R1150GS - New Battery?

Invicta Moto

Invicta Moto

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Odyssey or BMW Exide Gel?

have read threads all over the place and the general opinion is that the Odyssey is the Mr Wonderful of the battery world...

But does it slot straight in and connect up without too much messing about?
 
Its a little thinner, possibly taller and you will need to make a couple of L shaped metal bits to connect it, I used a couple of pieces of foam to make it snug, also the connections end up close to the tank underside :eek:
 
I have an Odyssey on my R1150GS. It is lovely and is still giving good service after 7 years.

However, if it dies I will replace it with an Exide or Westco as there is a substantial price advantage. 7 years ago an Odyssey was a leap ahead of most batteries: times change and there are alternatives using the same AGM technology for less money.
 
I put an exide gel in my bike... couldn't be doing with the faffing about that an odyssey involves. More than a few chaps have had up to 10 years on the OEM battery and thats good enough for me.
 
OEM/Exide for me, and I have a spare one still in its box. £40 if you want to ride to Broadstairs and collect it :)
 
Invicta Moto said:
Odyssey or BMW Exide Gel?

have read threads all over the place and the general opinion is that the Odyssey is the Mr Wonderful of the battery world...

But does it slot straight in and connect up without too much messing about?
Click to expand...

Not worth the premium price any more, recently replaced my failed Ody with an Exide and it's fine. Other manufacturers have updated their components and you can now get a decent recognised manufacturer/quality gel/agm easily and at half the cost. The Ody gave good life as I do lots of miles and it lasted about 6-7 years, but I wouldn't pay the price again now. Try Motorworks for an Exide/OEM for half the price the dealer charges.
 
It's a bit of messing around right enough to fit the Oddysey and keep the lugs away from the tank. I cut the posi terminal cover off the OEM job and taped it over the Oddy one, Heath-Robinson like. :1/10
 
warmshed said:
OEM gel battery from motoworks is £69 delivery £10.52

PC 680 odyssey is £80 delivery free, is that much of a premium?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ODYSSEY-P..._CarParts_SM&hash=item41600b24f0#ht_753wt_932
Click to expand...

Got mine for £64 delivered and at the time cheapest Ody was £100+ so yes at that point it was, given the prices you've quoted ( though I note it's a limited stock AND a special reduced price ) above there's little difference in it for that deal, not sure what the "normal" going rate is for one otherwise. Personally I'd still go for the Exide these days all things considered, given you also need post clips and the messing about required under the tank to ensure clearance from shorting, especially if you've a few other connections.

But hey end of the day you pays your money you makes etc etc etc......
 
Exide OEM.

Odyssey batteries aren't made of special magic - they just trade capacity for starting current. And they don't fit properly and need the terminals faffing with. And they're dearer.

If an OEM Exide won't start your bike reliably then you've got other problems which need fixing.

But Odyssey's are red and you can say "I've got an Odyssey battery" if you buy one. And there's always the extra frisson of excitement as you ride along wondering if the terminals of your red, ill fitting battery are going to short on the underside of your tank and turn your bike into a fuel-air bomb - maybe that's important...
 
Exide. That is what I have on my Rt and it says not to be mounted after 07/2007. So that means it's al least 4 1/2 yr old, maybe much more. Bike still starts fine, but I had to do the ABS relay mod.

Dan.
 
MattW said:
But Odyssey's are red and you can say "I've got an Odyssey battery" if you buy one. And there's always the extra frisson of excitement as you ride along wondering if the terminals of your red, ill fitting battery are going to short on the underside of your tank and turn your bike into a fuel-air bomb - maybe that's important...
Click to expand...

:jes :jes :jes :jes
 
MattW said:
Exide OEM.

But Odyssey's are red and you can say "I've got an Odyssey battery" if you buy one. And there's always the extra frisson of excitement as you ride along wondering if the terminals of your red, ill fitting battery are going to short on the underside of your tank and turn your bike into a fuel-air bomb - maybe that's important...
Click to expand...

No Odyssey batteries also come in back with red top, If you fit your batteries such that allows it not to be connected correctly and likely to short out It indicates you should not touch any battery! much less give advice to others.
 
MattW is someone's advice I would really take in case I need it so you might want to reconsider that :)

Dan.
 
easy ...

read the link
fantastic service, and reasonable and a discount, what more could you want.?
Ive put a regular lead acid on mine, 100 year old technology,works fine.
 
warmshed said:
No Odyssey batteries also come in back with red top, If you fit your batteries such that allows it not to be connected correctly and likely to short out It indicates you should not touch any battery! much less give advice to others.
Click to expand...

Ooh - touchy!

Every Odyssey I've seen fitted required its terminals bodging with adapters. Unless they've changed their shape recently, they are also taller and thinner than the ISO standard OEM, so need wedging in place which brings them close(er) to the underside of your steel tank. And for the privilege of bodging this ill fitting battery into place they charge you more...

My OEM Varta (unsurprisingly) fit perfectly in the OEM Varta shaped hole. Its terminals were (unsurprisingly) a perfect match for the OEM wiring harness. It was £25 cheaper than an Odyssey (at the time), starts my bike just fine and is on its fourth year.

Am I missing something here?

(OK - perhaps they only feel the need to advertise their loveliness with a special red top now - I'll give you that :rolleyes: )
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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