Battery Warranty - views please

[Skipssong]

April 2010 GSA, 11700 miles, dealer serviced (24 month in June 2012), exetended warranty (monthly basis).

Knackered battery. Is it reasonable of me to look to BMW to replace foc?

Seems a very short life to me. Am I expecting too much?

Mike

 

[bod]

You can but ask!

These bikes (as most bikes now) do need an Optimate to prolong the battery life!

 

[Steptoe]

A battery warranty is usually a warranty against a manufacturing defect.

These will show up in a fairly short time.
If your battery has managed to survive more than a year that usually means it was devoid of any faults and it's more likely to be a maintenence problem = left for long periods - deep discharge and charge cycle etc etc

But you've got nothing to lose so why not ask the dealer.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

You can but ask!

These bikes (as most bikes now) do need an Optimate to prolong the battery life!

Need an Optimate I think that's another debate and I wouldn't let an optimate anywhere near my battery

 

[Myke Rocks]

Maybe I'm in a minority, but:

You can but ask!

These bikes (as most bikes now) do need an Optimate to prolong the battery life!

My 2005 1200rt is still on the original battery. I dump the bike in the shed at the start of each November and don't take it out again till March. (Salt and motorcycles make a bad mix)
Night before I take it out, I put the battery on a trickle charge.
That's it.
Live in Norn Iron, so do not need to or ever have alarm enabled. This may have something to do with it.
Myke

 

[Skipssong]

No alarm and approx 0.1 draw on the battery when garaged.

I have used an Optimate on and off I.e. not regularly.

 

[Greg Masters]

No alarm and approx 0.1 draw on the battery when garaged.

I have used an Optimate on and off I.e. not regularly.

0.1 what? Amps? Watts?

You need to understand where it's going.

Optimates should be connected to the bike from the moment you park it until you're ready to restart it. Using an Optimate 'on and off' is not a good habit.

Greg

 

[Gordon T]

Yep, original battery on my KLV1000 2005 model (optimate always used). 7 years old but getting a bit tired now.
Yours is 2 years old and needs replacing

 

[Greg Masters]

7 years old but getting a bit tired now.

Pah!

My OE battery lasted a couple of months short of 10 years - hooked to an Optimate whenever the bike wasn't in use.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Pah, that's nothing, Packer will be along in a minute as his steam powered contraption is still on the factory fitted battery.

 

[Fanum]

You can but ask!

These bikes (as most bikes now) do need an Optimate to prolong the battery life!

Bollox

 

[Skipssong]

0.1 what? Amps? Watts?

You need to understand where it's going.

Optimates should be connected to the bike from the moment you park it until you're ready to restart it. Using an Optimate 'on and off' is not a good habit.

Greg

Amps.

Man from BMW has been, tested and confirmed that the charging cct on the bike is working fine. Strongly suspects that the battery is shagged and has taken it away to bench test it; results tomorrow.

 

[Wilsdorf]

How old is the battery?

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Need an Optimate I think that's another debate and I wouldn't let an optimate anywhere near my battery

far too many reports round here with my battery is knackered but I use an optimate all the time.

 

[cookie]

Bollox

Quite.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

far too many reports round here with my battery is knackered but I use an optimate all the time.

And a common theme on those knackered batteries is the use of an optimate

 

[Wapping]

And a common theme on those knackered batteries is the use of an optimate

Mine (plural) aren't knackered. I leave them all hooked up, 24/7/365 irrespective. Done so since the evolution of Optimate 1, whenever in the past mists of time that was.

There again I don't:

(A) Use any of the bikes for just popping down to the shops and back or one hour bimbles.

(B) Connect umpteen items directly to the battery (with ever dodgier wiring) just 'cos it's easiest, mate.

 

[Nutty]

Does the use of an optimate cause battery problems later? I'm no mechanic, and don't understand the mechanical workings of my bikes, but haven't used the optimate on any of the 8 bikes that I own/ have owned (I have an Optimate 4 still in the box, just in case).

Admittedly, my current bikes are relatively new, but my last 2010 12GS was never connected to an Optimate through two winters and was fine. As my current 12GS is under warranty, I'll do the same as last year, and not connect it to the optimate, but should I connect the HP2 as it will sit under a cover in the garage until next year as soon as they start gritting? Will this cause battery problems later?

 

[Wilsdorf]

And a common theme on those knackered batteries is the use of an optimate

Or more generally - lack of use of the bikes.

 

[Greg Masters]

Does the use of an optimate cause battery problems later?

Not in my experience.

I have an Optimate 4 still in the box, just in case).

In case of what?



Why did you buy it?

but should I connect the HP2 as it will sit under a cover in the garage until next year as soon as they start gritting?

If it were my bike, I'd have it connected now (as I have with both of my 12v bikes).

But what you do makes NO difference to me (in just the same way as the oil you choose). But it might make the difference to how many new batteries you have you buy .....

Will this cause battery problems later?

Still no!