Hi I'm new to the site and dont know my way around yet, I'm sure my question must have been covered many times before but at this stage I dont know where to find the answers. Basically I am looking for advice on the best battery for my bike (2004 1200GS) I am not into the seriously heavy stuff and the bike gets moderate use with not a lot of accessories fitted. I have found that with the lack of use recently although the existing battery is on charge it is very sluggish to turn over, it will eventually start. I am just a bit wary it will dump me one day. All advice gratefully received.
Batteries
- Thread starter chingus
- Start date
Do you have an optimate or similar charger, if so that would give you an indication of battery health, fyi my bikes a 2012 gsa and it feels sluggish in this weather. Any battery of correct spec should be fine, ones supplied by bmw are stupidly expensive and unnecesssary.
My bike is on the optimate at moment and not showing any issues, if yours is similar and your still worried why not just fork out for breakdown cover, some really cheap deals out there, you can even pay with
clubcard vouchers if you have them (rac) and if you take personal cover your also covered in any vehicle
There was an Odyssey(spelling?) battery fitted to mine when I bought it in 2008 (2006 GSA). Never let me down. Never been on a trickle charger even when not used from Oct untill March.
I think they cost a bit more but probably worth it. MaKe sure the terminals can't short out on the seat height adjustment bar though.
Deleted account 190920001
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Just get the exide battery from motoworks or somewhere like that. Its exactly the same battery that your bike came with but without the BMW stamp on it and is loads cheaper. If you want to trade up then an Odyssey battery is about the same price as the BM one but a better battery allegedly.
Humbug
Registered user
Do you have an optimate or similar charger, if so that would give you an indication of battery health, fyi my bikes a 2012 gsa and it feels sluggish in this weather. Any battery of correct spec should be fine, ones supplied by bmw are stupidly expensive and unnecesssary.
My bike is on the optimate at moment and not showing any issues, if yours is similar and your still worried why not just fork out for breakdown cover, some really cheap deals out there, you can even pay with
Hi Thanks for that, the battery has been on an Optimate long term but I am suspecting that it also has a problem, after I started the bike I put a normal charger on it and it showed the battery was only half charged, so I cant be sure if my battery is on its way out or the Optimate is goosed, next job is the check the Optimate. None the less the battery in the bike is the one that was fitted when I bought the bike a year ago so Im still tempted to change it.
Thats uesful, thanks
If you can, prise the top off your battery and check the electrolyte levels (goggles, gloves, careful etc etc). If they're low, then top up with de-ionised water.
The boxer engine turns over slowly anyway. My 2005 was slow, until late last year (2012) when the battery finally died. It looked like it was the original battery. I bought an Exide (very cheap at trade price
) and it's been fine. It does have an optimate connected most of the time though.
The boxer engine turns over slowly anyway. My 2005 was slow, until late last year (2012) when the battery finally died. It looked like it was the original battery. I bought an Exide (very cheap at trade price
) and it's been fine. It does have an optimate connected most of the time though.
hi chingus
if you find you do need a replacement battery then i have used these before
http://www.tayna.co.uk/
quick delivery and very well packed
motorworks are as good as anyone though as marki says, can't fault the service ive had from those chaps
if you find you do need a replacement battery then i have used these before
http://www.tayna.co.uk/
quick delivery and very well packed
motorworks are as good as anyone though as marki says, can't fault the service ive had from those chaps
Dahoum
Registered user
Click the 'search' button in the blue bar above -
Click on 'advanced search' in the box that appears
In the 'key word/s' box type 'battery'
In the 'search forums' box select '1200 hexhead'
hey presto - 500 pages of threads for you to look through
Simples.
Oh - Odyssey every time for me. Bike is never on an Optimate and parked outside all the time - batteries last 3-4 years min. occasional o/night charge in deepest winter.
Click the 'search' button in the blue bar above -
Click on 'advanced search' in the box that appears
In the 'key word/s' box type 'battery'
In the 'search forums' box select '1200 hexhead'
hey presto - 500 pages of threads for you to look through
Simples.
Oh - Odyssey every time for me. Bike is never on an Optimate and parked outside all the time - batteries last 3-4 years min. occasional o/night charge in deepest winter.
Thanks for the tip
If you can, prise the top off your battery and check the electrolyte levels (goggles, gloves, careful etc etc). If they're low, then top up with de-ionised water.
The boxer engine turns over slowly anyway. My 2005 was slow, until late last year (2012) when the battery finally died. It looked like it was the original battery. I bought an Exide (very cheap at trade price
When you replaced the battery was it still slow on cranking ?
It was faster than the old battery, but still slow compared to a Jap 4 cylinder bike. It's how they are.
Tappety Tapped in MMXIII
Tappety Tapped in MMXIII
I've just replaced the OEM battery on my 1200GSA after nearly 5 years. I still had all the green lights showing on the Optimate and it was reading a healthy 12.68 volts on a multimeter. However, it was on the way out as it was increasingly finding it hard to start the bike and once or twice it was really struggling - hardly turning the engine over at all. You need to get the battery load tested somwhere to really tell if the battery is goosed or not. I bit the bullet and fitted an Odyssey.
Yeah I figured that mine was perhaps slower than it should be cranking, I' going to fully charge the battery and see how it is then. With the advice Ive received on this thread and the links I reckon it wouldnt be to extravagant to replace the thing, at least then I can be sure.
Bendy toy
Registered user
Mine is sluggish but always starts - so far anyway. It will be replaced with one of these. Not cheap but has 2x the cold cranking amps (410CCA from 12 cell) and it will outlast the bike (claimed 10 years life) so can be swapped to the next one.
http://www.thefnt.co.uk/online-shop...omponent-batteries/ballistic-12-cell-battery/
The 8 cell has more than enough cranking power (275CCA) but for the extra cost I'll have the 12 cell. Its still tiny by any standard.
http://www.thefnt.co.uk/online-shop...omponent-batteries/ballistic-12-cell-battery/
The 8 cell has more than enough cranking power (275CCA) but for the extra cost I'll have the 12 cell. Its still tiny by any standard.
This might be a stoopid question, but,
If you get a higher capacity battery is the alternator up to keeping it charged.
Just wondered if it might struggle or not. Probably not I guess.
As long as the alternator is putting out more than the bike is actually using, then the extra will go into the battery. It might take longer to fully charge the battery, but it will still charge it.
I think you are spot on, my Optimate is showing greens as well and the voltage in the battery is also good, I have fully charged the unit with a conventional charger and will moniter it for a while and see what happens.
Bendy toy
Registered user
Lead acid battery is old technology (>100 years) and not very efficient for size or weight, but can kick out a heavy current so they have remained for starter batteries. Starting a 1200cc twin will really hammer the battery, hence the physically large model normally used on a GS. Cheaper batteries will work for a while but show the strain in reduced useful life.
Ballistic batteries are probably no better in power storage capacity, but being more efficient are much smaller and lighter. The main benefit is the high current kick. For me that's worth the extra money. For me, the small size is a bonus.
Of course they are not cheap, but given their long design life and small size, when my big Exide gives up (its now showing some strain) Ballistic will get my business.
Ballistic batteries are probably no better in power storage capacity, but being more efficient are much smaller and lighter. The main benefit is the high current kick. For me that's worth the extra money. For me, the small size is a bonus.
Of course they are not cheap, but given their long design life and small size, when my big Exide gives up (its now showing some strain) Ballistic will get my business.
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