Motobatt or Odyssey

[bod]

That is the question?

Seems the glowing reports for Motobatt come from owners that just fitted them.
Some stinking reviews from some that tried to start the bike 2 months later.

I just want a good battery with some bollox that will crank over fast and last a few years.

Search and Google just turn up the usual extremes of owner experience.

Can pick up an Odyssey PC680 from Tewkesbury on my way home tomorrow or just "win" a yellow lump on ebay.

I know this has probably been done to death, but some of the stuff I've read goes back 7 or 8 years.

Not bothered about the extra £30 for the Odyssey, I just want the better battery.

 

[Neil W]

Odyssey was on my old r1150gs for 6 years before I sold it 4 years ago and it is still going strong .I still have a spare one that I keep on an Optimate that has been used as a starter battery on everything from a 2.0 tdi Audi to a Bedford TK diesel truck

Motobatt has been on my gsx1100 katana for 5 years and is still up to starting the tuned high compression motor .

Go onto Tayna.co.uk and look at the Westco AGM equivalent which is basically a higher quality Motobatt and were cheaper than the Odyssey

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Never had any problems with my motobatt in the 3 years that I had it. Bike started better than it ever did on the stock battery. If you go with motobatt make sure you get the bigger one 12u. The 9u is too small.

As for the reviews if you leave any battery in a GS for 2 months without charging it will go flat. Same with any modern bike with all the computers.

 

[GerJ]

In my previous bike I had a Motobatt and it worked just fine. Sold the bike 3 years after I had the batt installed, so can't say anything about its life span.

 

[bod]

Odyssey was on my old r1150gs for 6 years before I sold it 4 years ago and it is still going strong .I still have a spare one that I keep on an Optimate that has been used as a starter battery on everything from a 2.0 tdi Audi to a Bedford TK diesel truck

Motobatt has been on my gsx1100 katana for 5 years and is still up to starting the tuned high compression motor .

Go onto Tayna.co.uk and look at the Westco AGM equivalent which is basically a higher quality Motobatt and were cheaper than the Odyssey

I did notice the Westco when Google threw up Tayna as the cheapest Odyssey price earlier.

Will have another look - Thanks!

 

[BlueBird]

Check it fits

Ive an odyssey in my 05, I had to grind the fins off the sides to get it to fit

 

[King Key]

My experience with Motobatt has been positive (a battery pun thrown in for good measure) .

 

[Greg Masters]

The OE battery on my GS lasted a few weeks short of 10 years. I don't think it much matters what you fit - just look after it!

 

[tanneman]

If you go the Odyssey way then get the Ctek battery charger (about £35). The Optimate is not rated to charge the gel type batteries sufficiently. Once the BMW battery goes in the GSA it is getting an Odyssey. Have one fitted to the R1100S and that might be switched to a lightweight Lithium one which the Ctek will charge. Cost is a bit prohibitive to have a LifePO4 battery for general use.

 

[TLSgazza]

I bought my gsa in July 2008, it had an odyssey battery on it when I bought it, I don't ride in the winter and its never been on an optimate or any trickle charger, has started my bike after being left unattended all winter, usually early nov until at least march.
That's seven years that its been on my bike that I know of.
Though on another note the OE battery on my TLS lasted 9 years, the second lasted 5, for 3 years it has had a £30.00 cheapo battery I picked up at the bmf in it, none of those batteries were ever put on a trickle charger either, and were all fine until the first finally gave up the ghost.

 

[bod]

I popped in to the Battery Megastore on the way home today (30 seconds off the M5 Aschurch/Evesham junction) and picked up a PC680.
Had they stocked the Motobatt I would have got that. But they were on my route home, had it in stock & I have had my fill of couriers of late, so the Odyssey it was.

£82 collected and a free ogle of the big jugs of the secretary in the background. Not the cheapest, but still a good price I think.

Anyway, it can sit on the kitchen table until the weekend, where I can ponder over whether or not it will fit?

Thanks for the input & good call on the Ctek charger I had heard they are the one's to go for, and could do with another trickle charger.

 

[sagalout]

I have the odyssey and never bothered with a charger. Never goes more than 3 days without being ridden though. Only had it a year, but went for odyssey as it was the only battery that gave me confidence to turn over my previous zx12r in the depths of winter! Again, never bothered with a charger

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I use the Motobatt and it's been perfect over the last 3 years. My bike lives outside and it can be left in a container for a month at a time. Never seen a charger and without fail, spins the motor 3 times before she fires. Excellent value and great product.

 

[Bendy toy]

I got my Odyssey used about 6 months old.
The little metal terminal link provided with the battery is IMO not fit for purpose. Very Wkward to fit. But it's MUCH easier to fit the battery with terminals to the front of the bike.
The wires can easily be rerouted to suit. Use rubber pads to prevent the bracket rubbing paint etc.

 

[bod]

A bit of an update!

Basically it didn't fit?

Reading another thread on this site it appears that BMW make 2 sizes of battery case for the same model based on spec?
My bike has no ABS or dynamic pack, just the premium pack with active suspension.
The Odyssey is nearly 2" longer than the standard battery and 2 lugs that fold over the frame would prevent it fitting even if I ground the fins off the battery.

Anyway, pissed off I started cleaning up the terminals on my old battery when the postie came with my Ctek charger purchased off ebay from the link provided above.

I re-fitted the battery with the Ctek plug in lead and left it to charge overnight. Anyway, I started it 10 times on the bounce yesterday, left the charger OFF last night and have just started it again 10 times just now.

Dirty battery connection or dodgy Optimate?

I have decided to keep the Odyssey as I am thinking of getting a toilet before the year is out & it may just fit?
Failing that I have a cracking spare battery to start my bikes & the car as well.

 

[TLSgazza]

Contact the people you bought it from, they might be able to exchange it for the correct one being as they sold you the one that doesn't fit.

 

[thebuyer]

Will it or won't it ?

This is off my last bike ... Been in cupboard 2 years... Will it recharge? If so .. How ?

Or is it time for a new one ??

 

[bod]

Contact the people you bought it from, they might be able to exchange it for the correct one being as they sold you the one that doesn't fit.

That is an option!

I am passing that way on Thursday, so may drop them an email tomorrow.

 

[bod]

This is off my last bike ... Been in cupboard 2 years... Will it recharge? If so .. How ?

Or is it time for a new one ??

Now that does look the right shape

PC535 ... that's a new one on me?

 

[Bendy toy]

The Odyssey I have is the PC535. Pictured above it fits fine with terminals towards front of bike.