Batteries and ABS on a GS1100

[mot]

Thanks for all the replies. I did do a search honest!

Will get a new battery asap. At the moment my starting routine has been...

turn ignition on, undo various locks, put helmet and gloves on, roll bike out of drive, start up, set off, curse feckin faulty ABS, ignore flashing lights, ride to work, turn off, work work work, repeat cursing and ignoring bits on way home.

I've got an optimate but not a garage so have never been able to do the constant trickle maintenance thing.

As for ABS, sometimes i can't stand the thing sometimes i like it, most times i just hate the flashing lights! Maybe my best fix would be just to pull the fuse out?

 

[Rev Chuck]

Morning lads & lasses. Done the search thingy, read the threads, and this thread - apart from the manual Tarka, which comments on the ABS scenario, and the Service Booklet which goes on about battery care - is probably the clearest help regarding the battery situation.

Was out on Wednesday up to Pitlochry, nice run, no problems.
Was out on Thursday along Scremester, nice run, no problems.
Was going out this morning for 9.30 meet. Key in ignition, no lighting up of "dashboard" or RID.
I am kind of thinking that its the battery. Fuses look ok, but with limited time to check before commenting to the rest of the guys on the rideout, I was not able to check battery - although I doubt if I would find anything there either: remember its me, the minister here.
I have never had a problem really with the ABS warning lights. Ever since I got the bike nearly 4 years ago the ABS warning lights have flashed as they are supposed to - together on start up, and then going off when I have reached about the prescribed 3mph. No probs on Wed, nor Thurs. Just nothing at all this morning.
Two further things:
1. I know I have not replaced the battery myself, nor has it been replaced at services, and while I do not have any service records from before I got it - I have no reason to doubt the BMW dealership that sold me the bike when they said it was in tip-top condition and the service record looked kosher, as the Service Book shows.
2. I have never used a trickle charger 'cos I don't lay it up during the winter and use it year round, so have never thought I needed one.
It's a glorious, "take it from my cold dead hands" '98 R1100.
So I reckon battery.

PS Why an "odyssey" and not the BMW Gel battery made by exide, or the SLA brand sealed gel battery (part no:79510) from Moto-bins?