Well that day didn’t go to plan r1250GS battery

[G&T]

First ride after winter on D’WFR. It has had my schedule of once a month charging during that period. (13v on optimate). Fired up perfect and rode the 10 miles for fuel.

Filled up, ignition on pressed start, two engine heaves and nothing. Mmmm switch off, switch on tried again and nothing. Tried a bump start but not enough hill so that didn’t work. After advice from a friend tried changing the position of the cams by rotating the back wheel in 6th - no luck. (Display showing 11.7v after crank to 12.4v after a few seconds). Number of attempts and nothing.

A mate with a booster pack came to the rescue and it started straight up. Rode to BMW to check the battery and on route was showing 14.4v on the display. At BMW the bike was started several times and no problem. Battery checked and charging no problem.

D’WFR is a June ‘23 bike so 20 months and never a problem.

Very strange it started first time from the garage and has done since after the fail. I’ve read a few battery threads but there doesn’t seem any logic to this. Any ideas?

What have I learned? It’s good to have mates

 

[stratblue]

You probably angered a Wizard.

 

[landmarkjohn]

Well that's a PITA. For piece of mind you have to carry one of those little booster packs.

Next time it happens all you can do is replace the battery and go from there. Maybe it was just a little weak after the winter layup despite reading 13V on optimate. I don't think 12.4V is a top health battery.

 

[grantmac]

Indeed very strange. I had my GSA 1250 on the BMW charger plugged into the socket under the saddle over the winter. Checked it now and again to make sure it was working. Went to start it 2 weeks ago to take it to the garage for part ex. Dead! Left it on the charger for a while.
One turn over and dead. Jumped the bike using my trusty jump kit and it fired immediately. Rode to dealers - 50 km away.
Turned it off. Tried to start it again and dead. 1 turnover and dead. Battery knackered. Its an August 2021 machine. Surely the BMW trickle charger should look after the battery.... Not impressed.

 

[TechnoGSA]

Check the side stand cut out switch, they can stick and they slowly loosen off and all is well again until the next time it sticks. Do a battery load test just voltage doesn't really tell you much, it's cell life/cranking amps that matter. It's very possible one or a couple of cells have died, or are on their way out i.e. they work then they don't.

 

[Pukmeister]

Read my thread thread in the 1250 section entitled "Big Pile Of Dogshit"

Thread 'Big pile of dogshit'

Apr 24, 2024

Why oh why did I trade my hex head for a 1250. Currently sat at my local Sainsburys petrol forecourt with a bike that yet again won’t restart, awaiting BMW assist to message me with a time to attend. I’ve only ridden the bloody thing twelve miles home, I wish I hadn’t stopped to get petrol. Got a euro trip planned next month, I have zero faith in this turd.


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• Pukmeister
• Replies: 243
• Forum: 1200/1250 GS Watercooled

• 
• 

The dig deep and fit a Hybrid battery and sleep easy.

 

[rjsmith26]

Do you have a tracker? My 21plate was shocking with a tracker fitted, basically the tracker slowly tortures the battery and even though the bike will (at times) just about start, a second or third start without a very decent run - mean't starting anxiety. I removed the tracker at the guidance of my local dealer and all problems disappear. I still over winter give the battery an occasional optimate top up but apart from that, good as gold. (P.S. from research the tracker that the boke came with when on subscription uses minimal power - but still drains, once out of subscription the tracker uses much much more power - reporting more often etc - don't ask me why - maybe the tracker company using it as a way to get you to renew!).

 

[GSMarky]

Do you have a tracker? My 21plate was shocking with a tracker fitted, basically the tracker slowly tortures the battery and even though the bike will (at times) just about start, a second or third start without a very decent run - mean't starting anxiety. I removed the tracker at the guidance of my local dealer and all problems disappear. I still over winter give the battery an occasional optimate top up but apart from that, good as gold. (P.S. from research the tracker that the boke came with when on subscription uses minimal power - but still drains, once out of subscription the tracker uses much much more power - reporting more often etc - don't ask me why - maybe the tracker company using it as a way to get you to renew!).

Tracker is a POS & best removed from the bike!

 

[G&T]

Do you have a tracker? My 21plate was shocking with a tracker fitted, basically the tracker slowly tortures the battery and even though the bike will (at times) just about start, a second or third start without a very decent run - mean't starting anxiety. I removed the tracker at the guidance of my local dealer and all problems disappear. I still over winter give the battery an occasional optimate top up but apart from that, good as gold. (P.S. from research the tracker that the boke came with when on subscription uses minimal power - but still drains, once out of subscription the tracker uses much much more power - reporting more often etc - don't ask me why - maybe the tracker company using it as a way to get you to renew!).

