Chit-Chat
This page is for any comments, pictures, stories or information you might want to impart to the site that don't necessarily
fit anywhere else on the website.
There are rules!
Primarily don't be rude, offensive or obnoxious, for more details CLICK HERE
See Older Posts
Upt'North ¹ said :-
The frame and rear footpeg hangers are ST11. The tank is a dummy, you can see the tank and filler just behind it in it's original position. Wheels are ST11 too.
08/03/2026 16:39:29 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Yeah if you look at the front spark plug cap compared to the middle and rear caps it's "different". Most peculiar, someone's gone to a lot of effort to give a V4 engine a V6 look. Weird, but as long as weird ain't hurting no-one weird is fine.
09/03/2026 08:14:03 UTC
nab301 said :-
I guess it's a poor mans take on a Honda Valkyrie (although the valkyrie is a flat 6 ) if the engine and transmission are good it seems well worth the money . Be interesting to see how it rides and with some custom side covers it could look ok.
Nigel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Valkyrie...
09/03/2026 16:03:09 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ay up me ducks.
Advice required, no not that, keep it clean!
Anyone got any experience of charging through the OBD2 port. Optimate make a lead with the OBD2 port on one end and the SAE on the other. Seems a good solution in an ever more complicated HEV world. Any views, experiences would be welcomed. I've put the question to Optimate and will post their response when it comes. This is for a 4 wheeled contrivance and not a motorsiccle. It would seem to be safer to go through the OBD but I'm just checking things out before I spend 20 squid on a lead.
Ta me ducks.
Upt.
10/03/2026 16:58:44 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
https://www.optimate.co.uk/battery-chargers/o37-sae-to-obd-ii-cable/...
10/03/2026 16:59:39 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
From Optimate....
Thank you for your email.
The O37 OBD connector is a very safe option for battery maintenance and will be the ideal solution for you to keep the battery in your Toyota topped up when the car is not being used.
Regards,
Benn Green
Technical Sales Advisor
10/03/2026 21:13:41 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Wow! I am surprised. Firstly because Optimate actually got back to you and secondly I didn't think it'd be a good idea to charge through the OBD2 port. I know there's a 12v feed to the OBD2 port as my el-cheapo fault code reader has no battery but it wakes up when it's plugged into the port. I would have thought the 12v wires to the OBD2 port would be quite thin, only designed to provide an amp or so for any attached equipment. I wouldn't want to be back-feeding a hefty charge through an OBD2 port.
I suppose the Optimate is a battery TENDER as opposed to a battery CHARGER. It's designed to feed a small current to the battery to keep it topped up rather than a dollop of amps to quickly recharge.
On an OBD2 side note I purchased a OBD2 port to 4 pin thingy that fits in the CB500X's little red diagnostic port. My el-cheapo scanner can now read the basics from my Honda. Woohoo!
11/03/2026 07:55:15 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I'm a bit surprised as well but if optimate thinks it's OK and you have that in writing then I assume they will pick up the tab if your ecu gets fried.
My solution was to use the permanent live on the 12 pin trailer socket on my car. It's handy because the car's still locked and indeed would still work even if the battery was dead. Some years ago my wife left the headlights on with her car and flattened the battery rendering the central locking inoperative. For some reason I couldn't get to the key operated door lock. After a few choice words I remembered my AA patrol days and manage to break in using a wire coathanger and a tyre lever. No damage was caused.....
Oddly enough, breaking into cars wasn't covered in the AA training course but it was one of the more common call outs, especially Ford Escorts for some reason. The only ones I could never get into were VW bugs (the originals).
11/03/2026 09:43:03 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I spoke to my man Michael last night, mechanic extraordinaire. Well, I was actually helping him put a rodent strip on the bottom of the garage door, his Aston has been spied by the mice from hell.
He said it's the norm now apparently, OBD is the way to go.
It shall be ordered forthwith.
Upt.
