willemstadt
Registered user
The Optimate 4 is designed to work with the BMW Canbus system. Just plug it into the accessory socket and it will switch the Canbus as required. I have mine permanently connected in the winter in between rides.
Optimate connection
- Thread starter Narked
- Start date
Don't worry about the sarcasm. Most of the members on here are very worried about modern new fangled technology sneaking it's way onto the bikes
Owentraveller
Registered user
Yes that's what I thought I'd do but the maintenance cycle fails to connect after about 3 days. The "red" condition lights shows and you can hear the charger trying to connect and the really working but no joy. Trouble is, I bought my optimate from Nippy Normans and it doesn't come with the charging pigtail!
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Optimate+Charging+Leads 
Or just dive in here at Sportsbike Shop and part with £4.99, that's the price for the lead for the direct battery connection.
http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/2649
Or just dive in here at Sportsbike Shop and part with £4.99, that's the price for the lead for the direct battery connection.
http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/2649
Titto
Registered user
Takes about 5-10 minutes to connect direct to the battery with any charger. Im not technical at all but really isn't a problem to sort yourself.
Captain Beaky
Registered user
I'm looking into this right now - not all Optimate 4's are can-bus compatible.
I've been wondering what to do with my LC, especially since my old 1150 GS is coming back to roost, I'll need to buy another charger anyway, so I thought I'd go for tho optimate 4, and use the bikes own socket.
Are there any bad stories with this?
I'd normally just fit the lead that comes with the charger, straight to the battery, but I hate anything that's not properly squared away, and still dislike having a connector dangling down somewhere.
Also, on my previous bikes, you could plug in the charger to the socket with one hand, and gloves on, the fiddly connectors on some chargers are rubbish, and difficulty to see in the dark, need two hands...
Oh.... Is is me? Or am I starting a rant?
Seriously though, is there a problem with the optimate 4's?
If so, I'll add another socket to the bike.
Do something useful to put yourself out of your self-imposed misery and stop wallowing about in an ocean of confusion and self doubt over roosting motorcycles * , having your connector out and dangling, what happens if it's dark and what to do with your gloves.
Ring the feckers up tomorrow and ask them. They won't bite, at least not that you'll feel down the phone.
http://www.optimate.co.uk/contact optimate.htm
ProBike Ltd,
Unit 4, Sterling Business Park,
Salthouse Road
Brackmills
Northampton
NN4 7EX
Tel: 01604 660777
* I am not entirely convinced that steeds (no matter how awesome) ever roost. Stabled, maybe?
Ring the feckers up tomorrow and ask them. They won't bite, at least not that you'll feel down the phone.
http://www.optimate.co.uk/contact optimate.htm
ProBike Ltd,
Unit 4, Sterling Business Park,
Salthouse Road
Brackmills
Northampton
NN4 7EX
Tel: 01604 660777
* I am not entirely convinced that steeds (no matter how awesome) ever roost. Stabled, maybe?
Captain Beaky
Registered user
Where do you get all this self-imposed misery and ocean of confusion and self doubt stuff come from?
I am asking if anyone has had problems with the optimate 4, not for a business address ( but thanks anyway )
Yes, like a lemming jumping off a cliff, I could ask them "does your product work?". To have a salesperson say "yes sir, we've had no complaints". And then buy it in the knowledge that I've had an honest and correct answer?
But I choose to check here to see if anyone has had problems.
Incidentally, the reference "coming home to roost" is derived from "all the chickens coming home to roost" meaning past deeds catching up with you, which is quite apt in my case, as I am buying my bike back, and it will rejoin my stable.
Anyway, the actual answers I am looking for are not the ones to the questions I asked. In my digging, I find advice that says that the nav shouldn't be connected when the charger is plugged into the aux socket ( because when the bike powers down then the nav ends up connected to the optimate)
Also, I find that there is a location for a second aux power socket in the normal position under the seat.
