ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Doug S on August 29, 2014, 11:41:44 PM
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Or perhaps a question about being a dumbass. For the second time now, I went outside intending to ride the bike to work, only to realize I hadn't plugged it in last night. I feel bad enough driving the car when it's a necessity, wasting precious resources (and money) and polluting the air, I really hate it when the only reason I'm doing it is because I'm a dumbass.
Does anybody else have this problem? I want to nip it in the bud before it becomes a bad habit. What do you guys do to remind yourselves that your ride isn't done until you plug in?
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Excellent a question I'm qualified to answer.
Get a second cord (of sufficient gauge)
- I ride with my spare cord in the bike and the leave the original plugged in at home.
I found myself less likely to forget to plug in when the cord is ready.
Check again (do not cover dash with gloves)
- I check the garage at night as I lock up - in addition to ensuring the overhead door is shut and lights are off - I also check for the solid (or blinking) green.
Since "double cording" I've only caught one time I've missed plugging in.
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I just plug it in after parking it every time. Just part of the routine.
I also have a cord at home and a cord that just rides with bike.
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What I do is to install the factory cord in the bike in case of emergencies or if I need to recharge while out on a ride.
At home I have a duplicate charging cord about 6 feet long and I drop it on the floor when I unplug it. Then when pushing my bike into its garage parking space next to the wall outlet. I roll over the cord with the bike or I trip over it and that reminds me to plug in the bike. ;)
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Getting a spare cord (Monoprice is pretty good - I bought two cords, one as a spare for pretty cheap) and leaving it plugged into the wall next to your bike makes it easy to form a habit of "just plug it in every time you park".
Sometimes I forget, but I have an 11.4 DS and my commute isn't huge so if I forget, I just plug in at the parking garage for my workplace.
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Doug, I've done the same thing a few times. I leave the stock power cord plugged into the wall next to where I park the bike in the garage. It's usually routine - take the helmet and gloves off, take the jacket off and lay it across the seat, grab the cord off the floor and plug it into the bike - but I've still managed to forget a few times, usually preoccupied with grabbing something out of the tank bag or answering a ringing phone, something like that. Thankfully I have a short enough commute that I can ride two days in a row without recharging. If I forget the plug two nights in a row I'm in trouble. Hasn't happened yet. Just jinxed myself, didn't I? ;D
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Do any electric autos have a docking station? It would be nice if you could ride onto a docking stand, or drop the kickstand down on a particular spot in the garage and have the bike automatically start charging. I can do it with my phone. Why not my motorcycle?
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Yes, these exist for autos by way of wireless power transmission. Auto-coupling conductive charging systems seem like they would be hard to get right.
http://www.pluglesspower.com (http://www.pluglesspower.com)