Batteries

[andy5329]

Can anyone recommend a battery for the 800gs.my bike stays on a trickle charge when I'm away which is usually two months at a time.but for the second time come home and it's dead!!!
It's four years young with 13000 miles,don't understand why.
I have a Ducati charging on the same kind of trickle charge with no issues.
I understand it can be the charger so bought a new one,but anyone a preference on batteries before I go down to BMW for a other one???

Thanks

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

Motobatt quad flex! About £50 sealed so no prep just put it straight in. It has 4 terminals which is awesome for accessories and awkward wires. Holds charge forever and has brilliant cranking power. Mine fires into life first time like a monster even when left for weeks outside in freezing weather. There is a great comparison a biker did somewhere online that he did between a load of popukar batteries and motobatt clearly came out on top.

PS: If you want to use all 4 terminals you'll have to get a set of terminals and screws seperately.

 

[MikeMike]

Motobatt quad flex! About £50 sealed so no prep just put it straight in. It has 4 terminals which is awesome for accessories and awkward wires. Holds charge forever and has brilliant cranking power.

Sheer genius, you Brits think of everything!

I think that price will likely be far superior to what the dealer will charge you for something. If the BMW mark up on batteries is like it is on bearings, you'll save a huge amount buying elsewhere. At least it is here. 4 years in the type of conditions you are in is not that bad. Usually the stock grey battery goes with a lot of warning, I used mine for a long while, starts were slow but it kept doing its job, I finally changed it out before it was totally dead. The new Yuasa replacement promptly died suddenly though there was enough to get me home. That one was replaced by the independent shop immediately with a loaner while I waited on a warranty replacement, my local dealer would never do that.

 

[Smythson]

Got a Motobatt (on Stephen's recommendation, no less) it's on my secondary bike and does not get charged (trickle or by bike) often enough. Still holds charge despite abuse.

S

 

[Dean]

Motobatt quad flex! About £50 sealed so no prep just put it straight in. It has 4 terminals which is awesome for accessories and awkward wires. Holds charge forever and has brilliant cranking power. Mine fires into life first time like a monster even when left for weeks outside in freezing weather. There is a great comparison a biker did somewhere online that he did between a load of popukar batteries and motobatt clearly came out on top.

PS: If you want to use all 4 terminals you'll have to get a set of terminals and screws seperately.

Got a Motobatt (on Stephen's recommendation, no less) it's on my secondary bike and does not get charged (trickle or by bike) often enough. Still holds charge despite abuse.

S

I have a motobatt on my F650 (I also took notice of an earlier thread by Stephen)


And as mentioned the separate terminals are purchased separately as they do not come with the battery.

 

[freelancer2011]

Hi Guys,

I'm in a similar predicament to Andy. Bought a new battery from BMW dealer, last year (about 13 months shy).

Commute daily, joyrides on Saturdays, rest on Sundays, her first trip abroad, this year. Only probably one week in June after coming home where she wasn't used. That was the only longest stint. She's never covered. She's never been trickled charged. Alarm is applied when parked.

Recently, with the cold weather noticed she takes a second or two to start after pressing the ignition. With the past few days being warmer, it was back to normal.

Am tempted to replace the battery w. one of those kool Motobatts that you're all harping on about! Question is (I suspect dealer never charged-up battery before selling to me, if at all required): should I given the above? Are BMW batteries really that crummy?

Lab.

 

[Smythson]

If it's already struggling and you depend upon it for commute perhaps better changed out now rather than being late for work one day cos it's bit the bullet come the colder weather. With your usage it doesn't sound as though it's getting any better and once they deep discharge they don't get any better...

S

 

[freelancer2011]

That must be like the 5th pint I owe you now, Smythson Thank you - much appreciated as ever.

Lab

 

[filbe]

Used to use an Optimate, but haven't needed to since I bought a Motobatt for my 1200GSA!

 

[Dean]

Recently, with the cold weather

I think the alarm sucks some power on or off like a TV on standby and I'm a believer of satnav cradles wired a certain way sapp a Tad

I find using the bike regularly helps no end

Mottobatt
......................................................................................................

Cold weather what you going to do when winter comes


Indoor workers

 

[freelancer2011]

Cheers Dean. Got no choice but to be outdoors, this Winter ... your's truly stoopidly entered and have since got picked for a spot in next year's London Marathon! :O