Is there a better (more reliable) battery?

[Liam]

I have a 2009 R1200R. It sits in my garage on the dealer recommended charger when I'm not riding. I get out at least once a week since I picked the bike up (mid November 2008). When I left my house this morning the computer reset when I pushed the starter. After a couple of anemic cranks, it fired up. About an hour ago I stopped for gas. When I tried to restart I got a reset, a crank, a reset, a few clicks and then nothing. The gas station operator gave me a jump and she started right up.

The bike had 932 miles on the ODO at the gas station.

Yes it's an Exide and yes I've read the threads on the Exide failures.

What I want to know is, is there any consensus on who makes a better battery for the R?

Thanks,
Liam

[BigEasy]

Way to start an oil thread I too have heard of these catastrophic failures, knock on wood my '07 has yet to experience it so I think I may be in the clear. As far as "best" battery, everybody will have their favorite and justifiable reasons for their choice.

That being said, spend what you feel comfortable with, install it, use it and in 3 years repeat. A battery is a wear componenet, period. They are designed to wear out, and the engineers around the web will explain the chemistry behind this but that cool little reactor cell we call a battery can only function so long. Using a tender as you are is the best way to keep it stable, but it will not extend the life by a whole lot. I have seen a number of battery threads on bass boat boards debating one brand verses another and it seems as though there are a limited number (like 4 or less) battery manufacturers and they merely "brand" batteries for other vendors.

And if you think I am being glib about this, know that this year is battery replacement year for my boat and my wifes boat, that's 5 count em 5 batteries at about $150.00-$175.00 a pop, oh yeah my DR 650 is due also, so in the next couple of weeks I'll be dropping close to a grand on something I know will trash itself in short order.

[ErikM]

Yes, I think there is a best, Odyessey http://www.odysseyfactory.com/

[Liam]

Thanks ErikM,

You're a step ahead of me. I was about to ask about those.

I did a little more digging and found that Aerostitch offers the "Odyssey Drycell™ Battery" for BMW's.

It looks good to me. Even though I expect a free brand new battery from my dealer, the "old" one having had just four months of service, I don't feel comfortable riding distance with a battery that really wants to be in a toxic waste dump.

Does anyone out there have any experience with the Odyssey battery?

Liam

[Bill Stevenson]

I am riding a 2008 R12000R which is one year old and has ~10,000 miles on it. I am on my third battery and wonder the same thing. There has to be a better battery available for these bikes. One thing I think is that the old wet cell batteries are better at short duration high drain service such as starting an engine than the new no maintenance batteries. I asked the Deltran people about this at Daytona this past Saturday and they make a special charger just for BMW gel batteries and specifically because they said their standard chargers can damage BMW motorcycle batteries. Who knew? If there is a fly in the ointment with our beloved hexheads it seems to be electrical.

Bill

[Dauntless]

The Odyssey battery that I had in my R1150R was very good. The R1200R takes a smaller battery and I am unsure if Odyssey makes one that will fit. When I have to replace mine it will definitely be an Odyssey if they make one.