Is my battery dead?

Jeannot

Jeannot

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I did not use the bike during the winter. Put the battery on charge on and off for the past couple of weeks. I took the bike for a ride this week and it was ok. Today (this morning) I tried to start the bike and it would not go. I put it on charge and after a little while my charger was showing a full charge (alternating between the green and red led). Got ready to go to work, around 40 miles journey. The bike started fine, I had to make a stop to refuel, and when I tried to restart the bike there was not enough juice to start it. I had to call breakdown and have the bike taken home.
Obviously it sounds like the battery is dead and cannot hold a charge, but is there a change that the alternator is not charging the battery also. How could I check it.
And if anyone could recommend a battery for my 850GS, i know i could search the forum but just to save time and make sure that I will getting the right one, thanks

JC
 
sounds like the battery is gone. There are many different ones to choose from and your budget and avaibity will dicate what to get. Yuasa are good but see what your dealer has. You can check the charge rate eith a multimeter. JJH
 
JJH said:
sounds like the battery is gone. There are many different ones to choose from and your budget and avaibity will dicate what to get. Yuasa are good but see what your dealer has. You can check the charge rate eith a multimeter. JJH
Click to expand...

Thanks JJH, it's what I have thought. I have had the bike now for just over 3 years and I don't think the previous owner changed it (could not see anything in the history). So I guess it is time to get a new one.
JC
 
I'm afraid you've a new battery in your life.

No battery charger (whatever their marketing information says) is clever enough to spot reduced capacity due to a failed cell or spulphation. Once you've flattened a lead acid battery, you've irredeemably reduced its capacity. No fancy charger will recover this lost capacity - once it's gone, it's gone forever. The charger just charges normally until it's charged to the new reduced capacity and gives you a little green light to say it's done its job (which it has - your knackered battery with its reduced capacity has accepted all the charge it can).

You can often get away with this reduced capacity with no ill effects until the battery is otherwise challenged (lot's of short journeys which don't give the alternator chance to replenish the starting loads, cold weather, the previous in combination with lots of accessories, etc).

The secret to prolonging battery life is to store it charged and on a float charge if left for any length of time (even with no load, batteries self-discharge over time). Lead acid batteries love being fully charged and hate deep discharge - the rule of thumb for a lead acid battery is that you should never discharge it to more than half its capacity - hard to tell on a bike and pretty difficult due to the battery really being smaller than is ideal.

But the really golden rule is don't flatten it. Ever. Once you have, you've stuffed it.
 
thanks guys for the advice, Stubbs I will check it but I think that Matt may be right. Consequences of not being a hardcore rider :comfort. I don't have a garage neither so I can't really leave the battery with the charger on at all time. I guess I could remove it and leave indoor charging.
By the way I have found this site, could you tell me if it is an ok one, thanks

http://www.tayna.co.uk/VARTA-FUNSTART-Freshpack-519-013-017-BMW-Motorcycle-Battery-P43.html
JC
 
Jeannot said:
thanks guys for the advice, Stubbs I will check it but I think that Matt may be right. Consequences of not being a hardcore rider :comfort. I don't have a garage neither so I can't really leave the battery with the charger on at all time. I guess I could remove it and leave indoor charging.
By the way I have found this site, could you tell me if it is an ok one, thanks

http://www.tayna.co.uk/VARTA-FUNSTART-Freshpack-519-013-017-BMW-Motorcycle-Battery-P43.html
JC
Click to expand...

Tayna are fine - search this site as there is a 5% code listed somewhere

Spend an extra tenner on the westco AGM - this type of battery is much better for the occasional user as they are less likely to go flat inbetween uses.
 
I'd seriously consider the OEM Exide gel. For God's sake don't get seduced by the Odyssey snake oil.
 
MattW said:
I'd seriously consider the OEM Exide gel. For God's sake don't get seduced by the Odyssey snake oil.
Click to expand...

I have an Odyssey in my R1150GS. Been there since Dec 2004. Certainly not snake oil. They are a bit pricey mind, so that's why I recommend the Westco AGM which is good value for less than £70. Nothing wrong with the Exide battery either if you can get one for £70 rather than the 90 odd that some dealers seem to want.
 
Jeannot said:
Wessie, just to make sure, are you talking of the £68.40 or the £87.83 one, thanks.
JC
Click to expand...

£68 one - made by Exide (shown in the picture) but will have a BMW roundel stamped on the casing.
 
If you're leaving your battery/bike unused for any length of time and it's not attached to a trickle charger remove fuses 3 and 5. ( remember if you remove fuse 3 the power socket doesn't function)

My 1150 GS hasn't been used since last march and it's not attached to a charger, i removed the fuses and just let it sit there.

Every few months i re-insert the fuses and it always starts first time. And the battery is at least 5 years old.
 
Nice One Steppers

I was just undoing the negative lead but that may be even simpler
:bow :bow :bow

Steptoe said:
If you're leaving your battery/bike unused for any length of time and it's not attached to a trickle charger remove fuses 3 and 5. ( remember if you remove fuse 3 the power socket doesn't function)

My 1150 GS hasn't been used since last march and it's not attached to a charger, i removed the fuses and just let it sit there.

Every few months i re-insert the fuses and it always starts first time. And the battery is at least 5 years old.
Click to expand...
 
Buy the cheapest lead/acid battery you can find that fits the bike. Use the money you save to buy an Optimate. Connect the Optimate every minute that the bike is not running. The battery should then last the best part of a decade.

Greg
 
Steptoe, thanks sounds like a great tip.

Same for you Greg, I have got a charger that I bought for Nippy Norman, I think it is a CTek and I think it does the trickle thingy, would this do the trick then?
Thanks
JC
 
Jeannot said:
Steptoe, thanks sounds like a great tip.

Same for you Greg, I have got a charger that I bought for Nippy Norman, I think it is a CTek and I think it does the trickle thingy, would this do the trick then?
Thanks
JC
Click to expand...

Yes, CTEK chargers are as good, if not better, than Optimates. Use it every moment you can - and just leave it connected - don't disconnect or switch off or on.

Greg
 
Sorry to be a pain, but I need to be sure that I am ordering the right battery. I am looking at this website:

http://www.tayna.co.uk/batterygroups/83/519-013-Motorcycle-Batteries-page1.html

The lady I spoke to, recommended the Westco one, apparently has a good cranking power (but it is out of stock until next week).

Or shall I go for the Numax one (cheapest). Both are gel battery.

What worries me it is the measurement of the battery, slightly different. Would the Numax one fit the 850GS?

Thanks
JC
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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