if the battery is getting weaker, it either means your charging system is failing, or the battery is losing capacity... if you have a weak battery, the tender "masks" it...then when you dont have the tender (riding out to an event or something) the problem pokes it's ugly head up. that's all i'm saying..if it can be charged, and it's fine then so be it, but if it's toast, and I can't tell because it's been on a tender.. i'm going to be pissed when i try to start it later without the tender.