Battery Charging!

[UK Jon]

Since 2005 I have owned 7 new BMW motorcycles. From experience OE batteries are generally of poor quality and at around the 18 month mark I start experiencing charging problems despite only using BMW chargers.

The problems you are experiencing are inexcusable on a new motorcycle.My new GSA arrives in March and one of my first jobs will be to change the battery for an Odessey. It's £100 well spent and no sleepless nights.

Regards

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Since 2005 I have owned 7 new BMW motorcycles. From experience OE batteries are generally of poor quality and at around the 18 month mark I start experiencing charging problems despite only using BMW chargers.

The problems you are experiencing are inexcusable on a new motorcycle.My new GSA arrives in March and one of my first jobs will be to change the battery for an Odessey. It's £100 well spent and no sleepless nights.

Regards

My OE battery lasted 7 years. I only changed it as it was getting a little weak, although there was plenty of life left in it. I don't know what the previous owner/s charged it with, although I would guess an Optimate. I use an Optimate.

Maybe your genuine BMW charger is the problem?

 

[Davel]

The recovery guy said that the BMW charger, which came with the bike, was fine and trying to push through a charge.

He checked it on arrival.

You could actually here a clicking sound by / in the battery when it was plugged in.

He suggested not jump starting the bike to give the dealer a chance to source the problem more easily.

 

[David Ryan]

Yep shift assist which is great.

We'll see what they say

Yes I love the shift assist but a note for your interest.....
After my first service, the shift assist didn't work!
I was in the process of riding back to BMW to find out what had gone wrong, when it started working again. It took a good few miles though.
Looking on the ADVrider forum, I found some interesting information. The service diagnostics temporarily disable the shifter and at the end of the printout that the service shop gets, there is a lengthy notice about this.
The test rider, after a service, should ride the bike for at least 10 seconds in each gear in order to allow the shifter to recalibrate itself! They should then ride it until the shifter starts to work again.
Clearly this had not been read or actioned when they gave the bike back to me!! I was rather worried and subsequently a little annoyed at the time and have yet to tell Chester about it!
So you may want to mention this if they are plugging your bike into the diagnostic machine!!!!

 

[David Ryan]

Since 2005 I have owned 7 new BMW motorcycles. From experience OE batteries are generally of poor quality and at around the 18 month mark I start experiencing charging problems despite only using BMW chargers.

The problems you are experiencing are inexcusable on a new motorcycle.My new GSA arrives in March and one of my first jobs will be to change the battery for an Odessey. It's £100 well spent and no sleepless nights.

Regards

Sorry to keep mentioning the ADV forum but it is a useful place to look.
Apparently, there was a general recall on the batteries on the 2014 bikes. Not widely publicised but the dealers were replacing them automatically when bikes came in for service or other work, whether the customer had reported problems or not. So something has been going on. Dave's bike and mine are both December bikes, so one would hope that the batteries were good but who knows???

 

[Tricky]

Have mine hooked up to an Optimate 4 (canbus program 2) via the onboard aux socket after being told off on here for daring to mention the BM charger. No problems with starting over the winter ... yet!

Sounds like a couple of you Chester supplied bikes have duff batteries.

 

[Nutty]

Bought my bike off Chester in Dec - 2015 model.

Only 50 miles to date.

Not used her since Christmas and had it on the BMW charger for the last few weeks.

Went to it this morning for a ride out and dead as a dodo. Keyless so nowhere to try a key either, so it has been recovered with a suspected duff battery.

I might ask them to fit a lead direct to the battery whilst it's there as I'm not sure about the socket near the speedo.

Bugger - but at least they can fit the pannier locks now they've arrived.

Not being funny, but why on earth would you put a one month old bike on charge?

I have two 2015 bikes, and with a combination of not being able to ride some weeks for one reason or another, means that one of the bikes may sit for 3/4/5 or even 6 weeks without being ridden.

