Thoughts On Squeezing Every Ounce of Battery Life

[lowflying]

In a word: DON'T.

My OEM '07 R12R battery finally gave up the ghost. But I was caught offguard because I didn't realize how this bike works. Some of you will be well aware of this and I probably came across the info reading this site but for some reason it didn't sink in.

I knew my battery was due for replacement as the bike was built in '06 but as it kept starting I thought I'd continue for a while. And in my experience with other older vehicles the starting bit was the critical bit - once you were going you would be okay until the next start.

Not with this technologically advanced bike! A couple of days ago, after a successful start after a coffee stop with a couple of mates, I got only a 100 metres or so when everything shut down. Apparently, as explained to me by my dealer, this bike will shutdown (which he described as a "failsafe" mode - sounds like "faildangerous" to me if you are in an awkward spot!) when it detects a battery low voltage, even if you are already running!

Just a heads up for some of you who haven't thought about this. Replacing your battery on the early side may be cheap insurance against getting stranded when you least expect it.

Cheers.

P.S. Here in Sydney the dealer wanted 331 bucks (!!!!) for a BMW AGM battery. 299 for an OEM gel-type! So I got a DEKA Powersports ETX 14 at Battery World for 215 bucks and brought it to them for installation. BMW St Peters was very helpful. Cost me only 70 bucks for them to come and get the bike and bring it the dealership for troubleshooting.

[Lost Rider]

Thanks for reminding me....

I find myself in many places that I would not want to have the bike disabled, especially if it's avoidable.


cheers

[mogu83]

I'm assuming your talking in Australian dollars. With a exchange rate of 1USD=1.11AUD I can't believe the prices you guys are paying for batteries. Did you shop around? I would never buy a battery from a dealer, their prices are way out of line and batteries are so easy to install.

[deilenberger]

+1 for the reminder. A clue the battery is getting tired (mine is a 10/06 build date) is when your GPS won't start up until you rev the engine after starting the bike.

Mine it at that point now, and I do have the new battery (Yuasa AGM) sitting on the Accucharge waiting to go in the bike.

Mebbe tomorrow if it's not too cold in the garage (would have done it today - but felt taking a ride on 01/01 was more important )

[gezerbike]

I really struggle to understand this. To hear BMW say it, they are constantly " improving " their bikes but yet they have problems with batteries. The one in my 08 RR has been done under warranty...already. I have always gone 5 + years on my Yuasa batteries in my older BMW's, meaning K bikes and Oilheads. Thinking back, even my Airheads lasted that long. My Yuasa battery in my Honda lawn trctor lasted 11 years, without ever being taken out of the tractor and seldom on a Battery Tender. Is BMW sourcing cheap batteries to hold cost ? Or are BMW's suppliers shipping poor quality and BMW is not catching it ? I've never been one to jump on BMW for some ofthe failures you read about on the 'net, primarily because in almost 20 years now on BMW's, I've never had a major issue with any of my bikes....not one. Which tells me, and this is just my opinion, is that maybe many of the issues you read abour are maybe owner/ rider related. But without question, when a sealed maintance free battery fails after a year or 2, it is obvious that it is a manufacturing problem. And that a company as image concious as BMW can't even catch these problems before they hit the street is beyond me, and to me says alot about the quality control that they are exercising over their vendors.

[hjsbmw]

I have always gone 5 + years on my Yuasa batteries in my older BMW's, meaning K bikes and Oilheads...

More or less the same here. The problems I had in the past were mainly due to weak electrics, such as on 70s/80s Suzukis. My FZ6 is on the first battery, which is going on 5 years. However, that's an inline four with 600cc, which, if it had a kick starter, you could probably start with your arm.

It could be that those Yuasa batteries are faulty, but it could be they are simply too small for the application. Although quite large, K bikes are still inline fours and are therefore easier to crank. Some of the old ones are triples, but I think these also compress less than a Boxer. The airheads were mainly under one liter. A 1200cc big twin subjects the battery to different kinds of stresses. Do Harleys and other BMW Boxers have issues? Do they use the same size batteries? Do all bikes with Yuasa batteries have early failures?

[gezerbike]

I was under the impression that the fialied batteries were not Yuasa, but Exide. Am I wrong ?

[ka5ysy]

The problem batteries are Exide. Yuasa is apparently the owner of Exide. Hmmmmmm......

I wish Optima would make some spiral cell motorcycle batteries !

[8b]

I am in that position RIGHT now! I am in NYC, ny.
Can anyone post links and prices to exact suggested batteries?
I'd liek to buy one in the next few weeks BEFORE I get stuck.
As previously mentioned by another poster, my 2007 R12R was built in 2006, so perhaps I am playing with fire using this 3+ year old battery.

Thanks for the suggestions in advance. Looking for a good or great battery at a great price.

[tinytrains]

Is there a consensus on the MTBF for a factory battery?

My 09 was built in Sept 08, so it was already a year old when I bought it.

Thanks,
Scott

[Mollygrubber]

perhaps I am playing with fire using this 3+ year old battery.

errr... Yes.

http://www.batterymart.com/p-odyssey-pc680-battery.html

I think this is it, anybody confirm? I haven't done mine (yet), but it's getting sluggish. Of course, it was 1.5C this morning, may have contributed...

Peter

[celticus]

Houz that? 1.5C?

Mark

[Mollygrubber]

Actually, it was 0.0°C on the highway, 1.5°C in my driveway. Froze my lips on the highway.

I'd give you °K, but that would make no sense at all.

Here's another battery link, 'they' say this battery is R1200R specific...
http://www.motorworks.co.uk/bmw/product ... r&x=28&y=9

They are even selling a used baboon ass rear light!

Peter

[celticus]

I have been ( or so I thought ) having some problems with my smart charger. I plug it in and it doesn't light up . Neither of the lights red or green. I checked it right after my last smart aleck submission on this forum and the volt meter said 2. something volts!! What!!?? I did drive it week before last and it started right up. My smart charger could not see it because of the low voltage. I really need to stay on top of things better.
Now where can those nice dependable inexpensive batteries be found?

Mark

[celticus]

Make me wonder if I have a short.

Mark

[vodka]

Celticus wrote "Make me wonder if I have a short."

.....is this the correct forum to divulge these personal issues?

[celticus]

har!!

[mogu83]

Celticus wrote "Make me wonder if I have a short."

.....is this the correct forum to divulge these personal issues?

Strange question for a guy that signs in as Vodka.
Snowing again on the Jersey shore.

[celticus]

Turns out that some silly jack@ss had left the radar detector turned on. I always said I wanted my accessories on a manually switched power supply and now I am thinking about putting this line on a relay. How do yous guys add the relay? I'd like to avoid getting too complicated with the wiring under the seat.

Mark

[Mollygrubber]

There's a Canbus relay available , you can tap into the running lights or other switched power source...

link here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69550

Those ADV guys know everything!

Peter