Dead battery.....but why?

[Palerider]

Hi guys....

Just got back from a trip to the Pyrenees, which was going swimmingly until I reached northern France. Stopped at a rest station on the A1 heading for Calais (bike had been working perfectly up until then!) and when I hopped back on it, all I got was "click"....then after a short period the display cut out completely.

24 hours and €150 later for the local BMW dealer to fit a new battery (didn't have the option of an Odyssey) I was on my way again.

However, other than the knowledge that BMW batteries only last 2 years (my GSA is a 08/08) even though it's been on an optimate (direct charge to the battery rather than via canbus) there was no warning at all....

Questions;

1) is there a way of adding a battery monitor to display charge/condition?
2) I'm running a Zumo via canbus & autocom via direct battery feed. As long as the alternator is charging correctly, am I correct in assuming the alternator should easily be able to encompass these additions and charge the battery fully (no short runs being done)?
3) I'm assuming there are no other drains, but I need to check this one. Other than putting the battery on charge and noting the voltage/amps reading on and off charge, is there anything else I should be doing?

all in all, not a particularly good experience. BMW assistance were mediocre at best....

Thoughts appreciated.

P

 

[Fanum]

The BMW OEM battery will last a lot longer than 2 years...they are cheaper than the oddysey (although you were stung by the recovery guys it seems) and probably better, as long as it's the gel type.

Mine did 5 years, never let me down until the winter of the 5th year, and it never saw a charger, lived outside and was left for a month at a time while i was away on many occasions.

EDIT.....oops. just re-read and you have a 1200

Forget the above

Yes, there are many little widgets you can use as a charge indicator, ranging from a proper gauge (which will show alternator output rather than battery level, which is probably better anyway) to led strips that indicate botht he state of charge when ign is powered up AND alternator charge levels.

The alternator will cope with your draw from the battery fine.

 

[John Armstrong]

You're not the first to have a battery go completely dead on a 1200 and probably won't be the last. Had the same problem with a car once as well so batteries do just fail

Could add a voltmeter and ammeter, or just replace the battery every couple of years, as the added instruments may cause more problems than they solve.

Alernator should be able to handle those loads easily enough, but, I'd get the autocom ignition switched to make sure it doesn't flatten the battery if you stop for a couple of days without running the engine.

 

[Riders Rest]

Just had exactly the same problem on my FJR battery died after filling up luckily not to far from home and a trailer, still to get a new battery as it is on order just 50€ though, oh and it was the original battery on an 01 FJR good return and always on an optimate when at home.

 

[LBL]

Firstly,

A battery should last a lot longer than two years.

Secondly,

If you have BMW assistance and the bike is still under a full warrenty, why did you have to pay for the replacement of the failed battery or anything else ?

 

[cookie]

If you have BMW assistance and the bike is still under a full warrenty, why did you have to pay for the replacement of the failed battery or anything else ?

i think the bmw cover requires you to pay for incidents abroad, and reclaim when you get home.

 

[Palerider]

Firstly,

A battery should last a lot longer than two years.

Secondly,

If you have BMW assistance and the bike is still under a full warrenty, why did you have to pay for the replacement of the failed battery or anything else ?

As ever, the original warranty expired on 1st March 2010. Battery fails on 20/07 2010.

= I get a nice big bill!!!

 

[karnevil]

Are the 1200's still doing the bizzare thing where if you open the ignition circuit without actually starting the bike then switching off the citcuit remains open?

 

[Myke Rocks]

battery life

I bought my 1200 3 years ago (2 years of age,) & it is still on the battery it arrived with.I dump it in the shed from start of November till end of February each year,(End of May this year because of illness)

The night before I am going to use it again, I put an overnight charge on it from a rubbish charger, & ride off next day.
Maybe I am just lucky!

Myke

 

[MIKA]

Anyone know what warranty you get with a replacement battery?

Mine has just given up but it is less than two years since fitted by the dealer, bike was already out of warranty when they fitted the second one.

 

[Mr K]

Modern batteries can just pack-in just like that: Drove my car home from work one evening, next morning battery fecked.

However my 04 1200GS is still on it's original battery, despite/because of using an Optimate if it's standing for a few weeks.









Touch-wood, fingers crossed, clutching lucky white heather..........