Done 1450 miles on trip so far, just outside Bosnia H and stop to check route and bike won't restart. Lights come on I push on off button but moment I hit starter switch a slight click from the starter and everything goes off. Kind chap on a moto had a jump starter on him and it fired up OK. Get to digs 30k on and it now starts again. I think its a knackered battery or on its way out? Everything else works fine and this is completely out of the blue. The only difference is its been 38 temp last two days on adriactic highway? Any thoughts, new battery arriving tomorrow morning 0900. Courtesy of my fantastic host! Bigs thanks to Pete the Czech on his way to Albania who saved my skin! Comradeship between bikers is real!
Starting issue battery kaput?
- Thread starter RJM123
- Start date
probably the battery. 38C is not good for a battery and will hasten the demise of a weak one
I guess in a day or two you will find out for sure if it was the battery or you have a charging problem. At the moment, any answer is speculation without some diagnostics.
I guess in a day or two you will find out for sure if it was the battery or you have a charging problem. At the moment, any answer is speculation without some diagnostics.
Thanks new battery tomorrow we will see!
Larry Langford
Registered user
I just replaced my battery on my 1250 GS.
What it did was; I took the bike out for a ride and put it on the optimate IV like always. But it charged for more than 24 hours before making green again. Usually they only charge for a few minutes after a ride. I knew then ... new battery .... as I didn't have the history for the battery in the bike and I had even considered changing it out, just because of that. But i did take the bike out again but didn't stop any where just rode around for a half an hour. Then I brought it in and plugged it in, the charger went into the red light ...... Somewhere in this process I noticed in the menu the battery voltage on the page for my motorcycle with many other readouts. The batt was reading about 12 volts. On my RS which is also a 1250, it read 12.5 volts, having no issues. So, back to the GS, after I put in a new AGM that same voltage readout read 12.5 volts now.
I haven't rode it but a small amount but the new AGM seems to have been a success. So if your wondering about the battery, apparently you can check the readout and possibly get some warning before you have to be recovered ... I check it by having the key there, and just turning on the ignition but not the engine. Both 1250s read 12.5 volts now, before starting the engine .....
I wrote a thread on this subject a while ago entitled “big pile of dogshit”.
Here: https://www.ukgser.com/community/threads/big-pile-of-dogshit.400517/
Here: https://www.ukgser.com/community/threads/big-pile-of-dogshit.400517/
New battery = happy life. Don’t over think age of it, new one, old one, how many miles etc, they’re all different. As unique as us 
Where can I find the battery voltage on the system screen?
Thanks everyone, new battery fitted this morning bought directly to me by my host, pukka battery, the one j said I wanted. Checked before I started and standing voltage on old batt was 12.5 but dead on the button. New batt 12.5 volts and starts on the button. Checked with engine running 14.2v charging alternator. Sounds good to me. Montenegro now!
Open-circuit battery voltage is only an approximation of charge held or battery condition.
I've had a few that showed a full charge by voltage, but had feck all capacity left in them.
I've had a few that showed a full charge by voltage, but had feck all capacity left in them.
Larry Langford
Registered user
Remember, with my case, the old agm battery was reading 12.1 and then later 12.0 and was still working perfectly, in spite of the long charging sessions after rides. It always started right up, even warm. But clearly the new batt which is the exactly the same that was replaced, is reading 12.5 volt so a big difference. Trouble is when your dealing with a bunch of folks, you have no idea if they took readings in the right way. Did they leave the charger on? did they start it once and shut it off and the check voltage? Lot of possibilities there .....
What I have found over the years is maintenance free batteries are to be replaced the minute you have a hick-up. The older batteries you could revive somewhat and keep using them. But not the newer stuff. They will leave you stranded ..... imo
JUST replaced the battery on my 18 reg GSA .. so 8 years of all going well and it failed just as you are telling us Mr RJM123. Out of the blue .. wouldn't start. Kaput !
New battery in and all is well.
New battery in and all is well. 
Bloody hell, thats stretching itJUST replaced the battery on my 18 reg GSA .. so 8 years of all going well and it failed just as you are telling us Mr RJM123. Out of the blue .. wouldn't start. Kaput !
Average lifespan for an AGM is 4-5 yrs,
What is it with you lot & batteries? sheeeeesh
My AGM average is a lot higher.
OEM Varta in my car is 8 years old and still going
OEM Yuasa in my R1200RS lasted 6 years. Replaced with an Exide.
Hawker Odyssey in my R1150GS was 9 years old when I sold the bike. It had replaced a wet Varta in 2003
The only recent battery that lasted just 4 years was the one on the S1000XR but that was a small battery that got hot from the engine heat. Conked out at a petrol station but I had my jump start pack so got the 2 miles home. Replaced with an Exide.
I only ever put a charger on them for 24 hours if they need it in winter. This includes the car as it only does 2000 miles a year, with most trips 3 mile supermarket runs, so it might need a top up in colder months.
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