Hi, new SD 990 owner here, still reading through the manual and saw "jump start the bike is not recommended"?!

I won't be riding the bike much so there's a possibility that the battery will be too weak at some point (I'll try to get a battery tender soon). Is it really going to damage the bike if I jump start it? If not, what is the correct procedure? Thanks!

Well. I have jump stared my Sd on a few occasions because long term ownership will guarantee that at some point your battery will fail to crank the engine one morning. And I never experienced any harm. But the biggest issue is getting to the battery terminals to do this as they are a pain to get to. What I would really recommend is that next time you have to take the belly pan off install an Optimate lead or something similar and have the connection tucked away somewhere easily reachable. That way you can just plug in a trickle charge or boost the battery when you need to. It has saved me many hours of hassle over the years.

Battery position and access on the SD suck big time. As does the position of the regulator. I'd pick up a spare on E bay for when yours packs up

Have jump started mine several times - easiest to connect positive to starter relay positive from battery and negative to earth from battery negative.

Got it, thanks.

Contemplated jump starting mine today but didn't in the end. Wouldn't start half an hour before MOT test. Like the guys above say get an optimate or other intelligent charger. And get a lead attached. I've done both and my battery was indicating charged but wasn't holding it enough to turn the motor. New battery needed.

I have done it a few times without issue. Pain in the arse removing the belly pan but I just hook up too the where the +ve terminal connects to the relay.
Optimate is your best friend, get one or go lithium.

Don't jump thru' an Optimate or similar trickle charger battery connector, it'll fry and melt the connector wires.

If there is enough juice to prime the fuel pump ect couldn't you just apply jump leads to starter motor terminals and start the bike that way?? Or is there a big downside to trying that? They are really easy to get to.

The previous owner said he put in a lithium battery, is lithium going to retain charge better (i.e. last longer without trickle charger)? If so how long is "safe"? I may not ride it for as long as 2~3 weeks.