Battery

[hellebel]

Bit of a stupid question this, but as a newbie I thought I would clarify the situation.

The Motobins technical hints and tips pages state the following:

"Commuting on a Boxer with a dipped headlamp can leave you with a flat battery after a week or so - maybe less if you have a small battery - but a good answer is to use a 20 watt halogen bulb in the pilot lamp position. The 20 watt bulb is as bright as a headlamp, but does not dazzle other drivers. RS and RT owners will need to connect the existing (but unused) holder in their headlights to the parking lamp circuit. We also recommend replacing the standard voltage regulator with the higher output one. This is done by the Police because of all the extra electrical equipment on their BMW's. "

I commute on my 2000 1150GS every day about 14 miles and have the headlight on dipped all the time. Am I going to knacker my battery over such a short distance or does this advice refer to the older 2 valve twins?

Has anyone had to replace their battery due to frequent commuting on dipped and if so how did you overcome this problem (apart from riding with the lights off!)?

Hellebel

 

[Roge]

Not noticed any problem until the original battery gave up at 40,000 miles, I commute 17 miles each way have no car and run heated grips, spot/fog lamps and a heated jacket in the winter. When the battery expired i had the holder modified to take the big battery instead of the small 14A/hr job only because the 1999 bike without heated grips/ABS has a small job that is harder to get andas expensive as the big one. BWM wanted £70 + the acid!!.

 

[Steptoe]

This is for airheads, its not a problem for 1100/1150 models.

 

[hellebel]

Phew, good to know that this does not affect my new bike. It used to be a problem on my old R80. I can now dazzle Cardiff with confidence!

Thanks very much.

Hellebel