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Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Sun May 12, 2019 10:53 pm
by vuduchyld
Howdy Folks!

As the title says, I just bought a 2004 R1150R last Friday. After riding home 60 miles, I think I might be in love.

I've had several motorcycles...have probably logged around 80,000-100,000 miles over the years (I'm 51 years old). My only other current bike is a 1981 Honda GL1100, which was a Naked Wing from the factory (and still is naked).

The BMW has a very small windscreen and the System Cases, which are outstanding. It also has ABS and heated grips. Of all the bikes I've owned, I've never had anything fuel injected before. With one exception (Harley clone not worth discussing), this is my first bike made after 1983, so while it's 15 years old, it sure feels like a step into the modern world. I think it must have the "tall" 6th gear I've read about, because on the road coming home, there was a BIG drop in RPMs when shifting from 5th to 6th. At the speed I was traveling, I preferred the throttle response of 5th gear, so I didn't spend much time in 6th. Will take some getting used to, I think. Other than that, the BMW feels like an extension of me. It's a beautiful machine. My first BMW.

I'm sure I'll have other questions, but for now, I'm hoping somebody can help me with battery tender recs. The gentleman I bought it from had a tender plugged into the accessory socket. I guess I sort of assumed the tender came with the bike, but it didn't and I'm not complaining. He does have another bike. But when I jumped on the internet to make my first accessory purchase, I couldn't find anything that looked like what he had. Hell, I think some of the ones I found when I searched for "BMW motorcycle battery tender" appear to be for cars. So...help me out, please!

Thank you!

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 9:23 am
by Tundra Dweller
Anything from the Company Deltran is quality product. Typically labeled “Battery Tender”.
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-0 ... way&sr=8-4

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 10:55 am
by Photoguy
I use the Battery Tender Plus. This is an older model, not sure of it's current availability but probably. Make sure to get the BMW specific plug, it's different from a typical cigarette lighter size. Might be worth double checking the battery to see what's in there for compatibility also?

Congratulations, it's a great bike-

)sorry it's upside down but you'll get the idea- cell phone pic)

Image

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 6:34 pm
by vuduchyld
Ah, yes...I probably need to know more about the battery, don't I?

Thank you both!

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 11:29 pm
by Barista
I have the factory original that came with my 2004 1150R. When I bought my bike last year, (with 5,100 miles on it), the original owner gave me the original BMW charger that he got with the bike in 04. He said it didn't work so I bought a new Optimate 5 Voltmatic at the recommendation of a local bike shop. Then I looked at the original and found that the previous owner had pulled the cord almost completly out of the BMW style plug-in. Just a quick wire reconnect and it now works perfectly, (and now I have two good chargers). If you want to buy one of them send me a private message.

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 4:17 am
by Buckster
If you have a local dealer you could get a BMW charger there. That is where I got mine. It would be nice to support a local dealer and get to know the staff at the parts counter.
Congrats on the bike!

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 6:49 am
by vuduchyld
Thanks, Buckster. That is actually a really good thought. I am an SBDC Director, so very local-business oriented. My nearest dealer is about an hour away, so not exactly super local, but that's still a worthwhile venture!

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 9:08 am
by gregor
I have an Optimate 4. Very happy with that brand. Battery connected all year round ( well when the bike is in the garage).

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 7:46 pm
by towerworker
I've been using a Battery Tender Jr for I guess 14 years. Just be sure whatever tender you buy matches up with the chemistry of your battery.

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 10:27 pm
by vuduchyld
Thank you all. I finally looked at it and it's lead acid. So I think I'm good to go. Appreciate the recommendations!

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 11:33 pm
by Sunbeemer
Lead-acid batteries have different forms and require different chargers to get the most life out of them.
"Regular" lead-acid batteries have a replenishable liquid (acid electrolyte) in them, and also include some of the maintenance-free types.
Other maintenance-free types have gel electrolyte in them that changes their charging chemistry which requires a different charger.
Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) lead-acid batteries have the electrolyte absorbed in non-conductive fiberglass and include spiral-wound batteries. These require a different type of charger to ensure they receive a full charge at a higher voltage.
If you use a charger designed for the old liquid electrolyte batteries to charge an an AGM battery, it will never attain a full charge so it can never deliver the full performance it was designed for, and will likely not last as long as it should.
I hope this is helpful in your selection of the proper charger for your battery.

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 4:10 am
by gregor
And that very small screen might be the oe flyscreen that I recommend. Lower wind noise than larger screens imao.Mine came with the system cases as well.
Post a picture of your bike when you can.
Enjoy!

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 10:18 am
by swamper
The tender is a good idea as it seems with the three R1150R we have the clock drains the system enough that sitting for a month leaves the Battery low.

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 9:52 pm
by vuduchyld
Sunbeemer wrote:Lead-acid batteries have different forms and require different chargers to get the most life out of them.
"Regular" lead-acid batteries have a replenishable liquid (acid electrolyte) in them, and also include some of the maintenance-free types.
Other maintenance-free types have gel electrolyte in them that changes their charging chemistry which requires a different charger.
Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) lead-acid batteries have the electrolyte absorbed in non-conductive fiberglass and include spiral-wound batteries. These require a different type of charger to ensure they receive a full charge at a higher voltage.
If you use a charger designed for the old liquid electrolyte batteries to charge an an AGM battery, it will never attain a full charge so it can never deliver the full performance it was designed for, and will likely not last as long as it should.
I hope this is helpful in your selection of the proper charger for your battery.
Oh sheeeee-ut. Well, it's a really cheap Leoch battery, so I'm guessing it's nothing special. I think it says it's sealed lead acid.

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 9:53 pm
by vuduchyld
swamper wrote:The tender is a good idea as it seems with the three R1150R we have the clock drains the system enough that sitting for a month leaves the Battery low.
I was just about to say that I'll have to ride it every day until I get the tender...but it looks like a lot of rain this week. Not that I'm a landlubber. Don't mind riding in the rain at all. But with a new-to-me bike, I'll probably feel the need to let her stay dry!

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 9:57 pm
by vuduchyld
Image
gregor wrote:And that very small screen might be the oe flyscreen that I recommend. Lower wind noise than larger screens imao.Mine came with the system cases as well.
Post a picture of your bike when you can.
Enjoy!
Horrible picture. Will do better this weekend, but it's 10 PM and this is the only one I've got without me, my 7-year-old, my wife, or my co-workers in it! (My car is a Tesla, so that was the first time I stopped at a gas pump in a long while!)

Image

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 7:50 am
by Photoguy
Not entirely sure, but isn't that the sport screen? I had one on my previous bike but currently have the fly screen which is a little bit smaller. Either way, nice looking bike you've got there-

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 8:08 am
by gregor
Thanks for the photograph. American gas pumps look different to UK petrol pumps.That's not the flyscreen I know. Mine is pale green/blue and has only two fixings under the top steering yoke.

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 10:44 am
by swamper
Sports touring screen low, BMW item, they work very good. The fly screen is smaller and really only keeps the bugs off the back of the gauge holder.

Re: Just bought a 2004 R1150R...need battery tender recommendations

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:04 am
by shahrkster