Battery jumper cables?

[Sailorlite]

So far my battery seems fine, but I wouldn't want to try to find a new replacement on an "emergency" basis when touring. So I try to always be jumper cable-ready, hoping that I could get started and then nurse home a failing battery.

 

Maybe I should carry motorcycle jumper cables. But instead I am relying on being able to find someone else with a car or bike cable set. To my battery I have two wiring pigtails installed - one "coax" type for Gerbing's gear and one SAE type for a battery charger. And I carry a home made adapter which would enable connecting jumper cables into that SAE pigtail. Why not connect the car jumper cable clamps directly to the bike's battery? I don't think there's room, and removing the seat first is not very convenient. (Am I right about the lack of accessibility)?

 

If I can indeed find a "donor" battery and cable set, am I correct in thinking that the SAE pigtail could carry adequate current to start the engine? I guess that's my main question. There's a 15 amp inline fuse in there which could be easily increased if necessary.

 

Or should I just carry a motorcycle-specific jumper cable set?

 

 

 

[T__]

Sailorlite, your SAE or Coax pigtails surely won’t carry enough current for starting the bike.. If your battery isn’t too run down or depleted you might be able to charge it from another running bike or car but if to low it will probably just pop the fuse in the pigtails when the charging current gets high enough..

 

I carry a set of homemade motorcycle sized jumper cables & can easily access the battery posts by removing the seat less than 30 seconds).. At least so on the 1200RT,, your 1150 will probably take some battery post adapters or a larger current carrying capacity jumping pigtail..

 

 

Twisty

 

 

[johnlt]

What Twisty said.

 

I too carry a set of MC jumper cables and have used them several time. Not for myself (yet) but for others I was riding with. I think they should be a part of any tool kit.

[Mike05]

I've carried this for years.

 

Used twice; once bike-to-bike, second time car-to-bike. Worked like a charm.

 

Packs small, pretty handy to have on a trip.

 

"UpStart Inc." Motorcycle Jumper Cable Set

[Rob L]

I made my own jumper cables with battery clamps from Radio Shack and #10 gauge wire. Accessing the battery on your 1200 is easy. Remove the seat and you are there. When I owned my 1150, I installed a #10 wire to the positive post of the battery and terminated it behind the right side cover with a large wire nut. That made a jump start possible by attaching the ground to any exposed metal part.

 

I NEVER used the cables or the positive wire!! I was stranded in a motel parking lot in California once :cry:on my 1150. I took half the tupperware off to get a set of car cables on the battery terminals. Never again!!

[Sailorlite]

Well, I just went ahead and ordered up a set of cables from Amazon, carrying bag included for $15.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-BC0800-Performance-Standard-10-Gauge/dp/B002YRQVTQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1268866843&sr=8-1

 

Hope it's not too big or bulky to carry, but if needed it should do the job (and I can leave at home my coax and SAE adapters).

[Rob L]

Well, I just went ahead and ordered up a set of cables from Amazon, carrying bag included for $15.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-BC0800-Performance-Standard-10-Gauge/dp/B002YRQVTQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1268866843&sr=8-1

 

Hope it's not too big or bulky to carry, but if needed it should do the job (and I can leave at home my coax and SAE adapters).

 

The cables that I made fit under the front half of the seat.

[JR356]

Your local auto parts store will have MC jumper cables,found mine at Kragen,about $10,come in a storage case.

Also have seen similar set at WallyWorld(Walmart)in the auto section,with the batteries.

 

JR356