Battery Recommendations

[Bikerbrady]

Despite having my battery connected to my optimate when ever the bike is not in use these past couple of cold mornings it has turned over fairly slowly when hitting the starter button so im thinking my battery may be on its way out.

Any recommendations for a good replacement battery and where to buy from would be much appreciated. I think it may be the original battery.

Ive seen these here at Nippys, but want to make sure I can use my optimate on the gel batterys

GS1150 ADVENTURE 2004 30,000 MILES

Cheers
Biker

 

[Egon]

Odyssey

Available Here slightly cheaper.

 

[Bikerbrady]

ordered from motorworks .....thanks

 

[motobiker]

too late.. oh well. I was going to repeat what that nice mr steptoe says - stick with the oe bmw gel battery. That was confirmed by a recent post from greg masters whose oe battery is still going strong after 8.5 years. he keeps it plugged into an optimate.

less is in this case definitely more.

 

[Bikerbrady]

My battery is definitely on its way out so given the info from motorworks who were very helpful , I opted for the odyssey battery.

I will let you all know just how it performs during these cold nights and mornings, and they are perfectly okay to connect up to an optimate too.

Cheers Biker

 

[~Stef~]

My odyssey battery is now in need of replacement cant remember when I bought it but its not much more than two years ago.

Had to fire up the old Kawasaki this morning, as the GS would crank. The Kwak has stood for four weeks since last being fired and the WET battery in it crank it over for 10 secends before she burst into life.

IMO Odysssey batteries are not worth the money considering my last WET battery in the GS lasted at least twice as long.

 

[Steptoe]

.

IMO Odysssey batteries are not worth the money considering my last WET battery in the GS lasted at least twice as long.

You as well eh. I see more than few failures of the superb odyssey batteries. Definitely a case of the emperors new clothes.

How do they get their reputation ?? Well, If your old battery has died any new battery you fit will seem like a revelation .

Original BMW gel batteries are just as good.

 

[Blackal]

Just replaced the OE lead acid battery on my R1100s. I went for a (larger capacity) Odysey battery, and am glad to have got rid of the Lead Acid unit.

The problem with the lead acid battery is if you charge it and "gassing" occurs (actually a process that will ultimately prolong a battery's life) - as the electrolyte will need topping up afterwards. This is impossible to do without removing the battery (which requires the tank to be raised/removed).

To illustrate the importance of maintaining the level of electrolyte above the plates - It is better to top the battery up with tap-water than to allow the level to drop below the top of the plates. Once the plates have been exposed for a short time (in service) - you will never regain that capacity (pro-rata with the amount of plate exposed compared to the overall plate height).

Al

 

[Steptoe]

Just replaced the OE lead acid battery on my R1100s. I went for a (larger capacity) Odysey battery, and am glad to have got rid of the Lead Acid unit.

BMW batteries haven't been the lead acid type for years .

 

[Duncan Richmond]

Heinrich Smyka
Ilenbuller 4
21107 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 40 41186095
Fax: +49 40 41186094
Email: [email protected]

Steuernummer: 06/255/24873
USt-IdNr. DE243306242

I Bought a battery from this guy off E-bay (on recomendation from a Gser on the forum) Its a Kung Long make from Taiwan and was advertised as being correct fitment for a 1100 GS. Its been 100% over the last 2 years even after standing for long periods and it only cost £27.00 + p+p. He don't seem to have anything on E-bay at the moment though. The only issue I found with it is that the terminals seem a bit flimsy and I had to open them out to 6mm from 5mm to use the original battery bolts - well worth the money

 

[Blackal]

BMW batteries haven't been the lead acid type for years .

Maybe it's not the original battery? Bike's 2004 vintage.

Al

 

[King Rat]

WHAT Only 2004 and it needs a new battery already......I would be highly miserated if that was mine.

I amon the original from early 2003 and it is still going strong. Even in these cold days sat still for a week and it bursts the bike into life with a fast swing of the cranking bits....and the red light goes out after about 10 seconds too, so it is charging up happily again after starting the bike. It is the original battery, so whatever Mr. BMW put in that box of sparks, they were good and lively ones.

All I need now is for Mr Tourance to make me some tyres which keep their puff in...

 

[Blackal]

I'll need to have a check of it, but I suspect I let the electrolyte level drop over time.

I think that car/bike manufacturers will put the cheapest battery in their product, that will get the bike past the warranty period.

Al

 

[motobiker]

Maybe it's not the original battery? Bike's 2004 vintage.

Al

It won't be the original

so your bike is on its 3rd battery in 4 years...

 

[Steptoe]

I think that car/bike manufacturers will put the cheapest battery in their product, that will get the bike past the warranty period.

Al

Two years on a BMW battery.

Almost all of the other manufactures offer 12 months, some cheapo batteries 6 months. .

 

[Bronco Billy]

My 04 GSA is still going strong on the original BMW Battery. I know where I wil get the next one from ..

 

[Bikerbrady]

okay............new odyssey battery fitted and what a difference. Although the BMW battery when tested seemed perfectly okay there is a huge difference in start up when using the odyssey.

The bike turns over maybe 2-3 times faster than with the BMW. When the weather is particularly cold the BMW battery turned over very slow but the odyssey has so much more life so I guess their claims are true.

And for the doommongers out there.............at £89 i wont complain if i have to replace it after 2 or 3 years as it works out at a measley 8p a day (i think) over 3 years

All in all happy with my new battery.

Biker

 

[street_moto]

You won't be replacing it after 2-3 years, they're top batteries, put one in my supermoto a 660 single, again what a difference! My current bike an 1100gs, the previous owner put one in well over five years ago and it's still going strong. I plug an optimate in every now and again and get a green light within the hour.

Regards Dave

 

[illustratedman]

Battery

What was the clearance like between the posts and the tank when fitted, ive got one arriving monday hopefully, with the extra terminal posts from motorworks. Ive heard it'sa bit of a tight fit? (04 adv).

 

[Bikerbrady]

Its close but fits just fine, I used the cover off my old battery and put it on the positive terminal on my oddyessey and zip tied it on just to make sure there is no chance of it ever coming in to contact with the underside of the tank.

The battery is also a little slimmer so i packed it out so it didnt move in the battery housing.

Biker