Does anyone know the equivalent Optimate to this then? ‘cos my Ducati int red (it’s beige) and I’m not bothered if it says Ducati on it. I had the audacity to turn up at a UKGSer breakfast on my Multi (I was invited and accompanied by a BM rider) and the buzz that went around the pub when someone came in exclaiming “..there’s a beige Ducati in the car park...” was palpable. I piped up “I think you’ll find it’s hearing aid brown”. Ducati call it sand and it’s a £200 optional extra.
I have several of these smart tenders that will not cook your battery. This one here in particular is switch-able for a Lithium battery which I have in my Multi. Comes complete with all the cables. https://www.deltran-global.com/Batt...attery-ChargerBattery-Tender-6V-12V-4A-Select
When i bought my 1260 the dealer said keep it on the Ducati trickle charger pretty much 24/7 - Was informed that if you leave it without charging for any more than ~2 weeks the battery will go flat. Also, they said if i leave the electronic steering lock on and the battery goes flat, the dealer has to come out and reset it!
That was a problem with there red switch on the early bikes, it was easy to leave it 'half on' and drain the battery. I have a tracker on mine drawing some current and find it's happy for about 3-4 weeks before it tells me the voltage is low. I usually leave it no trickle in the Winter but never in the Summer
I try to forget about my 3 years of GS ownership. The last issue of Performance Bikes has my old PP in the readers rides section and the title of the piece was "No one talks to you when you ride a GS!" I always found UKGSer an odd place. When I flogged mine, I had a few tasty bits that I offered to the forum cheaply before putting them on eBay. I’d broken some rule or other and was promptly banned for a week!
The battery charger must match the battery type. Two main choices, Lead-Acid or Lithium, I think the V4 is equiped with a standard lead-acid. Optimate is a good choices for either of them.
Lithium batteries are gaining popularity and some bikes are now equipped with them as OEM. Should you have to purchase a battery tender, it would be wise to get one than can charge both Lead-Acid and Lithium batteries.
Do you guys leave your bikes on charge the whole time over the winter? All lights are green on the charger, so it’s charged, but I don’t like the idea of leaving it on for weeks on end. I’ve never had to use an optimate on my other bikes, but realise that Ducati fit rubbish batteries on these bikes!
For the Lead-Acid, I keep it on all the time but it's freezing cold here in Canada during the winter. (I have an unheated garage). For a milder climate, (like in the UK) I would just top-it-up periodically. For the Lithium, no tender is required but I disconnect the ground to avoid any parasitic draw.
I leave mine plugged in throughout. I would say though, that I'm surprised how often the charging light is flashing when I go into the garage. I'm starting to think that it waits until it hears the key in the door.....
