Won,t Start Help !!

[Our Gee]

Beautiful Morning here in N.E. England. Just the kind of day to go for a Spin as it,s been over a month now. Into garage, noting two "greens " on the Optimate. Disconnect Optimate, wheel bike outside. Then visitors arrive. Two hours later visitors leave, so it,s gear on and hit the Starter Button. Loud "click" from the solenoid, Engine does about half a revolution and nothing. Bike back in Garage, re-connect Optimate which goes into Charge Mode (amber light). 45 minutes later and two greens again. Hit Starter and same as before. Check voltage across Battery terminals which is 13.7 volts. Check Starter Motor terminals, all tight.
Is it the Battery !!. (2007 1200GS with less than 6000 miles) Help.

 

[BegesRus]

Mike - I know it's a bu***r for this to happen
Mine was the same
I bought a new Odessy battery as the OEM is not enough to power a Casio Camera

 

[Big Lee]

See what the battery is holding when you`re cranking the bike over or trying too! My Dads car battery was holding great Voltage just after it was charged but as soon as any load was put on it it dropped to 2.5ish volts.

 

[flatvee]

Same happened to me today. Beautiful morning, wheeled bike out of garage (06 1200gs), for a quick run up the Northumberland coast and only clicking from the solenoid. Having just renewed my warranty phoned BMW assist and to their credit were there within the hour. The mechanic jumped the bike from his booster pack and told me to follow him to BMW main dealer at Wallsend where he would check the battery.

On arrival he tested the battery and said it was ok!. However, when he tried starting the bike for the second time, again no power. He reckoned it could be a dodgy cell and offered me a new one for £64 plus vat.
I declined and told him I'd probably go for the Odyssey.
Any thoughts?

 

[Our Gee]

Thanks for the replies Guys, latest is that Iv,e just removed the Battery from the Bike (following Optimate,s instructions) and reconnected the Optimate which has gone into "Orange" mode. I,ll see what it,s like this evening and if still no joy contact my Dealer. Anyone know what the Warranty period is on the Battery as my Bike is an August 07.

 

[BegesRus]

1 year - good dealers will put your case up to BMW for an out of wannanty goodwill gesture / replacement - this may mean a limit of £100 - just about the price of an Odessy battery

 

[deaninkl]

Mine didn't last 30 seconds... it wouldn't start at the dealers on day of collection. So they jump started with a car, then I road 20km to the service center and in went a new battery, that was May 2007. In January 08 after a 3 week lay up (its warm all year here so no winter) went to start the bike.. nothing, collected by BMW, amother battery fitted free. Till now no problems and bike has 21k km on it.

The battery is simply to small for the job, its physicall half the size of a Harley battery, they do it to save wieght (its a cost saving to them also).

As you are still under warranty it should be simple.

 

[RPilot]

As battery capacity is small and due to standby current of ZFE it is allways useful to engage battery charger periodic.
For low OEM Quality sometimes a change to ODYSSEY PC 535 and her 25% plus on capacity makes sense.
Though deep discharge will damage them too, maintaining good battery condition is recommended for getting happy started.

 

[Ali-bear]

Sorry to hear of all these battery woes. I'm an irregular rider but my stock battery is fine ... so far.

Where does one obtain an Odyssey from?

 

[wilbjr21]

Mine didn't last 30 seconds... it wouldn't start at the dealers on day of collection. So they jump started with a car, then I road 20km to the service center and in went a new battery, that was May 2007. In January 08 after a 3 week lay up (its warm all year here so no winter) went to start the bike.. nothing, collected by BMW, amother battery fitted free. Till now no problems and bike has 21k km on it.

The battery is simply to small for the job, its physicall half the size of a Harley battery, they do it to save wieght (its a cost saving to them also).

As you are still under warranty it should be simple.

KTM use an 11AH as opposed to the 14AH of the GS - seems they way things are going

A quote from the handbook to keep in mind:-

If the battery is not disconnected,
the on-board electronics
(e.g. clock, etc.) gradually
drain the battery. This can cause
the battery to run flat. If this happens,
warranty claims will not be
accepted.
If the motorcycle is to be out of
use for more than four weeks,
disconnect the battery or connect
a suitable trickle charger to
the battery.