Any charger or 'battery tender' that is computerized and will 'float' the battery will greatly extend the battery life. Trickle charging a battery often or for long periods of time is a sure way to kill it fairly quickly. Solar panels trickle charge, at least those I'm familiar with, and will keep battery shops in business.

 

Many of the new chargers are now including a float mode for storage. Also many of the new battery chargers need to be special to be used on a Glass Matt batteries like a Optima.

 

My tenders & charger are 'floaters' & made for the AGM batteries & wet batteries, Harley used AGM batteries a lot...

 

The tender was a WALLY WORLD purchased item - It came with the QUICK Connect which was a HUGE Selling point to me - knowing I could simply plug it in like my laptop - Hehehehehe It was probably just the bad battery to begin with (Cheap) This year when I replaced it I purchased a battery that had at least a 2 yr warranty. I'm going to simply keep starting the bike over the winter months this year. About every couple weeks. I keep it stored in our retail store (Back room) it stays at about 50 degrees at the coldest....I'm still alittle scepticle to use the tender - but I may......we'll see.....

 

I have a tender but I just bought the new Optima Charger. This is one nice unit. It does all batteries and even will charge my cell phone.

They are not cheap but with my discount at work it was resonable. That is also why I bought the Battery Tender too it was so cheap I would be crazy not to get it. Even at retail they are a good buy.