No battery connected tracker, so no problems with current draw. If there was I’d have noticed this at first startup.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Kickstarter

It’s the way forward

 

[G&T]

Read my thread thread in the 1250 section entitled "Big Pile Of Dogshit"

Thread 'Big pile of dogshit'

Apr 24, 2024

Why oh why did I trade my hex head for a 1250. Currently sat at my local Sainsburys petrol forecourt with a bike that yet again won’t restart, awaiting BMW assist to message me with a time to attend. I’ve only ridden the bloody thing twelve miles home, I wish I hadn’t stopped to get petrol. Got a euro trip planned next month, I have zero faith in this turd.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

• Pukmeister
• Replies: 243
• Forum: 1200/1250 GS Watercooled

• 
• 

The dig deep and fit a Hybrid battery and sleep easy.

D’WFR is great, so I’m really happy and I know batteries can be fickle. Looking at about £80 for a YUASA 240 cold crank so +40cc on OEM.

 

[Robbieben]

It's not uncommon for electrical equipment at garages etc to interfere with the immobiliser signal preventing a bike from starting.

 

[Santa-2512]

Easy answer, ride the fecker daily

mines used all year round, when I noticed the starting was getting sluggish as per my hexhead i new a WNS was imminent

when it happened, I waited 10 mins , restarted, & swapped starter and a new battery

Normal service resumed

 

[Traffic893]

Happened to mine a few weeks back. Duff battery identified and changed under warranty. The bike is on optimate trickle when not in use and this is the first battery issue I’ve had in 7 years, on 3 different GS. Fingers crossed no further issues.

 

[landmarkjohn]

Saw this comment on a FB thread ref poor starting #startsmassivedebate

 

[G&T]

Saw this comment on a FB thread ref poor starting #startsmassivedebate
View attachment 390592

Interesting you should post this as the Techie said, “Leaving the Trickle charger constantly attached is no good for the battery.” I said that’s not my strategy as only once a month it gets connected for 8hrs or so and then disconnected. I’ve always done this and has always worked for me.

 

[karlp]

Indeed very strange. I had my GSA 1250 on the BMW charger plugged into the socket under the saddle over the winter. Checked it now and again to make sure it was working. Went to start it 2 weeks ago to take it to the garage for part ex. Dead! Left it on the charger for a while.
One turn over and dead. Jumped the bike using my trusty jump kit and it fired immediately. Rode to dealers - 50 km away.
Turned it off. Tried to start it again and dead. 1 turnover and dead. Battery knackered. Its an August 2021 machine. Surely the BMW trickle charger should look after the battery.... Not impressed.

I had the same issues with a 2021 bike but luckly it was under warranty - so battery replaced

I think there was a bad batch of batteries

 

[siddo]

Interesting you should post this as the Techie said, “Leaving the Trickle charger constantly attached is no good for the battery.” I said that’s not my strategy as only once a month it gets connected for 8hrs or so and then disconnected. I’ve always done this and has always worked for me.

Mines been on the charger after every ride and still works as it should and it's 3 years old.
Will probably die now I typed this.

 

[Robbieben]

Its not recommended to have any battery constantly on charge as it will damage the plates over time, batteries are at their best when charged & discharged.
If you are using an optimate constantly it will sulphate the plates slowly and shorten the battery life. Its far better if not using your bike to put the optimate on for 8 hrs once a month.

 

[TechnoGSA]

Its not recommended to have any battery constantly on charge as it will damage the plates over time, batteries are at their best when charged & discharged.
If you are using an optimate constantly it will sulphate the plates slowly and shorten the battery life. Its far better if not using your bike to put the optimate on for 8 hrs once a month.

Err no. A fully functional current range optimate or any other maintenance (that's a key word) charger, can be left connected indefinitely. These only (another key word) charge when the battery requires it, the rest of the time the charger is monitoring it, not charging it. Old batteries required or in most cases preferred discharge charging as they suffered memory effect, all modern batteries don't. Yes, if your maintenance charger is no longer maintaining and constantly charging, then yes damage is likely, that being shortened life. Earlier Optimates (15ish yrs ago) didn't charge as well as they do post that and the later types are even better at monitoring. Most batteries fail because either they're not maintained correctly, have some kind of parasitic drain, that is allowed to drain it below what can be recharged without there being cell damage/loss, over charged by using a faulty and/or incorrect charger e.g. car chargers. Very few quality batteries will just fail, some will but not many.