Motorcycle Question

skippybrew

Maybe this belongs in the "car guy" thread...?

I'm about to buy a 2007 Honda Rebel (my first bike) and it's basically still new, only like 400 miles on it. So it's been sitting for a while and the battery is dead. Can I just charge it or should I replace it?

Also, I've heard of this "battery tender" - is it useful, and do I need a charger as well?

Thanks for any help.

CantKeepMeHere

skippybrew wrote:

Maybe this belongs in the "car guy" thread...?

I'm about to buy a 2007 Honda Rebel (my first bike) and it's basically still new, only like 400 miles on it. So it's been sitting for a while and the battery is dead. Can I just charge it or should I replace it?

Also, I've heard of this "battery tender" - is it useful, and do I need a charger as well?

Thanks for any help.

trickle charger works - anything with low amps and charges slow - do not jump start it from a car or anything - but it has been my experience with bikes to just buy another battery - cause what are you gonna do when you stop for a soda pop and icecream then 20minutes later your now not 100% battery fails you :?:

81

CantKeepMeHere wrote:

cause what are you gonna do when you stop for a soda pop and icecream then 20minutes later your now not 100% battery fails you :?:

kick start the bike. :P

push start the bike :P

battery tender is suppose to keep the battery fresh and charged. being the cheap ass that i am, i would jump the bike, let it run and see if the battery holds a charge for a few days before buying. be the sound responisible person, you would just buy a new one AND recycle the old one.

WaveRyder

First, don't buy a honda rebel. Secondly, I'd charge it and see if it holds. If it only has 400 miles on it, I'm sure the battery is fine. I just changed the battery on my Harley for the first time. I bought the bike brand new in 2004 and put 30,000 miles on it before I needed a new one.

Then again, it is a Honda, you might need a new battery every 400 miles.

81

WaveRyder wrote:

Then again, it is a Honda, you might need a new battery every 400 miles.

is that an oil spot under your bike, or are you just happy to see me. :P

















i kid, i like harley's

81

assuming the price is right, a rebel isn't a bad first bike. if he drops it, big whoop. the power isn't going to get him. they are cheap and plentiful. ride it for a few months than pass it on to the next person.

klusterfuk

unless it was parked in heated storage i would replace it. bike batteries dont last long. but then i would probably just get get a moped instead of a honda rebel.

StillHere

just can the honda idea and buy a harley
then you won't need a new battery...just a tool kit...at all times

kevinbeetle

nothing wrong with a honda. but i would suggest getting something larger than a 250cc. any beginner should be able to handle at least a 750. is it the original battery? if so, it may be dead, but at least try charging it. a new battery can run you $100. i just bought a new charger/tender from walmart or target for like $30. i can get you the make/model tomorrow if i remember. it recognizes whether its for a bike or car, charges it until its full, then trickles. works perfect. cold weather and not running it every weekend in the winter will lower the charge.

skippybrew

I'd feel bad if I beat a Harley to shit while I learn to ride. I'd rather be a schmuck on a Honda than a poser on a Harley...

...plus, you know, it's cheap.

81 wrote:

kick start the bike. :P

:?: :?: Is this an option with a rebel?

skippybrew

kevinbeetle wrote:

nothing wrong with a honda. but i would suggest getting something larger than a 250cc. any beginner should be able to handle at least a 750. is it the original battery? if so, it may be dead, but at least try charging it. a new battery can run you $100. i just bought a new charger/tender from walmart or target for like $30. i can get you the make/model tomorrow if i remember. it recognizes whether its for a bike or car, charges it until its full, then trickles. works perfect. cold weather and not running it every weekend in the winter will lower the charge.

Unfortunately, more cc = more $$... I don't know if it's the original battery but I'm sure it's a few years old... I just checked a new one and it's like 60 bucks. I'll probably just do that to start fresh. But yeah, I'd appreciate the model info on that charger. Sounds like a good deal.

81

skippybrew wrote:

I'd feel bad if I beat a Harley to shit while I learn to ride. I'd rather be a schmuck on a Honda than a poser on a Harley...

...plus, you know, it's cheap.

81 wrote:

kick start the bike. :P

:?: :?: Is this an option with a rebel?

doesn't look like it. not sure they even make a street bike with a kick start any more. such a shame. i had an old honda 400 that i rode into the ground. never changed the battery. the last three years or so, i always kicked it.

81

skippybrew wrote:

kevinbeetle wrote:

nothing wrong with a honda. but i would suggest getting something larger than a 250cc. any beginner should be able to handle at least a 750. is it the original battery? if so, it may be dead, but at least try charging it. a new battery can run you $100. i just bought a new charger/tender from walmart or target for like $30. i can get you the make/model tomorrow if i remember. it recognizes whether its for a bike or car, charges it until its full, then trickles. works perfect. cold weather and not running it every weekend in the winter will lower the charge.

