Charging the battery

[tork]

I was going to charge up my battery for the FZ8 to top it up over the winter months but I decided to read the owners manual first of all.  It said that the battery is a Valve Regulated Lead Acid battery and that a special (constant voltage) battery charger is required. Using a conventional battery charger will damage the battery. I've got an normal optimate charger that I've used on the other bikes that I've had. Does this mean that I can't use my optimate charger on the Fazer battery?

[Phil]

I've used an optimate on mine since I bought it in 2010, no idea if the battery is the same on recent models though.

[unfazed]

All Optimates chargers since 1995 are Constant Voltage Chargers, but post the model you have and I will let you know for sure

[tork]

Thanks for your comments. Nipped out to the garage in the pouring rain and found its an Oxford Oximiser. By what you are suggesting it should be ok for the fazer battery then?  The owners manual seemed to say that this was a different battery from the norm and that charging it would have to be by a special charger. Not saying that I'm easily confused but didn't want to mess up the battery.

[unfazed]

The Oxford optimiser will be fine as it is also a constant voltage charger and the OEM battery is a Yuasa YTZ10S.

[tork]

Thanks for your help guys in sorting out this easy problem for me. Much appreciated. Hope I don't have to use it for too long   

[sure2ride]

I keep my Fazer8 on an optimate all the time. Have done with all my Fazers and not had a problem yet. (famous last words )