11/03/2026 11:32:48 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Well every day is a school day. Still - I wouldn't recommend actually shunting many amps through the OBD2 port.
As for you hanging out with folks who own an "Aston" - well aren't you moving in the upper echelons of society eh? Do you come here to slum it?
11/03/2026 12:08:28 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Yes.
11/03/2026 12:35:47 UTC
Glyn said :-
The OBD 2 port can take up to 5 Amps. I didn’t realise that it had a permanent 12volt supply though. The optimate battery conditioner / charger that I use on the bikes puts out approximately 2 Amps. However, if you’ve got a 100 Amp battery it’ll take more than 50 hours to charge because of the clever way it brings the battery up to full charge.
11/03/2026 15:08:20 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I believe it's a 60 amp battery Glyn. I just want to eliminate the seemingly regular issue with HEV cars of the 12V battery being borderline for extended rest periods. If we had to leave it on charge through the optimate for a day or more upon our return then it would be fine.
Our Hyundai Mild Hybrid 48V is a little temperamental and after 2 weeks or so whilst it will start all the menu's, of which there are many, reset and leave you scratching your head to reset the same.
Thanks for the 5 amp information, you're a very helpful chap. I'll buy you a drink later.
Upt.
11/03/2026 16:49:31 UTC
nab301 said :-
Upt , your post sent me down a few rabbit holes on mild hybrids, including some sort of a regen button if the 12v battery discharges after lay up. what does the car manufacturer suggest in terms of the " 12v static battery life" ? It would be interesting to know what the acceptable parasitic drain is. I know that the optimate literature states a max of 5 amps through the obd port but also the optimate email mentions Toyota while you mention Hyundai! Afaik Toyota hybrids like the prius don't have a 12v battery.
Nigel
13/03/2026 13:47:01 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I think, being a bloated plutocrat, he has 2 cars Nigel......
13/03/2026 15:38:30 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Someone once said that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result".
I have just sold the Royal Enfield HNTR.
Some of you will remember, I have been here before.
Same reason as selling the Suzuki Inazuma, 20 bhp just restricts my riding.
Although having two bikes is nice, I only really need one.
Wait; what do I know. I am clearly insane!!
13/03/2026 16:54:29 UTC
nab301 said :-
Rod , did you sell it to Ren, he's been without two bikes for far too long now !
Nigel
13/03/2026 17:17:54 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
I think 20bhp would be a bit low for Ren, especially as Sharon is going for bigger and more powerful bikes.
And of course it is not a Honda.
13/03/2026 22:02:59 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Nidger, we have a mild hybrid Hyundai 48V. This certainly struggles after a couple of weeks of lay up. The Toyota has got the 1.5 litre HEV 177V set up. They both have 12V running batteries. From the interwebthingymabob it would seem that lots of hybrids struggle on lay ups and I'm hoping that a trickle charge to Er'Indoors Toyota will make all the difference as and when a longer period of none use occurs. Manufacturers will only tell you that regular use is required.
I am also hoping that our use of fewer but longer runs may negate the need for extra charging but time will tell. We seldom do journeys of less than 15 miles each way.
My opinion so far is that the Hyundai uses an over complicated, clunky and probably unnecessary 48V system to achieve mid 50's mpg; the Toyota which we've only had a week makes better use of the larger volt system, it's better thought out with EV only use and potentially achievable 70 mpg plus.
I wouldn't run either without a manufacturer's warranty, 5 years for the Hyundai and 10 for the Toyota.
Upt.
13/03/2026 23:39:12 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I wonder whether there is a parasitic drain on the 12 volt battery, perhaps connected (pun intended) by its being somehow feeding into the electric drive system? I don't know whether it would be possible to temporarily put an ammeter in the main battery connection and see if that shows anything amiss?
14/03/2026 10:01:14 UTC
Name
Comment
Add a RELEVANT link (not required)
Upload an image (not required) -
Uploading...