New battery recommendations

[Aitch]

After my long winters nap, it seems I'm in the market for a new battery. Having never purchased a battery for this bike, I'm soliciting recommendations from those with experience.
My local dealer has BMW and Westco batterys at $120 & $110 respectively.

Thanks,
Aitch

[TicTac50]

I use only "ODYSSEY" battery.
Best choice for the money.
http://www.batterymart.com/p-odyssey-pc680-battery.html
I don't know if this one comes with "L" shape adapters, but you will need them too.
Good Luck.

[boxermania]

Odyssey seems to be one of the brands favored by this forum. I had my original battery last 5+ years and then replaced it with a Yuasa with the foam technology which I have used on my other bikes with no issues. Westco is another one favored around this board.

[Aitch]

Local battery house has the PC680 for ~$95 +tax. Local BMW dealer has the Westco for $110 + tax.
Are there any fit issues with the Oddesy PC680?

Thanks,

Aitch

[Airman]

Local battery house has the PC680 for ~$95 +tax. Local BMW dealer has the Westco for $110 + tax.
Are there any fit issues with the Oddesy PC680?

Thanks,

Aitch

I have the PC680 with the plastic case. No fit issues. I have read that the metal cased "Mil Spec" battery is a little bigger, but have never heard of them not fitting the battery box. I think these batteries are great. They have different charging requirments when discharged, but I put mine on the trickle charger when I come in at night just like the original with no trouble. I think if discharged they need a good shot of amperage.

[stevedore]

Local battery house has the PC680 for ~$95 +tax. Local BMW dealer has the Westco for $110 + tax.
Are there any fit issues with the Oddesy PC680?

Thanks,

Aitch

Just put a PC680 in my '04. The BMW unit that I removed was a little taller and the retaining strap does not hold the PC in place. I have to get some foam to raise the battery.
I paid a little over $ 100.00 for the PC, if you can get a BMW for $ 110.00 or so I would go with that as the foam and brackets are just another pain.

[Airman]

Local battery house has the PC680 for ~$95 +tax. Local BMW dealer has the Westco for $110 + tax.
Are there any fit issues with the Oddesy PC680?

Thanks,

Aitch

Just put a PC680 in my '04. The BMW unit that I removed was a little taller and the retaining strap does not hold the PC in place. I have to get some foam to raise the battery.
I paid a little over $ 100.00 for the PC, if you can get a BMW for $ 110.00 or so I would go with that as the foam and brackets are just another pain.

On my `03 the rubber strap is a little loose, but not much. I think if I had an issue with it I would just put a micarta strip across the top of the battery to snug the strap up. Or... move the hook the strap attaches to on the battery box down a little. Putting a 1/4" micarta plate under the battery wouldn't be a bad idea either. There's plenty of room between the battery and tank. I also remembered something about this installation. Some people think you should buy the 90 degree copper tabs to mate with the stock cable ends. I just bent mine over and they fit well enough for me.





And before anyone asks me, no, you can't mount the relay for the AP-2 on the side of the battery box. I was pretty pleased with myself until I tried to reinstall the tank and found the tank support runs into that relay. it was a great place for it too.....

[Aitch]

Thanks for the pics airman. I went ahead and got the PC680. It was the most convenient and least expensive of my choices.
If the weather cooperates I'll try the exchange tomorrow.
Looking at the Service and Technical manual, it's going to be more of a chore than I anticipated. This is my first battery exchange with this bike. Any helpful hints?

[Sunbeemer]

Take your time and keep track of where all the screws that hold the oil coolers and their covers came from. Also, there are two star-head bolts you have to remove from under the subframe, i.e on either side of the rear wheel well about even with the canister, plus four under the seats to remove the side panels. If you need to remove these, remember that they have a keyhole notch at the rear, so you must slide them forward about an inch or so before you can pull them away from the subframe, and if you have the stock system case brackets, you will have to loosen them to get enough clearance to remove the side panels. It sounds worse than it is, but it does take some extra time.

When reinstalling the tank, be sure the rubber bushing in the end of the support has the metal bushings snugged up inside of it or it won't fit in the bracket. You may have to use a small pry bar (aka screwdriver) to lever it into place so you can put the bolt through.

Mark the two vacuum hoses as they are exactly the same and must not be confused when reassembling. This is a common source of poor engine operation, and can damage your charcoal gas vapor canistor.

Also mark the fuel line quick disconnects as they also are not interchangeable, and the bike will not run if reconnected incorrectly.

And last, the rear part of the fuel pump connector plug unplugs toward the rear of the bike. The fron of the plug is attached to the frame. Don't forget to reconnect it when reassembling!

Oh, and really the last thing is to check that the throttle cables, especially the right side, are still seated in their ferrules above the throttle bodies aster you've got it all back together. Somehow the ends of the calbes (especially the right one)have a tendancy to be pulled up and out of the adjuster ferrule and often will not reseat without a little help from you. You'll notice the bike running on one cylinder if this happened.

When everything is back together, with the new battery, turn the key to the on position without starting and open the throttle full wide two times and then shut the ignition of to reset the Motonic computer calibration of the Throttle Position Sensor.

When you go to ride offafterward, you may initially get a slight hiccup or even a stall in the first minute or so as the air bubble in the previously opened fuel line makes it way to the injectors. This should only happen just the one time and then you're good to go.

Good Luck. I put the PC-680 in mine last month and was amazed at the difference in cranking speed. It's a good choice.

[Aitch]

Rich, that's very helpful information. Thank you for taking the time.

[bmwdave52]

I'm on my second "ODYSSEY" since '01. No problems fitting it in.
You'll love this battery.

[Buckster]

Good advice from Rich. When taking the fuel vent lines apart, leave the barb on 1 line from the tank and on the other leave the barb on the line furthest away from the tank. You wont have to mark them, but there is no way to re-hook them up wrong....I found this out the hard way!! The fuel quick diconnects can not be hooked up backwards being that one line from the tank has the male fitting on it and the other line from the tank has the female fitting on it.

Just a side note...if you ever change you QD's, do one at a time. That way you don't mix the lines up. That didn't happen to me, but there was a post on this not to long ago.