Where to plug battery charger

[jlparsons]

Where do folk plug their battery chargers in on the s1000xr?  Is the port on the left of the dash always connected to the battery and usable for that purpose, or is it switched to ignition as I suspect?  In case it's relevant it's a 2023 model.

[capt cf]

I have an SAE pigtail connected directly to the battery on both of my XRs and use that.

[jlparsons]

That's what I've done before but it looks a pain to route the cable up to the headstock where my old bike's tail was and I don't fancy one dangling out beside the seat.  Where do you site yours?

[capt cf]

This is where I stuck it on my gen 2.  I have it on the opposite side on my gen 1.

[wessie]

is the battery still under the seat? On my Gen 1, I simply unlatched the seat and used croc clips direct to the battery one day a month in winter if the weather was too shitty to ride.

A pigtail can be handy for connecting up other things like a tyre pump, but why not just coil up the pigtail under the seat if you do not want it visible?

[jlparsons]

Originally Posted by wessie

is the battery still under the seat? On my Gen 1, I simply unlatched the seat and used croc clips direct to the battery one day a month in winter if the weather was too shitty to ride.

A pigtail can be handy for connecting up other things like a tyre pump, but why not just coil up the pigtail under the seat if you do not want it visible?

Yup, no change I don't think.  And yes that's an option but with my previous bike I used to plug it in every time I parked it in the garage, ideally I'd like to not have to remove the saddle each time but it's not the end of the world if I do. 

An easy solution would be great, like if the dash port is hard wired, but it looks like it cuts off when the battery is charged which means a smart charger won't do much after that.

[wessie]

Originally Posted by jlparsons

Yup, no change I don't think.  And yes that's an option but with my previous bike I used to plug it in every time I parked it in the garage, ideally I'd like to not have to remove the saddle each time but it's not the end of the world if I do. 

An easy solution would be great, like if the dash port is hard wired, but it looks like it cuts off when the battery is charged which means a smart charger won't do much after that.

there are chargers that wake up the accessory port. BMW one of course but an Optimate 4 as well. I have the latter and use it on a R1200RS as the battery is not as easily accessed. Works okay for a brief top up but I would not trust it for longer term storage when a direct to battery connection is essential in my view

do you have an alarm or tracker fitted? If not, why does the bike need to be on the charger all of the time? Without a parasitic load, the battery will remain at a good charge level for a couple of months. As I state above, I only give the battery a boost one day a month if the bike is not ridden.

[jlparsons]

That's interesting.  Don't have an alarm yet but will have one fitted soon.  BMW charger looks good, didn't know that existed but obviously it's daft expensive... 😂

[Mareng1]

Forget about charging back into an accessory socket - just buy a pigtail with the correct (rubber capped) fitting - and connect direct to the battery.

Cable tie the cable (close to the plug) to the rear subframe on either side of the bike - and smear the contacts and plug with vaseline.

Capt CF shows where/how

[PaulS1000XR]

I use a BMW charger connected via the Aux plug. Works just fine, quick and easy