Looking after brand new battery fitted to bike - Optimate 3

[Tempest]

After pretty much not using my Firestorm for a year (hangs head in shame - but I did keep polishing it!) I went into garage to get things up and going again.
I found the battery had almost totally died, It was taking a bit of a charge, but was showing it's age as would not hold a charge very long at all if left, and the Storm does need a nice healthy battery to get the fuel into carbs if it's not been started for over a week.

So, time to prize open the wallet with my trusty crowbar and buy a new one. I bought a brand new, lovely quality Yuasa battery, got it fitted all lovely back into my Firestorm.

Also, at the same time I fitted to the battery the Optimate charging lead, so I can just plug in the Optimate charger to the end of this lead at any time without even having to remove my seat.

So, all lovely again, and Storm is a happy bunny once more.

Now, my main question..........................

What's my very best way of looking after this battery, seeing that:

A: I only ride my bikes for enjoyment on some weekends.
B: Over winder, the bikes may sit for months un-ridden. (only lovingly polished!)

I don't really want to physically remove/disconnect the battery as if I decide the weather is nice and I'll have a run, I don't want to mess about refitting things.

I have the "Optimate 3" charger as you can see here: http://www.optimate3.com/classic/

I don't really want to burn them out? with being on charge for months at a time, and I don't want the new battery to die or in any way be damaged through lack of use.

So I welcome your thoughts on the very very best way to look after my new battery given long possible periods of inactivity.

Many Many thanks

[Stratman]

Connect to Optimate. Leave switched on. That's how they are designed to operate.

[BIGANDYREDVTR]

I have always left my bikes wired up and plugged in (albeit with an accumen) and i hardly ever get time to ride them!! never been let down once! even left the Blackbird of speed powered up for over 8 months! no worries

[AMCQ46]

Connect to Optimate. Leave switched on. That's how they are designed to operate.

what he said +1

I will add that you MUST NOT leave the charger attached to the battery when it is switched off.........it will drain the battery.

How do I know this? Wife needed to plug in the outside Xmas lights and decided to unplug the Optimate, as she needed more sockets.............battery was flat as f*ck

[Tempest]

Thanks for replies so far, I was expecting a few more replies, perhaps not many people either have an optimate charger or don't leave their bikes unridden hardly ever.

Thanks for letting me know about the danger of leaving charger attached but not plugged into mains.

I must admit, I'm not 100% keen on leaving on charge all the time, for months on end, even with optimate.
Only cos I know heat kills batteries, and with other batteries you get memory effect and all things like that.

I of course don't want to let the battery run too low, but also I guess feel it may not be good to be feeding juice into it continuously.

I suppose in truth, I'm wondering how long to leave a battery between, say, overnight, or all day charges?

[AMCQ46]

the optimate is designed to alter its charge in reaction to the state of the battery, so it is not charging all the time, but monitoring and charging when needed.

NOT all chargers have this, and they would boil the battery if left on for weeks

[tony.mon]

Memory effect only affects NiCads.

LiFePo4 batteries are affected by some strange things, but lead acid and gel types are fine connected as recommended.