Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports CRF1100 Optimate Battery Charging Cable Install

Might also be titled "How NOT to fit a battery charging cable!" :)
As people have said in the comments, you'd be better off picking up a live cable under the seat and then just earthing it somewhere on the frame. There's no need to attach the cable directly to the battery. I know this now, but all of my previous bikes have had batteries that were easily accessible, so this was my first thought.
NOTE: The CRF1100 has a Lithium battery. Do not fit a standard Optimate to it as it will kill the battery!! I have a Lithium battery charger on order.
I had read that people resorted to drilling holes in the back of the battery cover (AKA the tool case), so i went down that route first, but then found a better way to do it, but it wasn't obvious at the start.

[@asirrus2]

Thanks for the video! Shame you had to go through such trouble though. After watching your video, I decided I shell avoid such anguish. I looked very carefully for alternatives. It turns out, that, if you look up from below, you discover that the battery box has a very convenient slot in it, just above the terminals. Very easy to slide the wires from the top without cutting anything. The problem is, you'll never see it, unless you get down there and look up;) Cheers

[@lockstocky2800]

I took delivery of my new AT yesterday and this was a problem I had, in the end I aborted the job until I found a video like this , good job 👍🏻

[@williamkerner]

Thanks for the video. Wow! The people at Honda didn't give any consideration to people who would like to connect a charging cable to the battery. I might just take off a large part of the back of the tool kit and put everything in there, but I'm not sure. Thanks for the video.

[@stevedupont5653]

Don t need to drill in anything mate !! Just put in my optimate cabel on mine...when toolbocx is off losen the right sccrew a bit then you abel to pull the left above site for 3 mm anough to sik both wires between plenty of space above box ! And opening is alreafy theare just make sure wires go s streath above. Optimate connector commes out by setting wheel rear suspention and then lock it down with zip tire 👍...grts from belgium...

[@geoffbrace3610]

Thanks for the vid. As a result I'm just going to take the box off and charge using the crocodile clips during periods of non use.

[@terrystratford1235]

If batt was under seat, all id do is take seat off and hook it up! Or take the batt out and charge it on the bench! Trying to fit connectors that clearly won't fit is kinda tunnel vision and not looking for alternatives ways!?

[@TomReinerDE]

Uh. I think I will rather remove that toolbox thing while I charge the battery rather than going through all that faff. Thanks for showing me, pal.

[@terrystratford1235]

Just had some Denali products attached and there was no room on the battery terminals for the charger wires! So my mechanic put the positive to the starter motor and the negative to an earth! The lead goes under my seat! Genius!!

[@brianhoward9217]

Given it has been 3 years since this vid was made, I'd be more than interested to hear how you got on by attaching a regular trickle charger to a Lithium Ion battery. My understanding is that it should not be done with a Lithium battery. I swear by Optimate and own 6 of them for my cars and bikes BUT they all use lead acid batteries. Please tell me if there's some sort of info you know about contrary to the many experts I've seen who say lithium does not respond well to trickle chargers - dangerous even. is yours a special lithium model charger - did I miss that? - or is it a regular Optimate designed for lead acid?

[@andrewkitchenuk]

By 'eck, you made a meal out of that. Rather than drilling tight holes in the back of the tool box just use a Stanley knife to cut a hole in the centre section about an inch square. You can attach the tail to the battery and then just feed the fuse through the hole. Much easier. 😊

[@DFWMotoAdventures]

great video, answered my question, thank you

[@lafemmelaMon]

The fiddly bit is the reason I started to look for solutions... 🙃

[@pierugobbc]

Thanks mate it’s really helpful.

[@barossasteve]

I fitted mine without having to go through the tool box, just had to undo the tank. Now the connection is under the seat.

[@Gap_Poughkeepsie]

great job

[@182mcg1]

Everybody fit it in battery terminal my question why

[@alaingargano1313]

bonjour j’ai installé un cable optimate sur mon africa posé en 10 mns sans perçage de la biite a outils, j’ai passé la prise de l’autre coté du cadre pour eviter que la prise touche la chaine (j’avais ey ce pribleme sur mon africa 1000) bonne journée à tous

[@upload2263]

Bonjour Alain, J'ai une crf1000 aussi, peux tu me dire pour quel câble et chargeur tu as opté pour cette installation. Merci

[@derail3791]

i wish that allen wrench was longer.. it is a royal pain in the ass using it to remove the battery cover. buy a better, longer one and use that... and stay away from ball end ones they do not seat deep enough... they will torque out...

[@derail3791]

Also it is not a lithium ion battery..... it is a lithium iron phosphate (li fe po4) ... they do have different characteristics ... :)

[@TheTango1963]

Looks painfull to do ive just purchased a 2020 and fortunately allready has one fitted thank god lol i will look over the weekend to actually see how they did it curiosity time 😂

[@MrLowTread]

I sold my AT, so you might have mine!!

[@TheTango1963]

@@MrLowTread bought from Sheffield last saturday

[@rustykrusty3689]

Greets from Russia, thanx for the vid. I've got the Optimate Lithium charger and it is provided with the same cable you use. I've used this way of connection on my previous bike with the usual battery, very convenient. But in the Opti Lithium manual I have read that it is kind of not safe to use the lithium charger for the plugged in battery not being disconnected from the motorcycle. Whom to believe? Anyone used the charger this way on new Africas?

[@asirrus2]

I did without I'll effects. YMMV

[@182mcg1]

Fans why like this use underseats starter motor selenoid and ground from frame easy

[@andrewsoldan6050]

stupid place for battery, especially if it's lit battery which is very light...

[@hibob841]

Could not agree more. I guarantee I would not have noticed the difference in weight distribution (especially after bolting on another 50-70lb of crash bars and luggage!). I certainly notice the hassle of getting to the battery, though. The air filters are another pain point. Like, what are the most common maintenance items? Probably oil change, battery, air filters in that order (though air filters may be #1 if you ride in dust/sand). How about we not bury those, please!