Power consumption when stopped

[Urban Coyote]

Out of curiosity, I have a rather trivial question. I’m wondering if the bike is using any power when it is stopped? I usually don’t bother to turn off my bike when I stop for a break, and it turns off by itself after about 10 minutes, I think. Is it better to actually turn the bike off? Also, does having the key in the on or off position have any effect on power consumption? Thank you.
Ian

 

[AHicks]

With the bike motionless and key turned on, I don't know the specifics, but think it's a safe bet there's some internal house keeping going on in the controller, as well as the display. Maybe not a lot, but why leave it turned on so somebody can walk over and drive off with it, or in the case of kids, have them bump the throttle and wind up in a heap on top of, or under, the bike? I'd call leaving it on a bad habit....

 

[teskow]

My RC says it is drawing 4 watts when stopped. Six if the head light is on. Yes, the display shuts off automatic in a few minutes but the green master switch light on the battery will stay on forever, I believe.
Juiced told me it would take days for the green battery LED to run down the battery. I have found it on after about two days and couldn't really detect that it ran the battery down any significant amount though.
I imagine every brand bike is differant though.

 

[sc00ter]

I've never noticed any difference in battery range if I leave the key ON or OFF, and I forget to turn it OFF all the time lately. And yes, it'll turn its self off automatically after awhile. Don't think it makes any noticeable difference either way. Now cold weather will affect battery range as well as high heat.

 

[Newby]

Like Ahicks I turn mine off in case someone thought to take it for a ride when my back is turned. I could run them down if the bikes power is off, but could not if it is powered on.

 

[AHicks]

I maybe mis-spoke in my first response. I thought we were talking about turning the display off - not the key. This may be because my key is only used when removing the battery pretty much. Display off/key on shouldn't draw any power. Not on anything I've owned anyway. -Al

 

[Dallant]

Of course it’s using energy. Your display is on. Your motor has power running to it so you can see info from it on your display. Your lights and wiring has energy going out to them. I think of it like having appliances plugged in even when you’re not using them.
The real question in my mind is how much energy and would it use more or less to turn it off and on.

 

[Urban Coyote]

Thank you to everyone for the replies. I think I will get in the habit of turning the key off whenever I’m off the bike. That will probably conserve power, and also, as a couple of people pointed out, prevent anyone from riding off with the bike!

 

[RangerDave]

Just make sure you turn it to the “key off” position and not the “unlock” position. That way it is still locked to the bike and someone can’t just lift it off the mount and walk away with it.

RangerDave