Replacement Battery

[Tundra Dweller]

I bought a Motobatt AGM, topped it off with a charge, installed it, put the tank back on and buttoned it all up, hit the starter to hear clicks.....!
Checked the voltage and found 9.6 volts. Returned it and now starting to read issues with the brand. Great news since I also put one in the Sertao.
What are you guys using for replacement batteries. I did see Odyssey PC680 was used by some.
Thanks!

[towerworker]

+1 on the PC680. I think it's pretty hard to beat. Use an appropriate battery tender in the winter if you park it.

[EasyBee]

Sorry, I'm a happy MotoBatt MB51814 user. Have had it for 5 years now. Did you buy the same type?
There's always the possibility of a bad battery. Didn't you want a replacement and just your money back?
"topped it off with a charge" Why? Just put it in and ride the bike. Did you use an appropriate battery charger/tender?
I hear good things about the PC680.

[towerworker]

One of the drawbacks to the R1150 is battery location. It's a pain to get to. Whatever battery you use be sure to use the appropriate tender/charger. So many different types of battery chemistry. All tenders are not created equal!

[Buckster]

+2 on PC 680. I just replaced my old one. It was 8 years old! 39k miles!

[AZBMWRIDER]

Sounds like you got a defective battery .
It does happen .
Any date of manufacture on the battery ??
I also agree with the choice of a PC680 battery .
You don't have your location on you're profile, but there are some ' generic ' AGM type batteries available .

http://www.staabbattery.com/product/UB12220-V.html

I've used this battery in the oilhead and airheads, Guzzi .
I got about the same service life as a PC680 .

Don't know if anyone would be interested, but I have a non-ABS bike and have installed a second battery, where the ABS unit would be .
In low temps here, the single battery is just barely able to start the bike when it's been sitting outside at work for 18 hours .
I found a local source for a lower AH AGM battery .

http://www.gruberpower.com/12-volt-18-a ... ah-battery

My employer does business with this company and I get wholesale pricing, last purchase in January, I got them for $25 each .

[Tundra Dweller]

Thanks for the replies. I'm sure there are batteries that are defective when new though I have never had a Yuasa battery that was bad.
I have been reading some bad reviews about Motobatt's being bad or not lasting as long as a AGM should. I assume the Chinese mfg. does not test them. As for charging a new Battery they are NEVER at full charge when purchased. It's been sitting on a shelf at the factory then at the distributor till it is sold. Even after filling wet cell's I let them sit overnight then charge them with my Deltran Battery tender. They always take a charge. I will order a PC680. Hey....I had to pull the tank anyway to replace the quick disconnect fuel lines.

[Buckster]

The PC 680 does come fully charged. You can always check it to make sure.

[gregor]

Ditto for the PC680. I use an Optimate 4 battery tender and its been permanently connected when the bikes been in my garage for the past 6 years.

[towerworker]

While you have the tank off it'd be a good opportunity to do a coolant flush and change the antifreeze in the radiators.

[dandeldesierto]

I shopped around for a battery, the best deal was one at Beemer Boneyard for under $100. Since I've done quite a bit of business there, and the CCA rating of their battery was "way up there" and have been helped by them at times; I trust their judgment. So, for me, it's Beemer Boneyard.

[gregor]

Which battery did you buy? We're talking about durability and the PC680 is ahead at present.

[CycleRob]

Don't know if anyone would be interested, but I have a non-ABS bike and have installed a second battery, where the ABS unit would be.

I'm interested in the installation! There is some good logic for using 2 batteries, even inexpensive $25 ones, as they would be under-stressed -and- easily kept charged by the OilHead's 700 Watt, 50 Amp alternator.

[AZBMWRIDER]

Cylerob, it was an easy installation .

The compartment for the ABS unit is smaller at the bottom than the top, I used a piece of 2x4 lumber as a filler for this void, then I placed a piece of high density foam, then the battery .

I picked up two either 6 or 8 inch battery cables from an auto parts store, the holes for the bolts were way too large, so I ground down some large area steel washers to fit on each side the battery cable .

You will probably need a few pieces of foam to take up the extra space in the ABS holder, my battery needed this .

I also placed some foam on top of the extra battery, didn't know what kind of clearance there was with the battery and the tank .

At least in my case there was plenty of space between the battery and the tank .

[dbqlaw]

Just installed the PC 680 in the last few weeks. Is heavier in weight than the BMW model it replaced. Had to install 3/4' of shim in bottom of battery compartment as the PC 680 is slightly shorter than the factory battery, and so the battery strap was not tight. Had a machinist friend cut the shim out of aluminum, dropped it in and now strap is tight.

[Tundra Dweller]

While you have the tank off it'd be a good opportunity to do a coolant flush and change the antifreeze in the radiators.

[Hyja1]

Wanted to add that I installed a PC 680 in my 2002 r1150 a few years ago. It only lasted a year. I don't ride frequently and had it on a standard battery tender plus. After a year or so, it wouldn't hold a charge anymore. After some research, I'm sure my tender ruined the battery. i went back to the BMW gel battery which has always given me around four years of performance. I have it on a gel programmed tender and it's trouble free.

So, just wanted to vouch for Towerworkers warning that if you use a tender on the PC680, make sure it's compatible.

[Sunbeemer]

The problem with having two batteries in a parallel circuit is if they are different ages and/or Ah ratings the battery with less capacity will charge up quicker and the alternator will stop charging the other one, which, because it never gets fully charged, reduces its capacity and longevity. So to make both batteries last, use two that are the same type and age...

[AZBMWRIDER]

I always change the batteries in pairs, I use the same battery for both, I usually get batteries that are less than 2 months old .

All of my bikes are on the same schedule for battery changes, and a few coworkers use this same battery in their bikes, so it's not unusual to order 10 batteries at a time, that's one of the reasons I get them so cheap ..