Optimate (other Brands Are Available..!)

Discussion in 'Speed Triple' started by mikesouthby, Nov 28, 2017.

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  1. mikesouthby

    mikesouthby Member

    May 16, 2017
    11
    8
    Swindon, WILTS
    I have an Oxford Oximiser 900 battery management thing at home in the garage which I used to have connected to my Fireblade over winter. I couldn't use it on my S1000R as the can-bus system by all accounts needed a special type to work and not damage the charging system, apparently.

    Does anyone know if the same is true of the Speed Triple or can I make use of the Oxford 'optimate' that I already have? I have a spare set of battery connection leads that I never used so if it will not cause any damage I may as well make use of it now that the colder weather is upon us.
     
  2. Col_C

    Col_C I can't re...Member

    Aug 5, 2015
    1,433
    800
    Cornwall
    What year's your Speed? Standard charger is definitely ok up to 2015, not sure about the latest 2016> Euro 4 models. I suspect you'd still be ok but worth checking with your dealer I guess.
     
  3. DesertRat

    DesertRat Member

    Oct 10, 2017
    29
    18
    Yuscon, AZ USA
    If you're just trying to keep the battery in good shape over the winter while not riding the bike, why not just disconnect the battery from the bike so it's only connected to the Oximiser? You'd only have to disconnect one of the battery cables but leave the Oximiser connected. Am I missing something? That's what I usually do anyway if I'll be leaving the bike for awhile.
     
  4. tcbandituk

    Subscriber

    Apr 8, 2016
    2,763
    1,000
    Reading
    I've been using an Optimate on my 2017 Speed with no problems.
     
  5. GaryM

    GaryM It's him, you know who. Him from you know ....

    Apr 28, 2016
    862
    500
    Patna , Ayrshire
    They do a version which you can use with can bus
     
  6. Col_C

    Col_C I can't re...Member

    Aug 5, 2015
    1,433
    800
    Cornwall
    Always wondered whether it's a good idea to leave the battery disconnected for extended periods, minor issue obviously having to reset clock, but are any ECU settings lost / revert to default if powered down for a while?
     
  7. TEZ 217

    TEZ 217 Crème de la Crème

    Mar 6, 2016
    3,148
    1,000
    south shields
    I wouldn't think so at all everything should be ok (as you say except the clock) I know a few lads that remove there battery completely and leave on a charger, though IMHO its just as good left connected on the bike with an optimate,
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  8. chuk

    chuk Senior Member
    Subscriber

    Jan 10, 2017
    350
    113
    neilston glasgow
    #8 chuk, Nov 28, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2017
    i know my bikes an 2011 but I've git optimate 3 nothing bad to say about it bar its a bit basic but does the job,got an oxford opmximiser 900 as part of mag subscription deal looks a good bit of kit but i don't rate it,firstly the mains lead is about half the length of the optimate one but worse my factory alarm keeps going off on regular basis,I've taken it off and put the optimate back on with no alarm going off liked the oxfords display better but that's the only good thing about it even the leads are inferior qaulity to the optimates and about half as thick.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  9. youngy

    youngy Active Member

    Oct 30, 2017
    38
    28
    Peterborough
    The only problem I have ever seen with an Optimate is a lead acid battery being charged without following the instructions, and it will boil dry.
     
  10. GaryM

    GaryM It's him, you know who. Him from you know ....

    Apr 28, 2016
    862
    500
    Patna , Ayrshire
    Optimate version 4 supports canbus. Or at least mine does
     
  11. mikesouthby

    mikesouthby Member

    May 16, 2017
    11
    8
    Swindon, WILTS
    So to confirm, whilst general consensus if that the Oxford Oximiser isn't as good as the Opimate product, if it is connected directly to the battery terminals then no harm no foul? I have to be honest, I used the Oximiser for just over a year on my Fireblade (it's permanently fixed to the wall next to where the bike is parked in the garage so doesn't get moved, the fly lead just plugs into the socket on the bike..) and it worked perfectly, no problems with quality whatsoever. My Speed is a >2016 model so the plan will be to fit the spare charging lead I have and each time I come back from a ride just plug her in, simples. Taking the battery off of the bike or disconnecting anything is way too much effort.
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
  12. Christiepaul

    Christiepaul New Member

    May 13, 2017
    0
    1
    Uk
    I'm a vehicle mechanic with 40+ years in the trade and running bikes.
    If your battery is fully charged and in good condition there is no need to use a "condition charger". All I ever do is disconnect the battery from the bike (earth lead is safest). I may, on occasion, even remove it from the bike and take it into the house to prevent potential frost damage (I put it somewhere cool, with fairly constant temperature). A minor inconvenience is that I've had to reset the clock, and radio on my Goldwings, no other problems ensued.

    With so many machines only used as "toys" (not all year round like some of us nutters) I can understand why some kind of charger may be desired.The biggest hassle is batteries are typically lead/acid types. These rely on a chemical reaction to release and recover electricity. Batteries, like most things, need to "rest" periodically, the use of "condtioners" keeps the chemical reaction going. Even at a very low rate of charge it wears the battery out (the materiel on the plates falls off, causes a build up of sediment which eventually creates a dead cell).
     
  13. mikesouthby

    mikesouthby Member

    May 16, 2017
    11
    8
    Swindon, WILTS
    Spoke to the dealer this afternoon who have confirmed that the >2016 bikes do not need a special CAN-BUS charger/conditioner, so the Oxford is fine to use.

    Reading some of these comments whilst I cannot argue with those who know more about this than I, for me disconnecting the battery is a real pain as I ride year round; occasionally the bike may be laid up for a couple of weeks during really bad weather which is when I tend to find a conditioner useful as the batteries are getting smaller and smaller and don't like the cold weather..

    I'll fit it this weekend :)
     
    • Like Like x 1
  14. DesertRat

    DesertRat Member

    Oct 10, 2017
    29
    18
    Yuscon, AZ USA
    I lived on an offshore sailboat for a number of years where batteries are far more critical than on a motorcycle. I learned then not to listen to any personal experiences or 'mechanic' specialist, but rather go to the battery manufacturer's themselves on how to maintain their batteries. Thus I found the following article on Yuasa's website. Yes, it's written by an outside 'technical expert but republishing on their website (with permission) is an implicit approval. As I suspected, the answer to the OP is not so simple. Worth a full read. Note, while it does include an endorsement for their charger, the information leading up to it is quite interesting and provides guidance on 'off-season' charging of your motorcycle battery. Me? I resolved the issue by moving somewhere that I can ride all year :)

    http://www.yuasabatteries.com/motor_battery.php
     
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