Problem solved - I'll put a second aux socket in the underseat location, and wire it to the battery ( with a suitable fuse, of course ).
And even better, I won't end up with a specific charger for one bike only - they will be fully interchangeable...
Job done.
Mike.
Just about sums it all up.
Captain Beaky
Registered user
Hey, Wapping, are you a politician per chance?
It is a typical politicians dirty trick that gets used when any rational argument fails - ignore any context and go for the juiciest sound bite, and spin like crazy.
It is a typical politicians dirty trick that gets used when any rational argument fails - ignore any context and go for the juiciest sound bite, and spin like crazy.
Hey!
1. Don't tell everyone - Wapping makes a good living off doing this
2. It was a terrific sound bite...
Mike
DX407
Registered user
I have never read so much rubbish, the guys asking the questions have a genuine problem, the new GS has an all new system if you connect things to it the wrong way it can cause real damage and cost wedges to put right, so who should you ask? BMW, nope they just try to flog you a BMW charger at £80, cant see what Probike can do to help, they may import or sell the optimate but I am sure they will not be experts on the new GS, so where does that leave us, maybe an owners group, but would you get genuine advise or just a bunch of bar room bike mechanics taking the pi55.
Simple answer.
Any bike slow charger
remove the right hand panel under the front end on the seat,
remove the securing bracket
pull out the battery
Red end goes to +
Black end goes to -
Cable tie the lead to a convenient place to prevent it flopping about or getting damaged.
put it all back together (reverse of taking it apart)
If the charger lights up all is well, if it shows an error, you have done something wrong, check and test, check and test.
Job done.
Captain Beaky
Registered user
And that's what I'll be doing - but I'll be fitting a normal auxiliary socket by personal preference ( it reduces my sea of self inflicted doubt - or something like that!.)
jeff
Registered user
Have optimate lead connected direct to battery and zip tied to frame. Easy connection, works fine. Charger is 3 or 4 years old and has a TM(KET) connector.
Was given an optimate 4 dual program for Christmas (better than socks!)
The new charger has a SAE compatible connector. I have an adaptor so can use existing lead on bike, but the charger can be configured to work on CAN-bus. Clear. Instructions on back of charger.
Was given an optimate 4 dual program for Christmas (better than socks!)
The new charger has a SAE compatible connector. I have an adaptor so can use existing lead on bike, but the charger can be configured to work on CAN-bus. Clear. Instructions on back of charger.
Captain Beaky
Registered user
I've decided to fit a second socket on the LC, that's permanently connected to the bike.
That way, I don't have to faff around and fuss with different chargers for different bikes, they all do the same.
I park the bikes in different places, it'd be a pain if I had to swap chargers over.
Also optimate 4 isn't cheap!
That way, I don't have to faff around and fuss with different chargers for different bikes, they all do the same.
I park the bikes in different places, it'd be a pain if I had to swap chargers over.
Also optimate 4 isn't cheap!
Captain Beaky
Registered user
+1 I've got a few of them ( used to have a few military vehicles, one had 5 batteries!, so at £12 each, they were very welcome at the time.)
Only downside, if you have a power cut ( we have loads of short power cuts in the rural wilds a of Gloucestershire), the charger does not come back on. But hey - for £12...
DX407
Registered user
This is a radical idea, read the replies, try to understand them, try google and look for further education courses if you are struggling with the concept of understanding, it may be quite enlightening for you, I am also sure there are people who can help you use google, then read the replies again.
Yes any charger, even the cheap ones,
The control system on the new GS is new to most people, and can be quite intimidating, as the old way of battery - ignition switch - switch - fuse - load - earth- battery (yes I know sometimes the fuse is before the switch) has now been replaced by a control computer. So yes this is an all new system, ok if you want to be picky is has been on bikes for about 12 years, but it is relatively new to the GS, so for Gods sake give the people who are concerned about doing something wrong a break, get your head out of your arse and offer some help, if you can't help, shut up, And remember google is not a replacement for experience.
We've got a live one....
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