Unfortunately, more cc = more $$... I don't know if it's the original battery but I'm sure it's a few years old... I just checked a new one and it's like 60 bucks. I'll probably just do that to start fresh. But yeah, I'd appreciate the model info on that charger. Sounds like a good deal.

don't know what your budget it, but there are some great deals out there on some real nice used bikes.

i've been looking at the FZ1's and saw a 2003 with 17K miles go for $2500. But it was located in baltimore. :x

whatever you decide, enjoy it

cowboypjfan

HD = Hundred Dollars

You can't get a part or service less than $100 for your harley

Prince Of Dorkness

I would never suggest buying a Honda Rebel unless you're 5'2" or an old lady.

You're going to be embarrassed to ride it and unless you're really short, you'll look like like one of those bears at the circus riding a tiny bicycle.

It also doesn't have enough power for you to effectively learn to ride, either.

I get it that you want to start with something cheap you won't feel bad about dropping and hacking up and something small that isn't intimidating. But a Rebel 250 isn't it.

Prince Of Dorkness

My first bike was a Buell Blast. It was perfect for those narrow, winding one-way streets in downtown Toronto where I lived. But I was sick of it pretty soon and wanted something that didn't strain to get to 55MPH.

I also found that a larger engine is much less likely to stall, easier to control and let's face it... sounds better thus making you look hotter when you pull up on it.

And at least 25% of the reason to ride a bike is all the tail you'll get.

81

couple of other bikes you may want to consider...albeit, they would be more sporty looking than cruiser looking

sv650
fz6
ninja

more cruiser
shadow
vstar

check out ebay completed listings to see what stuff has sold at. you might be suprised what you can sneak into your budget

skippybrew

Yeah, I definitely want a cruiser and I'm getting this one for 2 grand... I looked at the shadow and some of the others but didn't see anything for less than about 4.

I do wish the engine was a little bigger (again, though, $$) but I'm not in that big of a hurry. My next bike will have more oomph. And as far as it's size - I'll just put on a ruffle and one of those pointy hats. And kick anyone's ass who laughs. A circus bear is still a fakkin bear.

mickeyrat

skippybrew wrote:

Yeah, I definitely want a cruiser and I'm getting this one for 2 grand... I looked at the shadow and some of the others but didn't see anything for less than about 4.

I do wish the engine was a little bigger (again, though, $$) but I'm not in that big of a hurry. My next bike will have more oomph. And as far as it's size - I'll just put on a ruffle and one of those pointy hats. And kick anyone's ass who laughs. A circus bear is still a fakkin bear.

Prince Of Dorkness

skippybrew wrote:

Yeah, I definitely want a cruiser and I'm getting this one for 2 grand... I looked at the shadow and some of the others but didn't see anything for less than about 4.

I do wish the engine was a little bigger (again, though, $$) but I'm not in that big of a hurry. My next bike will have more oomph. And as far as it's size - I'll just put on a ruffle and one of those pointy hats. And kick anyone's ass who laughs. A circus bear is still a fakkin bear.

At least nobody will say you're trying to compensate for anything. :geek:

I have two bikes at the moment. A Honda Hornet 599 and a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom. I do get wanting to start small and work up. Just know it'll happen faster than you expect that to happen.

81

skippybrew wrote:

Yeah, I definitely want a cruiser and I'm getting this one for 2 grand... I looked at the shadow and some of the others but didn't see anything for less than about 4.

I do wish the engine was a little bigger (again, though, $$) but I'm not in that big of a hurry. My next bike will have more oomph. And as far as it's size - I'll just put on a ruffle and one of those pointy hats. And kick anyone's ass who laughs. A circus bear is still a fakkin bear.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000-Hon ... 230fd6309d

2000 shadow VLX 600 with 5.7K miles sold for $2425

:P

you will still be cool on yoru rebel. my old honda 400 was slow, could barley hit 80, but was still fun to ride.

skippybrew

81 wrote:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000-Hon ... 230fd6309d

2000 shadow VLX 600 with 5.7K miles sold for $2425

:P

you will still be cool on yoru rebel. my old honda 400 was slow, could barley hit 80, but was still fun to ride.

I know,I'm just impatient. I don't want to bother with shipping and I don't see much in my area (Oregon). It's also been beautiful the past few days and I'm getting itchy to make it happen before it either hits 100 or starts raining again...

dcfaithful

81 wrote:

CantKeepMeHere wrote:

cause what are you gonna do when you stop for a soda pop and icecream then 20minutes later your now not 100% battery fails you :?:

kick start the bike. :P

push start the bike :P

battery tender is suppose to keep the battery fresh and charged. being the cheap ass that i am, i would jump the bike, let it run and see if the battery holds a charge for a few days before buying. be the sound responisible person, you would just buy a new one AND recycle the old one.

