BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Hi people - I ride a R1150R and seem to get by with a once a week 50-60 km ride (I drive too and have a lovely Honda CB Sevenfifty). My BMW gel battery seems sufficiently charged to start the R the next week.

Would someone be able to answer a technical question - how long (in hrs) or how far (in kms) would I need to ride my R for it to be fully charged?

The answer would be very helpful. Thanks!

About 2,000 miles, but you have to ride through mountainous states like Colorado and Wyoming for it to really be charged properly. If I were you I'd go ahead and get started since the hottest weather is yet to come, and you will need a good head start.

Batteries have no emotional aspects when they have had enough they let
go, the longer that you own that battery the more chance you have of
experiencing their manners.

The charge rate is dependent on the state of the battery(volt/amps) when
the motorcycle is running possibly 10 amps for at least an hour if the
battery is low, if it is ridden regularly it will charge at 2-3 amps reducing
to 1 amp when the battery is almost fully charged as the battery internal
resistance increases when fully charged allowing less current to flow
which is sensed by the alternator regulator and backs off when required
its a fully automatic process and one which is difficult to ascribe a
time / distance figure to.

Tip : batteries are like babies they like to be kept warm and will last
longer for it.

We are all at the mercy of the battery manufacturers who will try to
ensure you buy a new one every 3-5 years.

Thanks Arbee.

You are right - it tends to start a lot easier on a warm afternoon too. I had the accessory socket installed since the battery is difficult to access.

Sounds like you need a trickle charger to maintain your battery. I got a 3 amp BMW charger with my bike that plugs into the accessory socket. Couldn't be easier.

I find that commuting 12 miles each way a few times a week keeps my battery up nicely. Our roadsters have far better charging output than many other bikes.

I keep a "gel programmed" trickle charger on mine whenever I am not riding and this still happens:

1. take off charger...start bike...NO brake warning light
2. drive 2 miles to get gas b/4 ride
3. re-start bike...WARNING LIGHT COMES ON
4. drive for about 30 minutes and re-start....LIGHTS OUT!

It seems like just one start causes enough of a power drain for the ABS system to not like it.

The original battery is 2.5 years (12K miles) old and has always been tended.

I think the battery may be nearing its life's end.

Eqyn Dad wrote: I think the battery may be nearing its life's end.

I think the same. Few months ago I had the same symptoms on my bike. Then in a day he refused to start. I put new gel battery in it and the problem is solved.

Regards
Robert

Mine has failed to start only once in 4 1/2 years and 35k miles. This past Feb when it was 2 degrees above 0. Killed the battery pretty quickly. Once it got up to a blistering 12 degrees all was ok.

Wayne

btw--installed an Odessy battery last summer. Good choice too.