BMW R1200 AGM Battery (USA Models)

[Pukmeister]

Hi folks,
I know that many people on here have had a problem with the OEM lead-acid battery failing. I myself have invested in an aftermarket higher capacity "Absorbed Glass Mat" (AGM) battery made by Hawker before mine dies a death on me in the middle of nowhere. I got it from 'Motorworks BMW' specifically for the R1200GS for £78.

I was looking at the A&S bike spares pages yesterday and found an AGM type battery for the USA market as a genuine BMW part and was wondering if BMW have finally decided that the OEM lead-acid cell is a problem and provided the US market with an uprated product. If so, where are ours ???

Anyone else have a genuine BMW AGM battery on their newer model, or know anything about this ??

http://ascycles.com/default.aspx

http://ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=43217

I also note the expensive charger is the only one recommended for AGM batteries on an R1200GS. I think I will be buying a CTEK3600 instead.

http://ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=2678

 

[Gecko]

A gel battery design is typically a modification of the standard lead acid battery. A gelling agent is added to the electrolyte to reduce movement inside the battery case. Many gel batteries also use one way valves in place of open vents, this helps the normal internal gasses to recombine back into water in the battery, reducing gassing. "Gel Cell" batteries are non-spillable even if they are broken. Gel cells must be charged at a lower voltage than flooded or AGM to prevent excess gas from damaging the cells. Fast charging them on a conventional charger may be permanently damage a Gel Battery.

The newer type of sealed nonspillable maintenance free valve regulated battery uses "Absorbed Glass Mats", or AGM separators between the plates. This is a very fine fiber Boron-Silicate glass mat. These type of batteries have all the advantages of gelled, but can take much more abuse. These are also called "starved electrolyte.” Just like the Gel batteries, the AGM Battery will not leak acid if broken
The advantages of AGM batteries are no maintenance, sealed against fumes, hydrogen, leakage, or non-spilling even if they are broken, and can survive most freezes. AGM batteries are "recombinant" – which means the Oxygen and Hydrogen recombine inside the battery. These use gas phase transfer of oxygen to the negative plates to recombine them back into water while charging and prevent the loss of water through electrolysis. The recombining is typically 99+% efficient, so almost no water is lost. Charging voltages for most AGM batteries are the same as for a standard type battery so there is no need for special charging adjustments or problems with incompatible chargers or charge controls. Since the internal resistance is extremely low, there is almost no heating of the battery even under heavy charge and discharge currents. AGM batteries have a very low self-discharge rate (from 1% to 3% per month). So they can sit in storage for much longer periods without charging. The plates in AGM's are tightly packed and rigidly mounted, and will withstand shock and vibration better than any standard battery.

Now you know all this why buy a Gel battery when an AGM is about the same price ? they are also widely used for military applications and can be used inverted or on their side which is not something you can do with a Gel battery. I fettied one in my R1100GS in 2005 and it's been faultless since being installed and my bike lives outside even in the winter. Never had a problem starting even after sitting for weeks in cold temperatures with the alarm system activated.

 

[vfxmark]

I just took delivery of an '06 USA model 1200GS and AGM batt is now standard. We have three other bikes bouncing around the house, and all three of them have AGM aftermarket batteries by Westco.
While these batts are relatively new to motorcycles, I used Gates starved cell batteries for running motion picture cameras over fifteen years ago...the technology has been around quite a while in the industrial world and the off-road 4x4 and marine world as well.

Mark

 

[Millerjerr]

AGM Battery

I just bought a 2007 R1200GS in the US. The manual says that it has an AGM battery and it appears to have. I thought all the new BMW's had a German made "gel" battery.

Jerry

 

[Les Wassall]

I just bought a 2007 R1200GS in the US. The manual says that it has an AGM battery and it appears to have. I thought all the new BMW's had a German made "gel" battery.

Jerry

Yes they do, but the manufacture that bm use are experts in wheelchair batteries and they I believe are different in dispensing the power compared to the Hawker which gives more amp hr and is able to retain more without extra charge.
This would all make better sense when you try a Hawker battery and see the difference.