Just wanted to be sure that disconnecting the battery would protect the Ten's electrics...I'm going to bolt on some ancient BMW pannier frames in the 2 places they line up and then line up and tack weld the pannier to footrest bracket. ....probably being over cautious!, but can't risk harming the love of my life!. Steve

Usually you are OK just disconnecting the battery but, and it's a big but, "usually" doesn't guarantee every eventuality and won't cover the cost of a new ECU should something go wrong!

Remember 'The Long Way Round', when they welded up Claudio's subframe? The mechanic disconnected the battery, but still succeeded in frying the ABS control unit!

I've got away MIG and stick welding by just removing the battery in the past, but I've only ever done it on classic bikes with no electronic trickery, just an alternator/dynamo and ignition/magneto to worry about.

To be on the safe side, I'd remove the battery and disconnect the ECU. Also make sure the earth point you use is as close as possible to the area your welding - make sure the current takes the shortest route possible to earth. Make sure your earth is a good one too. Also try and avoid any welding current flowing through bearings; it doesn't do them any good.

You can get big capacitors (surge/spike protectors) to clamp across the battery terminals to protect onboard electrics so welding can be done safely with everything in situ.

TBH though, if you're only going to tack the frames to the footrest mounts and then remove them to do the welding proper, you shouldn't have much issue.

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Thanks Pleiades and Pepsi, I think the risk outweighs the gain. ...I will find a nifty way of joining the brackets where I want them and then weld them off the bike. Pleiades, it was exactly the Claudio / ABS frying incident that made me question what I was about to do! Steve

Obviously the fuel tank will be removed as well!

unplug the ECU as well to be safe...

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