Depends what bike and what size solar panel.

Look kind of funny with a solar panel the size of a carport roof running down the road.

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Yes it would look funny, But I’ve seen some that suction cupped to windshields to trikle charge. Obvious answer is no not at night.

 

Night or day the lights are on with US models since 1975. Unless you disable them by removing fuses as suggested before or rewire the bike.


You would do better to park the bike with the panel on it, in the sun while you get drunk. By the time you sleep it off, you will be ready to ride until the battery dies again. Leave the panel connected to slow the drain just a little bit. Once you battery dies, it will be time to get drunk again. Hopefully it dies near a beer store or you make it home before it dies.

 

Well, kinda depends. A 40 watt panel might keep the engine running, but....

You'd have to pull all the fuses for everything besides the ignition...

The 40 watt panels are something like 2ft x 4ft??

If you were going to do that, you'd probably be better off to just yank all the fuses and run off a fully charged battery. Maybe carry a spare battery.

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Too easy guys, do the math.

A 40 watt panel on a 14 volt system would be about 2.8 amps.

 

But Solar and wind are the future, or so says the tree huggers.

But what if it was a carbed bike with points and condenser.....

What if you used 2 or 3 panels

What if............

Ok, I'm done now...

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The one I saw stated 20w. Charger with controller 3A charger rate. Just under 2’ x 1’. Impracticable, just wondered if it would work to get to where you were going. Maybe I read it wrong.

 

Again, do the math.

Most panels are sold by watts, you have to read the fine print to get the operating voltage. Battery charging panels are usually 17 volt. But where they get that wattage number is a bit of smoke and mirrors. Sort of like when you buy internet band width.

But if you take it at a true 30 watts with no loss in the system, you get this.

A 30w 17v panel will have 1.7 amps.

Cut the voltage to 12v and you get 2.5 amps

At 6 volts its 5 amps

Actual results would be less, as that little box the cables come out of uses some of the power.

At the 14.5 volts of a running scooter, you get 2 amps. That wont keep a modern scooter running very long. It would extend the range of one that started out with a topped off battery. But I think your money would be better spent on buying a 30 amp charger and using it each time you have to stop. You'd prolly charge for an hour and ride for two.

 

I like norm’s reply, Solar and wind— maybe just pack a bed sheet and make a sail. Yes I was thinking older carbed bike. When I said not at night I meant because what good is a solar panel at night , not that the headlight would be on.

 

Short Answer, No.