Cold winter starting

[Nordkapper]

My R1200GS showed some slight hesitation to turn over and start the other cold morning (it had been parked outside overnight).

(Had travelled 100 miles to get to where I was staying overnight and the bike when at home is plugged into an Optimate.)

Later that day after a 30 mile ride and having had the bike parked for a few hours (the weather had warmed up nicely), again the bike was slightly reluctant to turn over and start, this time the LCD display showed two batteries side by side, one appearing to leak (indication of a battery not fully charged I guess).

BTW, I haven't seen this LCD display image in my handbook.

I took the bike to my local dealer who say there is no problem with the battery at all (despite the LCD warning earlier).

Also the dealer says that an Optimate doesn't charge gel batteries up fully.

Has anyone else experienced a reluctance of their bikes to start in the cold?
The bike has been on the road for 19 months and 23,000 miles (no short journeys).

The bike starts fine at the moment. Would appreciate any views.

 

[redcastle]

My 1200 is as good as gold but there have been the odd problems with batteries so I trailer this little setup around to be on the safe side

 

[ozzy]

me thinks

Hello there its ozzy from durham north east , just joined and just gettting the hang of things slowly, I have a r1200 gs adventure 56 just got it three weeks ago, a covert from a varadero , but back to your problem , have you got an alarm on your bike if so thay are a big drain on your bat , but fist thing I would do is change the sel as gel battarys don't have a long life , if that didint do it look at the genny get it tested for its output , hope this might help all the best ozzy

 

[EddTheDuck]

Have noticed the same down West mate. Seems like their heart's don't like the cold!! I know there is a lot of compression with it being a 1200 twin but I never had any problems with my DL1000 V Strom and cold weather, though that was a four. Will certainly point this out when it has its service in January.
Motorhead next week at Plymouth. YEHAAAAAAAAA!!!

 

[gavin@iow]

I know there is a lot of compression with it being a 1200 twin but I never had any problems with my DL1000 V Strom and cold weather, though that was a four.

The DL1000 V Strom is a 996 V twin.

 

[marcus]

Yes, get ready to have the AA on speeddial as the weather gets colder.

Winter 04 - 05 I had constant starting problems and came to the conclusion that the 12GS is the perfect RTW bike as long as you stay in the tropics. This seemed to get better with software upgrade, but the battery charge drops, especially compared to my car.

Mine was flat as a pancake after 2 weeks unused. Overnight optimate solved it, but this is a well known "feature" of the 12GS!


Touratech sell HD batteries.

 

[ScottyKM]

hmmm, maybe these molly coddled bikes are rebelling?

my GSA 12 lives in a open garage type thing (3 sides) no charging, no warmth.

starts ok even if i leave it for a week with the alarm on.

(watch it not start tonight now!!!)

 

[Nordkapper]

Thanks for all the comments, will be interesting to see what happens over the next few months!

 

[EddTheDuck]

Doh, can't believe I said it was a four!! Meant to say it was a V rather than flat!!