Moving the battery forwards on the bike

[riceburner]

I seem to remember there was a thread about this on the old board - did the information get transferred??

Obviously I've a non-ABS bike and I'd like to increase the on-bike storage space if possible.

[beemerphile]

Obviously I've a non-ABS bike and I'd like to increase the on-bike storage space if possible.

It would still be fairly hard space to utilize. You might try an Odyssey PC-545 battery installed up front as it is smaller (but still higher ampacity than the stock BMW battery). I used the extra space to install two PC-545's along with a NewMar battery integrator. The main battery feeds just the starter motor. The second feeds everything else. The integrator charges both but doesn't allow one to deplete the other. That way when either battery fails, you can keep going. This is a common practice on boats. Don't confuse the integrator with an isolator which doesn't charge the batteries as well because of forward loss with the diodes. - Lee

[riceburner]

Obviously I've a non-ABS bike and I'd like to increase the on-bike storage space if possible.

It would still be fairly hard space to utilize. You might try an Odyssey PC-545 battery installed up front as it is smaller (but still higher ampacity than the stock BMW battery). I used the extra space to install two PC-545's along with a NewMar battery integrator. The main battery feeds just the starter motor. The second feeds everything else. The integrator charges both but doesn't allow one to deplete the other. That way when either battery fails, you can keep going. This is a common practice on boats. Don't confuse the integrator with an isolator which doesn't charge the batteries as well because of forward loss with the diodes. - Lee

Sounds interesting - but I'm not having issues with battery power or anything like that (the bike does 105 miles every day in two journeys so it's fully charged 99% of the time. )

I seem to remember someone posting a complete explanation of how to move the battery into the unused ABS space.

[dallara]

Moving the battery forward into the unused "ABS space" would get some mass forward and lower... Both good things for handling... So getting easily accessible storage space doesn't have to be the only reason.

Interesting idea.

I'm going to take a look at that next time I have the tank off... Right now I have a neat little home-fabbed aluminum bracket and electrical junction box down in there to get power to all my electrical goodies (fog lights, driving lights, GPS, radar detector, power to my tank bag, etc.), but that could be easily re-done...

Hmmmm...

Thanks!

Dallara

[riceburner]

Moving the battery forward into the unused "ABS space" would get some mass forward and lower... Both good things for handling... So getting easily accessible storage space doesn't have to be the only reason.

Interesting idea.

I'm going to take a look at that next time I have the tank off... Right now I have a neat little home-fabbed aluminum bracket and electrical junction box down in there to get power to all my electrical goodies (fog lights, driving lights, GPS, radar detector, power to my tank bag, etc.), but that could be easily re-done...

Hmmmm...

Thanks!

Dallara

I thought you (or someone like you) might actually remember the thread?

Either someone did it - or someone posted up about a kit that you could buy???

[dallara]

Man, Riceburner...

Wasn't me. Wish it had been, and wish I had been sharp enough to spot the battery could go there all the times I've had the friggin' tank off!

Maybe Boxermania will chime in here, as that is something seems right up his alley, what with all his airbox, fuel pressure regulator, etc. experiments.

And *DAMN*, I don't remember a thread about it, either...

Sorry.

Dallara

[Simon D]

Blimey Dallara, what sort of tank bag do you use that needs power? Does it glow in the dark?
Si

[R4R&R]

Why not mount a small gel battery in the beak?




......Maybe not.

[dallara]

Two things...

Simon said (damn, I have been waiting to say that! ):

Blimey Dallara, what sort of tank bag do you use that needs power? Does it glow in the dark?

Got to power up the laser blasters one way or the other...

Seriously, I run power up to it, with a quick disconnect plug mounted in the front of each tank bag, to hook different electrical socket sets inside the bag. That way I can charge my iPod, or my cell phone, or a little AA battery charger (for camera batteries, etc.), etc. while I am on the move. Works great.


Then R4R&R said:

Why not mount a small gel battery in the beak?

1.) Unsprung weight

2.) Some pretty healthy cables having to run up the forks and then back up under the tank


Cheers!

Dallara

[awldun]

i inquired about this during the summer when i had the tank off to install my techlusion unit. i liked the idea of removing my seat and being able to keep things there.

being a lurker, it didn't get much response, so i'm not sure anyone has actually done it.

i measured the space, the stock battery will not fit w/o some modification. i still plan on moving it forward to utilize the space for storage. it'll be a project this winter for me.

i'm thinking about cutting the back of the battery box and welding new tabs to hold the battery in it's new place. the wires may have to be lengthened to reach, but i didn't measure that.

then i thought about making a small box/enclosure to put in place of the stock battery area to hold things securely. mostly to keep small things from falling into, or out of, the frame.

it's not much space, but it would be good area to stash gloves, cell phone, ipod and other small things.

i should probably note that i have 2001 R1100R, so the space might be a little different for you R1150R owners.

Alden the lurker

[CycleRob]

riceburner,
I thought about this, but only in my garage, the 1st time I removed the fueltank and saw the inaccessable, huge, Non-ABS vacancy. A quick look said cut this . . . weld that . . . stretch those . . . bend them. Then I said . . . . nah. Not today. I'm going riding.

Months later, while thinking during a ride, I planned then later moved the useful, passively eficient and functionally desireable charcoal canister to that vacancy.

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/gallery/44666 ... 7/Original
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/gallery/44666 ... 8/Original
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/gallery/44666 ... 9/Original
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/gallery/44666 ... 8/Original

I like my canister and what it does for immediate, odor free, indoor storage. I didn't like so much the way it looked. Problem solved.

[riceburner]

Nice pics Rob

We don't have the Canister in the UK - so the volume is going completely spare.

[DJ Downunder]

BMW should have made an extra fuel tank for those without abs...it's such a big wast of space...I'd love to make up something like this.

DJ

[riceburner]

BMW should have made an extra fuel tank for those without abs...it's such a big wast of space...I'd love to make up something like this.

DJ

DJ - if that's an "R" then there's DEFINITELY room to move the battery forwards!!

I think I'm going to take the tank off this weekend and have good look

[riceburner]

Anyone seen anyone do anything like this on any of the other forums??

[DJ Downunder]

What...move the battery forward?....No....but what a great idea.

DJ

[rph802]

What...move the battery forward?....No....but what a great idea.

DJ