Safe Speed Forums

My new bike arrived with the lights wired permanently on. The last thing I need however is for the headlight to come on when I am trying to start it as the battery is quickly drained. I only just got it going last time after leaving it standing for 3 weeks.

I know the answer is to buy an Optimate charger and leave it plugged in when the bike's not in use, which is what I did.

So have safety regulations gone mad or is just that Honda couldn't be bothered to apply a suitable engineering solution to a bike already on the market?

...leaving a bike on trickle charge all the time shortens the battery life.

Only if the charger is dumb and overcharges the battery.

Using a properly designed maintenance charger will provide maximum battery life.

[edited because someone stole the 'a' in maintenance! Allegedly. ]

here is some info that may be of interst...

http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq9.htm

9.3.7. Float Charger and Battery Maintainer

There are basically two types of float chargers. The first type is used to float or maintain wet or VRLA car or motive deep cycle batteries that have been fully charged. The second type is used to float charge or maintain wet or VRLA stationary deep cycle batteries.

If you are using wet or VRLA batteries in starting or motive deep cycle applications and already have a two stage charger, then a voltage-regulated "float" charger, power supply or battery maintainer set at approximately 13.2 VDC can be continuously used after the battery has been fully charged. An example is a Vector VEC080, costing less than $30 (US). Float chargers will maintain batteries at a 100% State-of-Charge with a C/100 rate to offset the battery's internal self-discharge and prevent them from sulfating. Batteries that have the same plate chemistry (battery type) can be connected in parallel to a float charger after they have been fully charged and the charger's current output is greater than 1% of total amp hour capacity of the batteries connected to it.

If you are using wet or VRLA deep cycle batteries in stationary applications, then use a float charger at approximately 13.8 VDC that is sized to carry the maximum load plus an extra 10% depending or more depending on how fast you want to recharge the batteries.

...Just don't forget to disconnect it before you start up and drive/ ride away!

Daylighyt running lights are a manufaturers decision and not a regulation.

DIY - Headlights highlight a bike - then by watching it you can decide what the rider is doing - if behind you - try moving over slightly -- bikers take tis as an invitatin to pass - you can always use hand sigs to reinforce this - most bikers will try and let you know their intention "if they see you as friendly" - or so i have found - thats the basis of good driving - communications and courtesy.

...A car could move over for all sorts of reasons

[...] and be totally unaware of a following motorcycle.

The thinking rider makes his own mind up as to if it is safe or not. I often get drivers move over in solid white lines or totally inappropriate places. I'll more likely drop back as a result of this than assume its safe pass. When I do eventually go, I'll thank them anyway.