My preference personally (as I mention yearly!) is regular use so the situation has never arisen for me before but I've got a bike which for licensing and insurance reasons is going to be off the road for a few months until the owner passes her test. I'm not really bothered about insuring it myself to use, so I'm curious if I'd be better charging it (with an Optimate) on the bike or off altogether? I can't see a few months with no power to it being a concern, would people agree? Thanks all!
Depends on where you keep it. When I was younger and less sensible, I used to leave my bike in a cold, damp garage with the battery in it. Quelle surprise..every spring I was faced with a fooked battery and had to invariably go and buy a new one. Either take it out or leave it on an Optimate. If you take it out, you don't need the Optimate or power so that is cheaper.
Put an optimate on it. Every now and then you can fire her up and remind the neighbours you've got a ducati. Also does it some good to spash the oil around every now and then...
If its alarmed you'll need to keep the battery in, otherwise no reason why you can take it out. Warning, you will have to reset the time on the dash come that first ride
If its got a parasitic load like alarm or immobilizer, then you're either going to need to top it up/keep it on a float charger or remove it. Unless the temperature drops absurdly low (well below freezing) the cold ambient should not make any difference. In fact as I recall (unless @AirConTechnical says different) the cold temp reduces the self discharge rate. I usually take mine out but really its no biggie either way providing you don't let it flatten and then leave it that way
Absolutely true self discharge rates reduce with temperature, as do virtually all chemical reactions; including that which the Battery depends on...hence batteries fail more often in the Winter (less electrical capacity) and more viscous oil, condensation etc.
I just disconnect mine but leave it on the bike. Making sure the cables cannot touch the electrodes. That way I know where the battery is. As I have a tendency towards anarchy in my garage and can never find anything. Currently cant find my small torque wrench for love nor money. So i bought another.
My four workshops are 60' apart and consequently I own 4 sets of Axial stands, numerous skill saws and other duplicate tools:Shifty:. We frequently loose whole AC systems (the size of a chest freezer). It's official... I now have tools to find my tools.:Banghead: I also have a very bad memory :Bookworm: for where I left things exacerbated by a younger brother (who thinks he's an :Angelic::Angelic::Angelic::Angelic::Angelic::Angelic that borrows and moves things on a daily basis.
If you use a tracker , which I do , then you must leave the battery connected . If you dont then the trackers own battery will kick in and will go flat in no time . Rendering it useless .