I have never attached a charger to either bike since I got them in September, I don't go into the garage and start them up unless I'm going to ride one, and they both start on the button, without hesitation, every time.

Sounds to me that you are overcharging the battery.

 

[Davel]

Probably so - but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Anyway, I'd rather a problem now than on tour somewhere.

I thought that a trickle charger kept the battery topped up and maintained it - not overcharged it.

Anyway, we'll soon know and it's clear that it's not just me.

The Fatboy was okay left on charge when not in use...

 

[JJH]

Not being funny, but why on earth would you put a one month old bike on charge?

I have two 2015 bikes, and with a combination of not being able to ride some weeks for one reason or another, means that one of the bikes may sit for 3/4/5 or even 6 weeks without being ridden.

I have never attached a charger to either bike since I got them in September, I don't go into the garage and start them up unless I'm going to ride one, and they both start on the button, without hesitation, every time.

Sounds to me that you are overcharging the battery.

I don't bother either 2 or 3 weeks doesn't seem to bother any of mine I've never replaced a motorcycle battery except for my old r100/7. I don't keep bikes long 3.5 years on my rt was a record for me. JJH

 

[Nutty]

I don't bother either 2 or 3 weeks doesn't seem to bother any of mine I've never replaced a motorcycle battery except for my old r100/7. I don't keep bikes long 3.5 years on my rt was a record for me. JJH

My Megamoto used to sit for 4-5 months, without being charged, and also started every time.

 

[JJH]

My Megamoto used to sit for 4-5 months, without being charged, and also started every time.

My bike gets used every day. I've only got 1 now times are hard. I remember when I would have 3 or 4. My last spare bike i sold and my wife collected the money. It's now sitting in the kitchen. Big and silver Samsung American style fridge freezer made in China. JJH

 

[snaponphil]

I have been reading the owners manual re battery charging.
BMW seem to want you to buy a special can bus compatible charger and use the dash din socket for general maintenance charging.
I have an Optimate 3 which is not can bus compatible. I had planned to simply fit an Optimate charging lead directly to the battery but the manual strongly urges you not to do this!
They firstly say not to remove the battery from the bike...........and later they say that if your battery if flat, you must remove it and charge it directly!! All rather contradictory.
Advice please
D

I have an optimete 3 that I wired direct to the 'jump post' under the right hand battery cover, didn't even need to disconnect battery to fit connectors, it works as it should on the GS WC & my baby Harley too..

I also bought a used BMW canbus charger off here recently for £50 & it also works as it should..

So either works fine but the BMW one seems to fill me with more confidence somehow..

 

[Davel]

It's being looked at this afternoon but, according to them, you should be able to leave it on charge when not is use.

It should top up and maintain the battery without overcharging or damaging it.

Anyway, more to follow...

 

[David Ryan]

It's being looked at this afternoon but, according to them, you should be able to leave it on charge when not is use.

It should top up and maintain the battery without overcharging or damaging it.

Anyway, more to follow...

How did you get on Davel?

 

[Davel]

Was being looked at last night and they were attempting to charge the battery overnight.

I've asked for a new battery but I really want to know what the problem is.

As others have said, it really shouldn't be flat after three-weeks especially if on a charger.

- and they say that it can safely be left on a charger when not in use.

More to follow!

 

[Davel]

Update

Changing the battery for a new one.

They want to test the charger now as the diagnostics are showing too high a charge from it? It came with the bike.

Will drop it off in the morning...

 

[AberdeenAngus]

A knackered charger would explain it.....

 

[Davel]

Would it.

Would it drain the battery too somehow? It shouldn't run out of all charge in three-weeks should it?

Anyhow, dropped the charger off so we'll know soon.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

If your charger is overcharging it will physically damage the battery. It really depends on how much the overcharge is as to what damage is caused.

 

[Davel]

Charger fine, battery suspected fault and replaced.

Software glitch on bike which has been updated and all is now fine.