battery,

[PlanetYann]

Hi, can someone tells me if there is a drain from the ECU or other on the R1250GS (2023) - I do not have any tracking or other that could account for drop in voltage... ??
Do I need to buy a trickle charger?

 

[Smartbazza]

shouldn't be, but i did have a tracker on mine that would drain the battery and lots of turning on and off in the garage could run the battery down.

i always kept mine on an Optimate.

Barry

 

[wessie]

do you mean to be displaying your address in Cambridge?

 

[PlanetYann]

do you mean to be displaying your address in Cambridge?

No! Thanks!

 

[squibb34]

Get yourself one of the latest Optimates, or the current BMW battery tender, which are both canbus compatible & cover all battery types including lithium.

Parasitic drain should be minimal, but make sure any retro-fit electicery has been installed correctly.

 

[PlanetYann]

shouldn't be, but i did have a tracker on mine that would drain the battery and lots of turning on and off in the garage could run the battery down.

i always kept mine on an Optimate.

Barry

Thanks, first bike that behaves like that, a bit strange.. other BMWs and Kwak more recently kept their charge throughout the winter...

 

[leadfarmer]

As said above, a canbus compatible charger makes life easier, I use a BMW Charger Plus on my GS as it has a lithium battery

I also have a CTec and an Optimate that came with a Honda, both work perfectly

 

[wessie]

I only need to connect my Optimate if I do not ride my R1200RS for 2 months. The OEM AGM battery lasted 6 years and the current Exide AGM is over 2 years old and entering its third winter.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Chances are there will always be a very small current draw on any modern vehicle.

Even a tiny 0.05amp draw is going to deplete 1amp a day from your battery.

 

[littleade]

Hi, can someone tells me if there is a drain from the ECU or other on the R1250GS (2023) - I do not have any tracking or other that could account for drop in voltage... ??
Do I need to buy a trickle charger?

Get yourself an Optimate or similar and fit the flying SAE lead that comes with it as you can then use the lead to power stuff like heated clothing and a mini compressor (trying to power one of these via canbus usually doesn't work as they drain more than the 5amp current limit so conbus switches the power of) I have the Optimate 4 that is canbus compatible but use it direct via a SAE lead and just plug it in when I put the bike away after each ride and leave the Optimate switched on. It then maintains the battery which ultimately extends it's life too so worth the investment IMO.

OE batteries have been "the minimum needed" to meet requirements for years as manufacturers look to fit the cheapest option they can. My optimate journey started in the late 1990s with my Fireblade that failed to start for my 1st ride out after being stored in a garage over winter. Now I know my bike will start when I want it to (and all have since) and that I'm also not going to get stranded at my local petrol station after filling up for my 1st ride of the year.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/2326106