Today my 2014 blade, which has been sat for 3 weeks unused in the garage let me down! It started ok and performed perfectly for a 20 minute journey to a friend's house, but 15 minutes later refused to start. You could hear the starter motor turning over but wouldn't start the engine. We tried numerous bump starts without luck. The bike was then successfully started by connecting jump leads to his car (ignition off), but this made me realise a charger of some variety would be required in future. If I bought an optimate TM71 lead and a trickle charger (4,5 or 6), and connected it all up to my mains power once a week for 10+ hours using an extension lead (since garage has no power supply), would this keep the battery adequately charged to avoid today's problems? Alternatively does anybody know of a solar charger that can be connected to the Optimate TM71 charging lead? Optimate don't seem to do one themselves. Thanks a lot guys, much appreciated. Martin
Just charge mine every two weeks with an Optimate for around 8 - 10 hours or once a week if its very cold. Using this method for past few years and bike always started ok in the spring.
Maplins sell, or sold, a solar charger that comes with an SAE connector, then just get a SAE to TM conversion lead. I run a couple of them and just have them connected all the time when the bikes are in the garage.
My bike lives on an optimate when in garage. They are a battery conditioner as well as a charger. They don't cost much to run.
Hi my bike is all ways connected to an optimate to never had any problems good thing is my bike shuts down after a week ie the alarm can't be de activated with the fob only the key .once you put the key in the ignition then you have to press the alarm fob
