I'll ride it more.

Whadda guy. That's why we love us some Iggy. Always offering to help out a fellow forumanian.

I thought it was forumarian? Or 'mental patient'. Either form is acceptable.

On a somewhat serious, on-topic note, I was just wondering about the possibility of using a small, deep cycle battery -- like one I saw being used to power a CB radio, looked to be about the size of a typical motorcycle battery -- to power heated clothing. Cause although it isn't real hard to wire in heated clothes to an FJR, it is pretty hard to wire them up to my winter cycle.

 

[johnny80s]

loan it to me and I'll ride it more.

Whadda guy. That's why we love us some Iggy. Always offering to help out a fellow forumanian.

I thought it was forumarian? Or 'mental patient'. Either form is acceptable.

On a somewhat serious, on-topic note, I was just wondering about the possibility of using a small, deep cycle battery -- like one I saw being used to power a CB radio, looked to be about the size of a typical motorcycle battery -- to power heated clothing. Cause although it isn't real hard to wire in heated clothes to an FJR, it is pretty hard to wire them up to my winter cycle.

Warm and Safe already makes battery powered clothing. Just get one of their batteries. I think Gerbrings does too.

 

[chrisflock]

loan it to me and I'll ride it more.

Whadda guy. That's why we love us some Iggy. Always offering to help out a fellow forumanian.

I thought it was forumarian? Or 'mental patient'. Either form is acceptable.

On a somewhat serious, on-topic note, I was just wondering about the possibility of using a small, deep cycle battery -- like one I saw being used to power a CB radio, looked to be about the size of a typical motorcycle battery -- to power heated clothing. Cause although it isn't real hard to wire in heated clothes to an FJR, it is pretty hard to wire them up to my winter cycle.

Warm and Safe already makes battery powered clothing. Just get one of their batteries. I think Gerbrings does too.

Their batteries look so...small. The gerbrings I saw were like 7.2 volt lithium...I need something that will hold a charge for like 8-12 hours, mostly because my winter bike, or my other potential winter bike are so fast, that it will take me hours to get to work.

 

[johnny80s]

loan it to me and I'll ride it more.

Whadda guy. That's why we love us some Iggy. Always offering to help out a fellow forumanian.

I thought it was forumarian? Or 'mental patient'. Either form is acceptable.

On a somewhat serious, on-topic note, I was just wondering about the possibility of using a small, deep cycle battery -- like one I saw being used to power a CB radio, looked to be about the size of a typical motorcycle battery -- to power heated clothing. Cause although it isn't real hard to wire in heated clothes to an FJR, it is pretty hard to wire them up to my winter cycle.

Warm and Safe already makes battery powered clothing. Just get one of their batteries. I think Gerbrings does too.

Their batteries look so...small. The gerbrings I saw were like 7.2 volt lithium...I need something that will hold a charge for like 8-12 hours, mostly because my winter bike, or my other potential winter bike are so fast, that it will take me hours to get to work.

Call Mike at warn n safe and ask him if it will work.

 

[Bionic Pelvis]

I talked to the guys at Warn & Safe the other day - their battery packs only last 1-3 hours, depending on how hot you are running your gear. Bummer.

 

[reecebike]

You have A 12 volt supply not A 24!!!

 

[chrisflock]

You have A 12 volt supply not A 24!!!

Um...

Huh?

Are you referring back to the double-battery thing? If so, I'll point out that the OP mentioned installing a second battery in parallel (not in series).

 

[Checkswrecks]

If it's the same model battery and in parallel, yes it'll give you more amps for cold starting and such. Of course, it'll take longer to re-charge, and if drawing more than the alternator output, bad things can still happen. For example, on a LD ride you can arrive somewhere with 2 dead batteries. For another bad thing, these bikes already have wimpy ground points and m/c wiring isn't known for handling high current well, especially at the connectors.

If the batteries are different, you'll want a battery isolator. Powerboats and RVs do this all the time, so check in with a dealer for one of those.

I'll just use a battery tender for the weeks that I'm not able to ride.

 

[Lowcountry Joe]

Hell, go ahead and mount one there, and while you are at it, mount a couple in each of the saddlebags, and while you are at it, get yourself one of those dog-ugly top cases and mount two or three inside that *****. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...... :glare:

 

[RadioHowie]

Hell, go ahead and mount one there, and while you are at it, mount a couple in each of the saddlebags, and while you are at it, get yourself one of those dog-ugly top cases and mount two or three inside that *****. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...... :glare:

There ya go again, LCJoe, setting new forum standards in subtelty.

 

[racer]

You have A 12 volt supply not A 24!!!

Reece, when I was in school, putting two batteries in parallel results in the same voltage. Putting them in series results in doubling the voltage. I appreciate your input, but your advice is wrong. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

BTW, I have the bike on a battery tender. Just try to improve the system.

 

[racer]

Hell, go ahead and mount one there, and while you are at it, mount a couple in each of the saddlebags, and while you are at it, get yourself one of those dog-ugly top cases and mount two or three inside that *****. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...... :glare:

Thanks, Joe, I really appreciate all your advice. I'll send off for a top box tomorrow. Isn't the internet a great source of helpful information?

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

I got approx 3.5 years on the stock battery (2004) however when its not in use, its on a BMW battery tender. The tender will definitly extend the life of your battery.

Scott