You could've masked your avatar and all your identifying information and because of this post I would've still known it was you.

skippybrew

Prince Of Dorkness wrote:

At least nobody will say you're trying to compensate for anything. :geek:

I have two bikes at the moment. A Honda Hornet 599 and a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom. I do get wanting to start small and work up. Just know it'll happen faster than you expect that to happen.

The Vulcan's pretty sweet - that was one of the first ones I looked at when I started thinking about it. That's probably where I'll head when it's time to upgrade, if not straight to a Harley.

kevinbeetle

skippybrew wrote:

Unfortunately, more cc = more $$... I don't know if it's the original battery but I'm sure it's a few years old... I just checked a new one and it's like 60 bucks. I'll probably just do that to start fresh. But yeah, I'd appreciate the model info on that charger. Sounds like a good deal.

Schumacher SEM-1562A 1.5 Amp Speed Charge Maintainer

http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SEM-15 ... B0009IBJAS

$20

Prince Of Dorkness

skippybrew wrote:

The Vulcan's pretty sweet - that was one of the first ones I looked at when I started thinking about it. That's probably where I'll head when it's time to upgrade, if not straight to a Harley.

I promise you that after about 2 months of riding, you'll have a giggle when people even talk about Harleys being bikes. They're just blenders with wheels. Annoying, loud, poorly made and they make you look like a middle aged man having a mid life crisis.

I rode a Lighting 1200 for a while.. it was fun but not a very workable engine. It was all about making noise. Not performance.

If you go to a motorcycle store and there's T-shirts, baby Ts, caps, coffee mugs, buttons and bobble heads BEFORE you get to the bikes, turn around and go to a real bike store.

kevinbeetle

i'll sell you my 2002 shadow spirit 750 for $3500. got around 5k miles.

looks like this



and the battery charges fine. i'll toss in the charger too. and the '97 christmas single. and a tote bag.

81

skippybrew wrote:

81 wrote:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000-Hon ... 230fd6309d

2000 shadow VLX 600 with 5.7K miles sold for $2425

:P

you will still be cool on yoru rebel. my old honda 400 was slow, could barley hit 80, but was still fun to ride.

I know,I'm just impatient. I don't want to bother with shipping and I don't see much in my area (Oregon). It's also been beautiful the past few days and I'm getting itchy to make it happen before it either hits 100 or starts raining again...

if you are happy, i am happy. best of luck and enjoy.

there are always a ton of nice looking fz1's out there with good pricing.

81

dcfaithful wrote:

81 wrote:

CantKeepMeHere wrote:

cause what are you gonna do when you stop for a soda pop and icecream then 20minutes later your now not 100% battery fails you :?:

kick start the bike. :P

push start the bike :P

battery tender is suppose to keep the battery fresh and charged. being the cheap ass that i am, i would jump the bike, let it run and see if the battery holds a charge for a few days before buying. be the sound responisible person, you would just buy a new one AND recycle the old one.

You could've masked your avatar and all your identifying information and because of this post I would've still known it was you.

Clearly, i post too much

81

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/2337637960.html

how about an 04 V star 650. 7700 miles. $2495

i have no idea what nada is on it.

WaveRyder

Prince Of Dorkness wrote:

skippybrew wrote:

The Vulcan's pretty sweet - that was one of the first ones I looked at when I started thinking about it. That's probably where I'll head when it's time to upgrade, if not straight to a Harley.

I promise you that after about 2 months of riding, you'll have a giggle when people even talk about Harleys being bikes. They're just blenders with wheels. Annoying, loud, poorly made and they make you look like a middle aged man having a mid life crisis.

I rode a Lighting 1200 for a while.. it was fun but not a very workable engine. It was all about making noise. Not performance.

If you go to a motorcycle store and there's T-shirts, baby Ts, caps, coffee mugs, buttons and bobble heads BEFORE you get to the bikes, turn around and go to a real bike store.

watch it dude. I'm 26 years old. I've owned a harley since i was 19 when i bought bike brand new. Not once have a i had an oil leak or any other problem with the bike. It rides great. It fits me perfectly, and its fast. Best of all, I can go to any bike rally in the country and not look like a dbag.

People who knock harleys have either had a bad experience with an individual who rides a harley or are suffering from a severe inferiority complex, probably stemming from one's inability to afford a machine as nice and well made as Harley Davidson, or you just hate American made things.

And what the hell is a lighting 1200?