battery trouble

[finsally]

Hi,took my bike out today roads were dry but very cold,filled up with petrol,but when a tried to start up it was very sluggish on the starter, but it fired up I noticed the computer had reset everything,m.p.g average speed etc.Did about 35 miles then when I got home I stopped the engine to open the garage door

The battery was again very sluggish in turning the engine over and one stage I did'nt think it would,when the engine kicked in again the computer reset itself.

I have a BMW charger which I normally use every couple of weeks to charge the battery up
Should I keep it on all the time to make sure the battery is fully charged,or could the battery be on the out?
Bike is a 08 model with 5,500 miles on the clock.

Many thanks

Cheers Bob

[mogu83]

Looks like time for a battery. The battery failure most of the early bikes had was a total failure situation, yours sounds like an old battery situation. I'm assuming you have the original battery - you didn't say.

[dbrick]

The significant info is that the bike's an '08, which means the battery's getting on four years old. I agree with Harry: it's most likely that the battery's on its way out. At four years, it's on borrowed time; were it mine, I'd just replace it.

[finsally]

Yes it is the orginal battery,the bike is just over three years old, with less than 6000 miles on the clock,having to replace the battery is very bad crack,I have a VW polo nearly 12 yrs old still on the orginal battery!!

Won't be using the bike until the weather improves so will keep it on charge and see what develops with it.

The odessey battery seems to be the one to go for,any feedback on them? and are they a straight swop with the bmw battery.


Many thanks for your advice guys

Cheers Bob

[mogu83]

Bob - remember that this is a two cylinder 1200cc engine with 12.00:1 compression. It takes a good shot to fill those cylinders with air and then compress it. If it was a kick start you would know how much effort a feat like that takes. With that, and all the electronics a weak or cheap battery just won't do in this bike.
As far as a replacement, search battery and drive yourself crazy. Just remember everyone has an opinion but your the one spending the money.

[redwing]

Hi Bob...Looked at your profile but it didn't say where you are at so this info might not be useful because of shipping. See the Topic .."Battery Stuff (again)" ...it's about batteries....Go figure... In it is a link to a MotoBat.
http://www.bikebatts.com/product_info.p ... cts_id=534
In the topic "BS(A)" there is another link about popular batteries....

Seems like a good deal and I'm wanting to make a MotoBat my next battery.
Enjoy that bike...
Robert

[jkhomes]

The answer to your other question is yes, leave it on your BMW charger all the time when you are not riding it.

[finsally]

I am in the U.K....North-east England to be exact..yes a see your point about the power needed to crank the engine..thanks for the info..I can get a odessey battery over here for £105 or £114 for the bmw one,dunno what that is in U.S dollars,


Cheers Bob

[nielsm]

I got an Odyssey when my 2nd BMW battery ate itself in less than a year. The Odyssey has been brilliant.... lots of power to start, even in the cold & after sitting a couple weeks. No problem with driving all the heated gear.

One downside, you have to trim it to fit. It's just the plastic fins, but it can be time consuming.

[dbrick]

Yes it is the orginal battery,the bike is just over three years old

And how long did it sit before the bike was bought? The battery is likely older than the bike's registration age.
Sometimes they last a long time - like in your Polo - but usually they don't. And sometimes they last less than we expect.
I think four years of battery life is not unexceptional.

[finsally]

Well the fella I bought it off had the bike nearly 3 years and had only done 2,500 miles in that time.So it was left standing a lot,I have doubled the mileage in 6 months..maybe that is why the battery is poor.
Its been on charge for 24 hrs and it started up o.k today.


Cheers Bob

[roger l]

I have a 2008 that I bought with 2000 miles on it last year. The battery showed no sign of problems. I was on the freeway in heavy stop and go traffic for about 20 minutes. I let out the clutch to fast and stalled the bike and it would not restart. The computer screen was blank, nothing. After the bike sat for 10 minutes the computer would come on but would go out when I pushed the start button. I had to have my wife come get me with the trailer. If the battery looks to be bad replace it. It is better then getting stuck on the side of the road.

Just me 2 cents

Roger L

[redwing]

Bob... found a MotoBat on ebay...in Great Britain.???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MotoBatt-QuadFl ... 209wt_1270

Robert

[M249Joe]

I got an Odyssey when my 2nd BMW battery ate itself in less than a year. The Odyssey has been brilliant.... lots of power to start, even in the cold & after sitting a couple weeks. No problem with driving all the heated gear.

One downside, you have to trim it to fit. It's just the plastic fins, but it can be time consuming.

+1 Happy with the Odyssey

[finsally]

Thanks Robert for your trouble,sounds promising a will certainly consider one of those,a lot cheaper as well!!

Cheers Bob

[mogu83]

The Guzzi guys like that Motobat battery. Some good reports on the Wildguzzi list. http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?action=search2

Don't know if that link will work.

[red baron]

I have also a 2008 R1200R and the original battery quit at 30,000 Miles last fall. I purchased a Shorai Battery and for various reasosn I could not ride my bike for the last 3 1/2 months. Took the bike out last Sunday for a 200 miles ride and the bike started instantly and without any problems. Can highly recomend this lithium battery.

[bhmav8r]

Replace it now, before you get stranded (like me). They tend to fail totally and abrubtly - battery tender or not. . I stopped for fuel, tried to restart , tried to hit - then died - no lights - nothing .

Luckily i called the local shop and they brought me a battery, installed it roadside. SWEET !