1150 GS Battery...

[TaDa]

Mine's dead (0.225V no load) - Are there any recommendations for replacements and/or sourcing them?

Sadly I live nowhere near a BMW dealership so I'm guessing I'll be buying online - is this a good or bad idea?

 

[John Armstrong]

Motorworks sell the same battery as the OEM one, and they'll deliver it

 

[bumpmuncher]

http://www.james-sherlock.co.uk/default.asp
too far away

 

[TaDa]

Thankee kindly - I'll have a chat with them during the week.

I've no intention on letting the battery go flat again - is it ok to charge the battery via the 'accessory' plug - or should I install something more meaty like a jump-start connector?

Any suggestions - could/should I make my own?

 

[davegs]

Battery

Plug ok for charging but don't ever try jump starting it from here though!!!!.

 

[Ash]

Any motorist center/shop will get you a battery.
goy my last one by 1.00pm sameday.

 

[Packer]

Thankee kindly - I'll have a chat with them during the week.

I've no intention on letting the battery go flat again - is it ok to charge the battery via the 'accessory' plug - or should I install something more meaty like a jump-start connector?

Any suggestions - could/should I make my own?

On an 1150GS, beside the accessory plug is a rubber cap that covers a steel knob. On the rear of the cylinder is a similar knob screwed straight into the metal. These are the positive (beside the plug) and negative (earth, on the cylinder) connectors for the battery. Charge with these or jump start with them, no probs

The above may only apply to the later ones, mine is a November '03.

 

[wessie]

http://www.tayna.co.uk/ have a choice of batteries. I'd go for the Westco.

 

[warmshed]

I use an optimate in the accessory socket, even fitted one on my Velocette to keep that charged too, quick to plug in and remove. Optimate do a BMW plug for the charger.

Have you considered a Hawker oddysey battery pc680? good price on ebay, delivered. They have a high start current and are fully maintenance free. They can be left for long durations without damage and seem to last for years.

 

[Packer]

My original battery is almost 7 years old and still good. I wil replace it with another OE item or buy what is probably the same battery from Exide who I believe supply the OE unit to BMW.

Don't waste your money on Optimates or any other trickle charger unless your bike sits unused for extended periods of time. There are dozens of stories on here from people who keep their bike on a trickler and only discover that the battery is dying when it's already dead, the steady demise hidden by the trickler. I'd rather it failed to start at home or even gave me a clue of impending trouble with sluggish cranking.

 

[Welshman]

On an 1150GS, beside the accessory plug is a rubber cap that covers a steel knob. On the rear of the cylinder is a similar knob screwed straight into the metal. These are the positive (beside the plug) and negative (earth, on the cylinder) connectors for the battery. Charge with these or jump start with them, no probs

The above may only apply to the later ones, mine is a November '03.

Are you sure, I thought that only came on GSA models not GS?

 

[motobiker]

Have you considered a Hawker oddysey battery pc680? good price on ebay, delivered. They have a high start current and are fully maintenance free. They can be left for long durations without damage and seem to last for years.

you forget to mention the minor detail that it's not a straight swap. the electrodes are in a different position. easily sorted, if you can be bothered with the faffing around.

The Original battery is maintenance free. nothing special about that, its common to all GEL batteries and is more than up to the job of starting these bikes.. which after all is its sole purpose.

I have an optimate, I haven't used it for almost a year. (its not for sale though)

 

[warmshed]

Optimates are not gel batteries they are AGM

 

[dancerdave]

Optimates are not gel batteries they are AGM

 

[wessie]

For someone who claims to be a sparks in their profile, the misidentification is a little worrying, isn't it? Warmshed might become veryfukkinghotshed

 

[TaDa]

Ok, so I should just go with a plain and simple one then - I'll probably avoid ebay for this - I'm just a little uncomfortable with that much money for a battery off ebay.

Cheers people!

 

[Packer]

Are you sure, I thought that only came on GSA models not GS?

I can't speak for SA spec bikes but mine is definitely a standard GS with the terminals.

 

[motobiker]

'Jump start post'

My bike definitely doesn't have one of these. easy enough to retro fit. However, what's the point?

The cover is only held on by one very simple fixing, just pop it off and connect directly.

 

[waterloo700]

'Jump start post'

My bike definitely doesn't have one of these. easy enough to retro fit. However, what's the point?

The cover is only held on by one very simple fixing, just pop it off and connect directly.

I've just fitted one of those extra terminals - 12 quid - and I hope I never need it.

If you do go for the cover off option - good luck. You will probably get away with it but - bloody big positive clamp next to all that earthed metalwork - and it will be dark, freezing cold and p!ssing down

For what its worth I think the extra terminal is a neat add on.

 

[TaDa]

After many kind (and some sarcastic) wishes I have actually ordered a replacement battery (and charging post kit).
I chose an OE one from motorworks mostly because the other links seemed to no longer exist
Hopefully one day soon I will fit it!