Question about battery tender/float

Looking for a battery tender/float for my Speed Triple's battery. The Speed Triple is hard on batteries. I saw some at Harbor Freight, but the reviews are mixed. SO, it brought up questions about them that I have been researching and am getting lost. WIth winter, I want something that will maintain during the winter months. I am looking for one that has a quick connect/disconnect so I can keep it on the bike during riding season to plug in over night as well.

What types of tenders/floats/etc are you all using or would you all recommend? Or, are they all just a bunch of BS?

Thanks

Buy a good temperature compensated one. The cheapy HF units are set a little hot and will boil over a battery eventually, they work, but they are not set and forget. Got the acid stain on the basement floor to prove it.

+1 for buying a good one. I did buy the cheap HF one and I'm not very happy with it. I also own a couple of Battery Tenders and happen to be very happy with it. It's not like you'll have to replace it every few months so spend the additional cash.

Battery Tender

or

Schumacher Electric

Are the only ones I will buy

take the battery out and put it inside when you are parking it for a long time... i've got 2 car batteries in my basement right now..

Thank you for all the recommendations! I'll definitely be skipping the HF tender. The bike is in a pole shed that gets cold. The battery is in our garage which never has dropped below freezing due to being under the master bedroom.

Now, being a noob at all this, there are a lot of different options and price points with the quick connect/disconnect. Which ones would be not suffice, good option and/or overkill?

Just want to make sure so I don't berkeley up the battery and other E36 M3.

I have a couple of these and I think they're the best choice for a motorcycle battery. I might even have an extra one that I'd be willing to part with.

http://www.batterytender.com/Motorcycle/Battery-Tender-Junior-12V-0-75A.html

I also have one of these that I bought for the huge battery in the Porsche, but a lot of times, I'll just throw one of the Juniors on there for a few days.

http://www.batterytender.com/s.nl/it.A/id.5570/.f?sc=7&category=23

Woody, let me know if you want to part with one and how much. For some reason, I can't PM you.

In reply to escort1991:

Not sure why PM isn't working. I just found new ones selling so cheap on eBay that it's not worth buying a used one. Can't beat this price:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Deltran-Battery-Tender-Jr-12V-Maintainer-Charger-12-Volt-Trickle-Junior-021-0123-/231392362809?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item35e00f4139

No E36 M3! That's a great find! Thank you!

I always prefer supporting members, but that is cheap.

If you have a Costco membership, they're selling the full Battery Tender for around $35. Stupid good deal if you don't already have a Junior (which is great for Miatas and can charge an Intrepid from dead).

kylini wrote: If you have a Costco membership, they're selling the full Battery Tender for around $35. Stupid good deal if you don't already have a Junior (which is great for Miatas and can charge an Intrepid from dead).

Another great reason I need to get a costco membership.......lol

C-tek: http://smartercharger.com/

We've tried a whole bunch and these have had the best results.

Every car we send out gets one and I use one on my motorcycles at home. Every one comes with alligator clips and a quick-connect pigtail for the battery.

Get one of these as well: http://smartercharger.com/accessories/#CTEK%20Comfort%20Connect%20Indicator%20Eyelet

The pigtail above has a LED voltmeter built in, I love mine.

Woody wrote:

I've had this on my motorcycle for two seasons already and it has worked great. I use the same model for the ATV and Jetski as well. If you haven't switched to an AGM battery, I also recommend that.

I use a Schumacher Battery Maintainer I got at some chain parts store. It's kept my 10-pound Braille alive for over 6 years now, and keeps the Odyssey 680 I bought used for $20 three years ago charged enough to start an LS1 in 20-degree weather.

Woody wrote: In reply to escort1991: Not sure why PM isn't working. I just found new ones selling so cheap on eBay that it's not worth buying a used one. Can't beat this price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Deltran-Battery-Tender-Jr-12V-Maintainer-Charger-12-Volt-Trickle-Junior-021-0123-/231392362809?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item35e00f4139

Thanks for all the help. Just picked up the Battery Tender Jr in the link Woody sent.