RE: Requesting list wisdom re gel battery and Battery Tender Plus

[Ben Barkow <dr.ben@xxxxxxxxx>]

There are a few kinds of non-slosh batteries but I'm not sure I know  
(or care, read on) about the differences. I've been using  
Westco/Panasonic and BMW-sealed since 1999. Yes, they once gave me no  
notice when they fail and that is often on a hot day while you are out  
riding; pre-emptive replacement at 3-4 yrs may overcome that awful  
drawback as it has for me.

I think trick charging is pure snake oil. For sure the bike's charger  
is about as crude as anything you can buy at Harbor Freight so why  
finesse the trivial (and largely needless) trickle tickle. If there are  
differences among types of batteries or different results from  
different charging regimes, can't be all too important since the crude  
bike charger makes no distinction.

Although I have an assortment of lab-grade regulated power supplies on  
my bench, I use a wall-wart $8 trickle charger that, like the paint pot  
in PhotoShop, just slowly pours juice into the battery and when the  
battery is near full, naturally tapers off and that's that.

BIG FAVOR: I'm comparing the flow rate of air filter media and would be  
grateful to get some paper/stock R1100S filters, please. Please ding me  
off-list.


If anybody wants a peek at some of my unusual mods and tools:

http://bigmail.ica.net/users/barkow/Pictures/

Cheers.

Ben                                                                      
                                               
Ben Barkow, Toronto... 40 seasons on Beemers, 45 as a biker

1961 R69s/rod, 1967-1999... really sup'ed up and fast

1984 R80RT/rod, 1998-2005  5 extra peak ponies in a wider flatter power  
band,
   much modified 2-into-1 exhaust, CR 9.5, Keihin PJ 34mm oval carbs,
   Uni filter, dual-rate springs with cartridge emulators, BT45/S11,  
Saeng fairing

1999 R1100S, 2004- Leo Vince exh, JetHot coatings, Techlusion 1031,
   large sticky foam filter, TB balance tube, debaffled exh xover, 12%  
reduced front spring, 26 inch windscreen, air horns, Diablo Stratas

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