How cold is too cold?

[wobblywalrus]

It is going to be 14 degrees here tonight and tomorrow night.  The Truimph is outside.  We do not have a garage.  How cold can a bike battery get before it is damaged?

[landsendlynda]

Take it off and bring it in the house!!

Lynda

[John Noonan]

Take it off and bring it in the house!!

Lynda

Leave the batter in teh bike it will be fine..

















As long as you bring the bike in the warm house....

[landsendlynda]

Even better idea John!!  Why waste time removing the battery when the whole bike can be moved...besides, it could get lonely without its heart!

Lynda

Anyway, no matter how it is done....14 degrees is too cold for a battery!

[Milwaukee Midget]

What, are you looking to ride it somewhere tomorrow?

Gosh, I'm arguing with Lynda here - this can't be good.

From a dumb 'ole Iowa farm boy who moved to Wisconsin because it wasn't cold enough in Cedar Rapids:

A battery is a battery.  I've started cars that have sat out in sub-zero weather for a couple of days and never even gave a thought as to whether it was hard on the battery.  I was always more worried about the bearings and cylinder bores.

If it's to remain outside, I would make sure it had a good charge on it.  Charged batteries seldom freeze. 

[will6er]

I was told a fully charged battery won't freeze above -50 degrees.

Never had to test the theory.

Maybe Slim could weigh in.

Will

[wobblywalrus]

Lynda, I'm glad you are concerned about my bike being lonely.  My family will assure you that it gets plenty of attention.

[DavidinDurango]

If the battery is fully charged, it will probably be ok.  Throw a blanket over it and put a light under it, or close to it over night - surpising difference.  Long term cold is not good.  Or put a battery tender on it.

We'll be in the balmy 20s tonite, its snowing.

Good luck.

[Peter Jack]

We're headed below zero (-8 right now) Fahrenheit tonight. A night or two of that wouldn't hurt as long as the battery was fully charged. For some reason motorcycle batteries don't last if left outside for very long. On the other hand car batteries will last 5 plus years with somewhat irregular maintenance. I used to figure 2 years for a motorcycle battery and 5 years for the car battery. Anything more is a bonus.

Pete

[HotRodV8]

If the battery is fully charged, it will probably be ok.  Throw a blanket over it and put a light under it, or close to it over night - surpising difference.  Long term cold is not good.  Or put a battery tender on it.

We'll be in the balmy 20s tonite, its snowing.

Good luck.

Thanks. I just realized I'm going to be a millionaire. David, you gave me an idea. My new invention is a "Snuggie" (as seen on TV) for motorcycles. The warm blanket arm sleeves can go over the handlebars, and the blanket covers the battery. The light under it can an accessory (extra 5 bucks). Color choices: British Racing Green - Triumphs, Blue - BMWs, Red - Honda, White - Suzuki, and Black and Orange -  nah, we got enough colors. And no pink.

68 degrees tonight in Florida. 10% chance of a light rain.
RAIN ?  RAIN? That's it, a poncho for the bike Snuggie. No, we'll make it rain-reversable for two easy payments of $19.95.
I'll be able to buy my own streamliner rather than ask to borrow one for my license.
Opps. I just pinched myself. . .  never mind.

David, I spent a fun week in Durango 10 years ago camped on the front lawn of the high school at a National BMR Bike Rally. I went to Silverton by steam train. You got it good there.

[Brian Westerdahl]

Speaking of cold.  We had a case of Havoline 5w-30w motor oil and it had gotten down to about 0 degrees. We were going to put some oil in a pickup and went to pour it in the engine and it wouldn't come out of the quart bottle.  It came out real slow in a big slug luggie.  It was unbelievable.  We thought what the heck goes on in the pan every year when it gets that cold.  It really makes you wonder.  We took it to the local Texaco dealer and he sent it off never heard a word.

[jimmy six]

move to So Cal or Fla................

[Dean Los Angeles]

move to So Cal or Fla.

Umm ..... You do know it's going to be 36 tonight in the San Fernando Valley.

Chance of snow at El Mirage.

eave the batter in teh bike it will be fine..

WOW. Noonan's working that internal anti-freeze!

[DavidinDurango]

Hahha, I remember that rally - I sold my old R75 to a guy that crashed his on Red Mtn Pass.

Its nice here, if you can get up the hill to the house1 (sold all my 4x4s - what a dummy).

cheers,

If the battery is fully charged, it will probably be ok.  Throw a blanket over it and put a light under it, or close to it over night - surpising difference.  Long term cold is not good.  Or put a battery tender on it.

We'll be in the balmy 20s tonite, its snowing.

Good luck.

Thanks. I just realized I'm going to be a millionaire. David, you gave me an idea. My new invention is a "Snuggie" (as seen on TV) for motorcycles. The warm blanket arm sleeves can go over the handlebars, and the blanket covers the battery. The light under it can an accessory (extra 5 bucks). Color choices: British Racing Green - Triumphs, Blue - BMWs, Red - Honda, White - Suzuki, and Black and Orange -  nah, we got enough colors. And no pink.

68 degrees tonight in Florida. 10% chance of a light rain.
RAIN ?  RAIN? That's it, a poncho for the bike Snuggie. No, we'll make it rain-reversable for two easy payments of $19.95.
I'll be able to buy my own streamliner rather than ask to borrow one for my license.
Opps. I just pinched myself. . .  never mind.

David, I spent a fun week in Durango 10 years ago camped on the front lawn of the high school at a National BMR Bike Rally. I went to Silverton by steam train. You got it good there.

[wobblywalrus]

Thanks for the advice.  I just went out to the shed for an armload of firewood and I put a light under the bike's cover.  It is warmer than me now.