Boring but - best battery optimiser for multiple bikes

[MotorsportTom]

Hi all,

A bit of excitement from the what bike or what helmet threads and instead... what battery optimiser!

I'm moving soon and will have space in a garage for probably 3 of my bikes and one of my girlfriends. Ideally to avoid discharged battery woes we have been suffering of late I want to buy an optimiser that will be easy to plug and play across at least an R1, a CBR600F, a Honda CG125 and possibly a GSXR750 SRAD.

Now, I have had a little google but I don't really understand it (electrics not being my strong suit) but if anyone has recommendations for all battery types (gel and standard) I would appreciate it.

Main criteria is easily swap-able between bikes (multiple leads/plug ins), longevity and finally price. Price comes last if someone can convince what is worthwhile.

Picture for nothing other than pictures make threads more interesting.

[BobSaunders]

MotorsportTom said:

Hi all,

A bit of excitement from the what bike or what helmet threads and instead... what battery optimiser!

I'm moving soon and will have space in a garage for probably 3 of my bikes and one of my girlfriends. Ideally to avoid discharged battery woes we have been suffering of late I want to buy an optimiser that will be easy to plug and play across at least an R1, a CBR600F, a Honda CG125 and possibly a GSXR750 SRAD.

Now, I have had a little google but I don't really understand it (electrics not being my strong suit) but if anyone has recommendations for all battery types (gel and standard) I would appreciate it.

Main criteria is easily swap-able between bikes (multiple leads/plug ins), longevity and finally price. Price comes last if someone can convince what is worthwhile.

Picture for nothing other than pictures make threads more interesting.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/46459 - X 3
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/... (option number 3) - X 3
Multi-plug/gang-way

[Ho Lee Kau]

https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/mxs-5-0-test...

[PTF]

Avoid Oxford. I've got one left out of the 5 i started with, and that's a bit dicky. They die easily

[MotorsportTom]

Brilliant thanks all!

I have heard of CTEK and completely forgot about them, I'm assuming they are the best of the best?

Oxford I'll avoid, I have been burnt with that brand before!

[Bungleaio]

Ctek are spot on. I've got the 3.8 model which I've used for quite a few years now on my mini and I've added a connector to my bike which plugs into the charger rather than needing crocodile clips.

Ctek aren't that cheap but they are good value.

My charger - https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/mxs-3-8

Connector - https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/connect-eyel...

I've noticed that they do a connector with lights in now so you can see the state of charge https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/indicator-ey...

[TwoStrokeNut]

MotorsportTom said:

Brilliant thanks all!

I have heard of CTEK and completely forgot about them, I'm assuming they are the best of the best?

Oxford I'll avoid, I have been burnt with that brand before!

Not really. I've had two, one has died already. A friend had his ECU fried by one that expired.

I'm still using some ancient optimates and the current LIDL / Aldi units. All work well. The voltage display on the newer units is pretty handy too.

[hebegb]

Optimate 4 for me Tom - had one serving multiple bikes over several years now - no issues .

Ps is that a poor Porker being bellied out by debris in the corner ...?

[Deranged Granny]

TwoStrokeNut said:

Not really. I've had two, one has died already. A friend had his ECU fried by one that expired.

I'm still using some ancient optimates and the current LIDL / Aldi units. All work well. The voltage display on the newer units is pretty handy too.

And on the other side of the coin, my Lidl one died straight away but my Ctek one has been great.

Isn't internet advice useful

[FazerBoy]

MotorsportTom said:

Hi all,

I'm moving soon and will have space in a garage for probably 3 of my bikes and one of my girlfriends.

How will you choose which girlfriend to put in the garage?

[NITO]

I have optimate and Noco. Prefer the Noco. I note they now have a quad charger to charge 4 bikes at the same time...I fancy getting one of these mysef and wall mounting it. The one I currently have is effectively the same charger but a single G1100, whereas this is 4 of mine in effect.



http://www.sailsmarine.com/ItemDetail.aspx?c=22390...

[MotorsportTom]

hebegb said:

Optimate 4 for me Tom - had one serving multiple bikes over several years now - no issues .

Ps is that a poor Porker being bellied out by debris in the corner ...?

It is! A pal of mine owns it, but the photo is deceptive. There is the engine on a wheely bench in between the bike and the car, it's a boxster with a 4.2 Audi V8 slipped into it.

Makes a grand noise now it's actually in the chassis and running properly!

FazerBoy said:

MotorsportTom said:

Hi all,

I'm moving soon and will have space in a garage for probably 3 of my bikes and one of my girlfriends.

How will you choose which girlfriend to put in the garage?

Whichever one shows me her rusty sheriffs badge when I ask gets to stay in the house

Also cheers for all the feedback folks, just a shame there doesn't seem to be one that is perfect apart from the Noco... only it's mega money! Lots of thinking to do

[Biker's Nemesis]

Optimate 4 is what I use.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/132120546880?chn=ps&a...

[Ho Lee Kau]

MotorsportTom said:

Brilliant thanks all!

I have heard of CTEK and completely forgot about them, I'm assuming they are the best of the best?

Oxford I'll avoid, I have been burnt with that brand before!

I don't know if CTEK is the best of the best but I have this charger and it was one of the few occasions where I thought I have spent the money well.

Now I do not need to ride the bikes and drive the cars every 2-3 weeks just to keep the batteries loaded.

Now I can just take the batteries out and load them at home, or connect the car (a 911 :-) ) through cigarette lighter outlet and keep the battery fully charged and reconditioned. No need to go outside, can just sit on the couch, anyway it is minus 8 outside.

For the charger I bought an extension cable with indicator and a rubber jacket for the charger itself.

Edited by Ho Lee Kau on Monday 26th February 21:58

[Ho Lee Kau]

MotorsportTom said:

Oxford I'll avoid, I have been burnt with that brand before!

I bought Oxford heated grips for my CBR600F4i a year ago but haven't been burned by them as I haven't installed them yet.

[Ho Lee Kau]

MotorsportTom said:

Also cheers for all the feedback folks, just a shame there doesn't seem to be one that is perfect apart from the Noco... only it's mega money! Lots of thinking to do

132 quid for a 4-in-1 charger is cheap imho.

[ilovequo]

Noco 1100 is best one ive used, cheap on amazon

[PTF]

NITO said:

I have optimate and Noco. Prefer the Noco. I note they now have a quad charger to charge 4 bikes at the same time...I fancy getting one of these mysef and wall mounting it. The one I currently have is effectively the same charger but a single G1100, whereas this is 4 of mine in effect.



http://www.sailsmarine.com/ItemDetail.aspx?c=22390...

Shame it's another £60 postage!

[Dog Star]

I like that Noco - that's trick.

Myself I use a Motobatt "Waterboy" - does normal and AGM, you need a different one for these lithium jobbies though.
What I like about it is that it is a really quality piece of kit, beautifully made, metal case, solid. And it's waterproof (which is irrelevant to me, though maybe it wouldn't be if I needed to charge the OHs car).

[Globs]

MotorsportTom said:

I'm moving soon and will have space in a garage for probably 3 of my bikes and one of my girlfriends.

Although this sounds fine on paper I recommend you keep all your girlfriends in the house, garages can be very cold this time of year and she'll get very grumpy indeed.