So after 18 years riding motorbikes I finally get my dream bike a Ducati Panigale ABS. Delivered this morning and said goodbye to my KTM RC8-R. Cant wait to have a go on it. Had to laugh as the dealer drove off tried to start the bike and no joy so had to call him back and charge the battery. Question I have is that I have an old Optimate charger which I have connected to the battery directly but he said that you can get a connector to a lead with a red cap on. Rather than buy a new Optimate or charger can I just buy a lead that will connect to this lead on the bike. If anyone knows what the connector type is to the bike I can buy the lead or connectors and sldier one up? Cheers Kwack
That'll sort it. Bear in mind that when fitting though that the Panigale has a 90 second period after key off where the ECU's are still active. DO NOT disconnect the battery during this time.
Nelly Is there any indication (LED / bleep etc) of when this 90 sec period has expired so that its safe to connect up? Or do you just time it many thanks
Nope.....there may be a click of a relay but it'd be quite muffled. In reality, it's not likely to affect the owner, but it's worth knowing so as not to brick an ECU :wink:
By the looks of it it already has a Optimate permanent connection on it. This has a large style connector and my current Optimate has a small connection on it. Looks like I better get the soldiering iron out and make me up a new connecting piece of wire Cheers Kwack
There is a factory fitted plug socket under the tool flap under the seat cowl, this fits the Ducati charger. I fitted my own lead with a tamiya plug enclosed in rubber directly to the battery terminals that I can tuck out the way and fits my intelligent battery charger. I did not have to remove faring panels, and it cost about a quid.
thats exactly what i seem to have connexted yo my battery but the connector is large and my optimate has mini tamiya connectors.
The plug under the seat is primarily the diagnostic socket. Ducati have chosen to hook up to this with their own dedicated charger. I wouldnt connect anything to that socket other than Ducati product meant to be plugged in there. Any other charger, hook a lead up to the battery...
I always use an Optimate and they are superb. I've never had a knackered/flat battery whilst using them. I guess there are cheaper options, but what's 40 quid compared to the price of a Panigale ? I have a connector lead from the battery cable tied to appear just above the clutch leaver. It's neat and tidy.
+1 for Ctek. I seem to remember something about the charging lead/plug on the Panigale being a different fitting to the standard charger plug (or maybe this was just on Freak's to make life difficult for him :wink: ).
I have an optimate 3 on the CBR and an oxford oximiser 900 on the Ducati. Both do the job just as well as eachother, although the oxford has an LCD display, and gives you more information.
