Disconnect battery for winter

[NHVM]

Hi guys & girls

Is it advisable to disconnect my battery on my machine over the winter period? - It will be laid up now for 4 or 5 months

Is there anything in the background that is drawing power? (there is no monitoring alarm currently installed on it) - every thing is factory standard - 2019 model

Thanks
Merry Christmas

[Antares]

Can't comment on the XR for sure but I put it's battery in my ER6 after replacing the one in the XR with a lithium one and after the ER has been sitting for the last 4 months without even being turned on out in an unheated garage and the moment i turned the key, strong fast injector sounds and started immediately, starter wasn't struggling at all. So at the very least the OEM battery is good quality lol

[wessie]

Originally Posted by NHVM

Hi guys & girls

Is it advisable to disconnect my battery on my machine over the winter period? - It will be laid up now for 4 or 5 months

Is there anything in the background that is drawing power? (there is no monitoring alarm currently installed on it) - every thing is factory standard - 2019 model

Thanks
Merry Christmas

No, this is a legacy from the days of wet batteries and Lucas electrical components.

Technology has moved on and AGM or Lithium batteries do not degrade over winter if unused. Electrical components rarely self-immolate nowadays. 

[Antares]

Fair point on degradation, I think he meant parasitic draw, that WILL indeed kill a battery if unused for a long and it really doesn't need to be much. I've been through 2 batteries before I found out that actually it's my USB charger that drained my batteries down to 4 and 6V respectively after 2-3 weeks of sitting on my ER6, once disconnected, as i mentioned above no problems. I can imagine the XR having a lot more things to keep track of and therefore a more power hungry ECU/Meter unit, in mine I also have the factory alarm, that said it doesn't hurt to disconnect the battery just for piece of mind, easy enough to do anyway, 3 bolts and a key hole, 2 mins done and dusted.

[wessie]

Originally Posted by Antares

Fair point on degradation, I think he meant parasitic draw, that WILL indeed kill a battery if unused for a long and it really doesn't need to be much. I've been through 2 batteries before I found out that actually it's my USB charger that drained my batteries down to 4 and 6V respectively after 2-3 weeks of sitting on my ER6, once disconnected, as i mentioned above no problems. I can imagine the XR having a lot more things to keep track of and therefore a more power hungry ECU/Meter unit, in mine I also have the factory alarm, that said it doesn't hurt to disconnect the battery just for piece of mind, easy enough to do anyway, 3 bolts and a key hole, 2 mins done and dusted.

unless there is an alarm or tracker fitted, the 2015-19 XR does not use much current. My 2016 XR has not moved since mid October and the battery is still fine. Cycle the ignition and the pumps cycle and the lights are bright. I'll stick it on the Optimate for a day in the New Year. My bike has keyed ignition. A keyless bike might use a bit more, although it is marginal if my other bike, an R1200RS is anything to go by. The RS gets used during winter so maybe not a good comparison.

[runnerhiker]

I use a Batter Tender brand name battery tender, I leave it connected all the time.  A battery tender is designed to do that, it holds a certain voltage and stops the amperage.  It is not a trickle charger.  I never disconnect my battery.

BTW, the battery tender is hooked up directly to the battery, via a pigtail.

[Winger]

My bikes and batteries are like me at this time year...we all like a nice warm garage...it’s keep’t at the same temperature as our living room  , so run a lithium Optimate around all of them every 6 weeeks.

[Spooch]

All my bikes are on an Optimate over the winter months and I start them up for about 20 minutes at the weekend. Battery on my Blackbird is a standard lead acid type and is well over 8 years old so must be doing something right as it fires up instantly, winter or summer.

[Spooch]

Forgot to add, recently put a lithium battery on my XR and the change from the original is amazing. Fires up instantly, well worth the investment.

[smithy]

Originally Posted by Spooch

Forgot to add, recently put a lithium battery on my XR and the change from the original is amazing. Fires up instantly, well worth the investment.

They are good, have had an SSB Lithium on mine for coming up to 5 years....it's the slightly higher standing voltage which helps with starting, 13.2v compared to the normal ~12.6v of the old lead acid type batteries.

Smithy.