My battery RIP

[Phil Clarke]

Well after asking about replacements last month when I noticed mine getting a bit lazy in the mornings inevitably I did feck all about it and this morning the bike was dead as a door nail - not even the start up screen illuminated, never mind turning the engine over. Unfortunately I'm off up north for a few days tomorrow so instead of abandoning the trip and buying an oddessy battery from motorworks for £100 odd I got an 'Exide' from my local bike shop. No doubt loads of people will say how crap they are but it gets me out of a hole and only cost £54. I'll let you know how I get on but if it lasts anything like the OE one I reckon I'm quids in.

 

[VAL. H.]

Well after asking about replacements last month when I noticed mine getting a bit lazy in the mornings inevitably I did feck all about it and this morning the bike was dead as a door nail - not even the start up screen illuminated, never mind turning the engine over. Unfortunately I'm off up north for a few days tomorrow so instead of abandoning the trip and buying an oddessy battery from motorworks for £100 odd I got an 'Exide' from my local bike shop. No doubt loads of people will say how crap they are but it gets me out of a hole and only cost £54. I'll let you know how I get on but if it lasts anything like the OE one I reckon I'm quids in.

Hmm Me too.

Alterations in the garage meant my bike has been outside the last two nights And guess when the first frosts came
It hasn't let me down yet (touch wood). I recon I might get three yeays out of it.

In my experiance a resonably priced battery lasts for about 2 - 2 1/2 years. With the BW oe battery seeming to last only a few months longer I think I'll be following your lead.

 

[cookie]

don't forget that a lead acid battery can cause a lot of damage to finish if the bike falls over. not worth the saving IMO.

 

[davedyer]

In my experiance a resonably priced battery lasts for about 2 - 2 1/2 years.

An Honda oe battery on my Pan lasted 9 years, no probs. Only changed it when I sold the bike and I didn't want the new owner to be let down.

 

[Boxerboy55]

Dead Battery

My sister passed her test this week, but had acquired a Bandit a few months ago. Unfortunately it has been lying in a friend's shed and the battery was completely dead when I went to ride it home today. Jump started OK from a Fiesta, but bike died at the slightest provocation (e.g. headlamp flash, low revs, etc). A Datatool alarm didn't help matters. Had to to jump it many, many times till I finally got on the move - high revs, lowish speed. Even enjoyed some higher speeds on open roads, but but it cut suddenly coming in to a roundabout - I reckon the revs and volts dropped too low and the immobiliers said stop. Had to wait for another jump start then made the last few miles home.

I big reminder to "Use It" or "Lose It" - machines should be used regularly or they will give up the ghost. Says he who is tucking his GS away for the winter now. But I do use a trickle charger.

Ho Hum.

 

[Bear]

Two Triumph oe batteries lasted 6 years for me. At 23 months old the GS is becoming sluggish on the first start of the day. One for the dealer in the next few days.

 

[babu]

In my experiance a resonably priced battery lasts for about 2 - 2 1/2 years.

Kawasaki K400: 4 years
Suzuki GR650: 2 years
Yamaha FJ1100: 8 years
Yamaha TDM850: 8 years

Never changed a battery. NEVER!

Until....:

Bmw R1200GS: 2 years. 2 batteries.

--
babu

 

[Wilbur3528]

My 1200 Adventure's battery gave up the ghost at 18 months and 6,000 miles. Pain in the butt, but replaced under warranty so no big deal...

 

[Phil Clarke]

On taking the OE battery out I noticed it too was an exide - in other words my £53 quid 'cheapo' replacement is in fact an OE battery without the BMW logo.

I always though exide were out of the bargain basement dept (unlike yuasa) which may explain why so many peoples batteries are croaking early....

 

[Ali-bear]

I just wonder how many of these knackered batteries are on 1200GS's loaded with high-drain extras such as driving lamps?

 

[alimey4u2]

Batteries love work, charging & discharging. They hate vibration & inactivity...

 

[Phil Clarke]

I wondered about the effect of loads of accessories on the battery. My bike had none whatsoever until a month a go when I fitted a gps (powered off the bm socket).

Mind you maybe thats why the battery lasted 2 and a bit years instead of 6 months....

 

[Ali-bear]

I just noticed that my heated grips get turned off, automatically, quite often if the bike is sitting below about 3000rpm. Another 100W of so of lights isn't going to help matters. I'll be turning my headlight off in the future, using the trick, when I think I don't need it on.

Of course I don't know if not being fully charged a lot of the time is actually going to shorten the batteries life or not but it can't help.

 

[alimey4u2]

One of the worst thing you can do to a battery is store it for a long period/s with little or no charge. If the alternator can keep up with all your accessories & charge the battery, there is no harm. A GPS off the accessory socket is timed off after a short period of time. The continuous drains when static are "possibly" the engine management systems &/or factory alarm (if fitted.)

 

[Chris Terry]

I just noticed that my heated grips get turned off, automatically, quite often if the bike is sitting below about 3000rpm. Another 100W of so of lights isn't going to help matters. I'll be turning my headlight off in the future, using the trick, when I think I don't need it on.

Of course I don't know if not being fully charged a lot of the time is actually going to shorten the batteries life or not but it can't help.

My GS maintains the battery above 12volts with every thing on including grips servos & GPS at tick over.
I think your bike has a electrical fault , get it sorted and leave your lights on.

 

[Ali-bear]

Roight y'arr