Just a quick thought. Did the dealership check out the battery? Your post doesn't make that point clear. I'm sure they would before replacing it, but sometimes......... If not you can't be sure at this stage that the fault doesn't have something to do with the bike.
gingerbikercat
Guest
No,the dealership just said bring it in and exchanged it.To be fair i did tell them i had it on charge over night and it didnt make any difference at all so they said fair enough, checks done.
Fired up soon as we put new battery on.
Bit of a generalisation and over simplification here, but.....
The vast majority of batteries don't like being anywhere other than fully charged. Deeply discharging one is akin to 20 years of Full English breakfasts and no exercise. So like feeding people too much fatty food they 'furr' up. At idle or little activity they work as expected, but make them run a 100m sprint and they give up before they're out of the blocks.
So, if at all possible, keep your batteries fully charged, preferably with a 'clever' charger, like an Optimate or such. That will make the battery last a lot longer, but remember they are disposable items........
The vast majority of batteries don't like being anywhere other than fully charged. Deeply discharging one is akin to 20 years of Full English breakfasts and no exercise. So like feeding people too much fatty food they 'furr' up. At idle or little activity they work as expected, but make them run a 100m sprint and they give up before they're out of the blocks.
So, if at all possible, keep your batteries fully charged, preferably with a 'clever' charger, like an Optimate or such. That will make the battery last a lot longer, but remember they are disposable items........
Same thing happened to me........
Wheeled bike out of garage, cheked tyre pressures, oil, petrol.
Got booted and suited.
On bike, ignition on, rat-at-at-at-at-at.
Fecked battery.
Odyssey fitted and away she went
Recommendation from the suppplier:-
You can use your Optimate 3 with any Odyssey with no problem. I recommend you use it every time you put the bike away.
Treat it like a Ground Power Unit on an aircraft, you can even leave your alarm on with the Optimate connected, I do on my Harley and never have a starting problem. Sorry about the Harley reference - it came with the answer to my question about using Optimate 3
Wheeled bike out of garage, cheked tyre pressures, oil, petrol.
Got booted and suited.
On bike, ignition on, rat-at-at-at-at-at.
Fecked battery.
Odyssey fitted and away she went
Recommendation from the suppplier:-
You can use your Optimate 3 with any Odyssey with no problem. I recommend you use it every time you put the bike away.
Treat it like a Ground Power Unit on an aircraft, you can even leave your alarm on with the Optimate connected, I do on my Harley and never have a starting problem. Sorry about the Harley reference - it came with the answer to my question about using Optimate 3
MarkiMark
Guest
I'll get the Odyssey as well methinks! 2 quick questions:
1) Is it a problem that I don't have Optimate (no electricity in garage)?
2) I have a 1200 GSA - can an idiot fit the battery or is it more "involved"?
cheers
Markus
1) Is it a problem that I don't have Optimate (no electricity in garage)?
2) I have a 1200 GSA - can an idiot fit the battery or is it more "involved"?
cheers
Markus
mitchly
Guest
Markimark,
If you want an idiot to fit the battery i'll send one right over!
If you want an idiot to fit the battery i'll send one right over!
Andybro
Guest
Paul Mac
Guest
Ginger - My 1200GS did this all the time. I had battery changed and it still did it. Software download also carried out to supposedly correct this. The problem is the battery on the 1200 GS is way too small for the job it has to do ie. cranking a large capacity 2 cylinder cold engine over. You will find in the summer when air temp is higher the problem will go away but in winter with the colder temps the marginal battery just aint up to the job. Crappy design inspired by a ridiculous weight saving obsession. Personally I would much prefer a proper battery over 1Kg weight saved. After this and lots of other poor design related problems I just had had enough and recently got rid of my 1200GS. I need a bike that will start in all weathers and all places, unfortunately the 1200Gs wasn't up to this basic requirement. Sad but thats how the accountants and obsession with weight saving engineers have in my opinion turned the best and most reliable motorcycles in the world into lifestyle accessories and a shadow of the great motorcycles that they once were. My 25yr passion for BMW bikes died with the constant click click click from the starter of my 1200GS and in truth that really saddens me, I was BMW to my soul and I very much doubt now if I will ever return.
Regards Paul Mac
Regards Paul Mac
ampthill
Registered user
You'll want my bike, or my last bike. They both did/do this. Ooooops! They're both 1200GSs
Deleted account 210609001
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I've just fitted an Odyssey this evening. It's not too difficult, but it's not quite a "straight swap" job. Because the battery itself is a touch larger, you need a different metal strap that holds the battery in place. If you buy it from Motorworks, they supply this with the battery, as well as fitting instructions. (Ordered mine on Monday, it arrived today.
) Because the terminals are different, you need to re-route the cables. I had to snip a couple of zip ties to give enough free play in the positive cable, which has to be routed in front of the T-bar metal plate thingy before looping back on itself to attack the terminal from the outside.
The negative cable then prevents the seat slotting down nicely on the low setting. So I routed that across the top of the battery, and bent the cable end fititng slightly to accommodate this. This doesn't interfere with the seat.
Haven't ridden it anywhere yet, just need to make sure nothing vibrates loose.
Robin.
Searanger
Guest
I'm a lot pissed off as this my second battery is reading 10V after overnight charging so this battery has lasted one year (same as the last). It seems to be an annual throw away with these bikes...bit excessive
(RIP) petcul
Registered user
Got the dreaded click when in Ireland. Got the bike back to my local dealer. Honest response is they're getting a good few 1200s in at about the two year mark (mines less than a year but has 17,000 on the clock) with batteries knacked. Would have replaced it with an Odyssey (and then maybe small things like compressors would have worked) but the dreaded warranty invoked!!!! Battery replaced by BMW but will look to replace with Odyssey when out of warranty (if it lasts that long!).
Not the best advert for an expensive but otherwise great (so far) bike.
Not the best advert for an expensive but otherwise great (so far) bike.
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