Flat Battery.

[Sa9818]

1300 GSA With a trickle charger.

Last rode the bike a month ago. Walked past the bike and thought ‘that’s weird’ as the trickle charger didn’t appear to be on.

Because it wasn’t. I’ve plugged it into the bike after the last ride but haven’t turned it on.

How screwed is that battery now?

Also Merry Christmas to one and all.

 

[leadfarmer]

Thumb the button and you will know

Probably fine, mine doesn’t seem to discharge when left for a while

I don’t have an alarm or tracker

 

[Sa9818]

I thumbed the button. Silence. No alarm or tracker fitted here either.

 

[leadfarmer]

Hopefully it’ll charge, Optimate or Ctec can recover a discharged battery usually

Can’t help if it’s a lithium, never had one go flat yet

 

[Sa9818]

Hopefully it’ll charge, Optimate or Ctec can recover a discharged battery usually

Can’t help if it’s a lithium, never had one go flat yet

It’s a lithium (I assume) on the BMW trickle charger. Tomorrow will either be a day of joy or swearing at the inanimate object that I made inanimate.

 

[Slipperyeel]

Why oh why do people use trickle chargers? I have never ever ever used one. What am I missing?

 

[leadfarmer]

Why oh why do people use trickle chargers? I have never ever ever used one. What am I missing?

Many moons ago I used to run my bikes up now and then over winter, I still had a couple of batteries go dead on me

So I started using a battery tender and they last a lot longer, I’ve only had to replace one since I use a charger and it was 8 years old

 

[jetjock]

My battery died last night . Had to wake it up with another 12v battery as the Noco wouldn’t start its charging . Once the lithium had been woken up it charged within an hour and has had no further problems

 

[Slipperyeel]

Many moons ago I used to run my bikes up now and then over winter, I still had a couple of batteries go dead on me

So I started using a battery tender and they last a lot longer, I’ve only had to replace one since I use a charger and it was 8 years old

If you're going to leave it unridden for 5-6 months I might understand. But I still don't get it. Or are you talking about a whole stable of bikes, ridden little at different times? That I would understand also.
One of the big features of a lithium battery, compared to lead acid and their variants, is that they hold their charge very well.

 

[jetjock]

If I’m not riding the bike for a while , I will take the battery off the bike and store it indoors

 

[Slipperyeel]

My battery died last night . Had to wake it up with another 12v battery as the Noco wouldn’t start its charging . Once the lithium had been woken up it charged within an hour and has had no further problems

I'm quite curious about this. Why would it discharge? When was they last time you rode it? Even with a micro drain, it should lasts weeks and weeks then start the bike no trouble. Or is this more an issue of the bike itself not liking the battery (for whatever reason - it seems there's a lot going on with the 1300 in terms of which battery it is set up to use? Maybe the 1250 too?!)

 

[jetjock]

I'm quite curious about this. Why would it discharge? When was they last time you rode it? Even with a micro drain, it should lasts weeks and weeks then start the bike no trouble. Or is this more an issue of the bike itself not liking the battery (for whatever reason - it seems there's a lot going on with the 1300 in terms of which battery it is set up to use? Maybe the 1250 too?!)

I’m not sure . I rode the bike about a week ago so it should be ok . It had enough charge to fire up the screen etc but wouldn’t start the bike . The only issue now is it has a few warnings like ABS , Screen adjustment t etc . I’ll ride the bike tomorrow and hopefully the faults will clear else I’ll have to clear them with the 911

 

[G&T]

If I’m not riding the bike I will take the battery off the bike and store it indoors

Which bike? I’ve heard all manner of scaremongery stories about what will happen if you leave a battery off a 1200/1250 GS. True or not?

I left a battery off my 2009 Fazor for four years. Kept it in a cool, dry temperature stable room. Gave it a charge and bike started up...no problem.

 

[Slipperyeel]

I’m not sure . I rode the bike about a week ago so it should be ok . It had enough charge to fire up the screen etc but wouldn’t start the bike . The only issue now is it has a few warnings like ABS , Screen adjustment t etc . I’ll ride the bike tomorrow and hopefully the faults will clear else I’ll have to clear them with the 911

What a pain. I totally agree. It skips be just fine if you ride only a week ago (with a lithium battery, 2-3 months should be fine too!).
They're a lot I don't know about the newer bikes (BMW dealer in France told me my twin cam was 'last of the tanks'. That isn't what they were all saying when it came out ).
But you would have thought that by now. Using a lithium battery would have been an old story .
In my ignorance (of the newer bikes) is it possibly a set up issue, meaning settings can be changed? Because of lithium batteries initial poor 'apparent' state in first attempted starts when it's cold, the brains decides it's a duff battery and shuts it all down? Is it possible key off, then try again? Or does the brains module remember?! Just thinking out aloud!

 

[jetjock]

I think the only way to revive the battery once the software has shut it down is to jump start it with another 12v battery or a optimate charger on mode 4 ? I believe

 

[Smartbazza]

Phone BMW, put an AGM battery in my bike. They will do it foc and that is the cure. Ask me how I know?

Barry

 

[leadfarmer]

If you're going to leave it unridden for 5-6 months I might understand. But I still don't get it. Or are you talking about a whole stable of bikes, ridden little at different times? That I would understand also.
One of the big features of a lithium battery, compared to lead acid and their variants, is that they hold their charge very well.

I used to rotate a C-tec charger between two bikes and a lawn tractor, a week or so each

I sold the lawn tractor when I moved house as I didn’t need it anymore

When I bought my 1300 GS I got a new charger as it has a lithium battery, it’s my first so I don’t have much experience with lithium
So far it seems fine, maybe a charger wouldn’t be necessary, but it’s an expensive lesson to learn if it is

When I bought my Forza I got a Honda branded Optimate for free

So I now have two bikes and three chargers

 

[Sa9818]

Why oh why do people use trickle chargers? I have never ever ever used one. What am I missing?

I was told when I got the bike that as I don’t ride for extended periods of time (works can be a week away if four months away) the only way to stop the lithium ion battery from going flat would be to get it on a BMW charger. Which works fine until you don’t turn it on and the battery goes flat in a 4-6 week period it seems.

 

[Slipperyeel]

I was told when I got the bike that as I don’t ride for extended periods of time (works can be a week away if four months away) the only way to stop the lithium ion battery from going flat would be to get it on a BMW charger. Which works fine until you don’t turn it on and the battery goes flat in a 4-6 week period it seems.

There has to be something draining it if that's the advice? That or the software is badly designed and can't cope with lithium battery characteristics

I've seen plenty of other threads about issues with the lithium batteries (in the new bikes). So your not the only one. Not that this helps you much!

 

[Sa9818]

There has to be something draining it if that's the advice? That or the software is badly designed and can't cope with lithium battery characteristics

I've seen plenty of other threads about issues with the lithium batteries (in the new bikes). So your not the only one. Not that this helps you much!

BMW Assist have been tasked. It’s the wrong side of Christmas to replace a battery so let’s hope they can do something technically amazing.