Battery woes

prpbmw · Post by **prpbmw** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:36 pm

I gave my son a 2004 R1150R

Despite being on a charger, the battery has given up the ghost.

What are the recommendations for a replacement?

Thanks.

jfbarron · Post by **jfbarron** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:21 pm

I share your pain. The original BMW battery should be replaced by an Odyssey battery. The battery for the R1150R was the same size as the battery for my R75/5 and even on that bike, the original batteries are not worth keeping after a year.

On the R1150R there are a lot more sytems that draw on the battery's resources. Hot grips, ABS, a clock and the electronic system all suck the life right out of it.

Spend the bucks on an Odyssey-if you can, also get the L Shaped adapters for the terminal posts. My source here in Canada did not have them handy so I had to bend the cable lugs up to fit.

Post by **JCsman** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:32 pm

I just put an Odyssey PC 680 in my 2004 R1150R as well. There have been several who recommended them on this board.

I didn't have the "L" brackets. I followed another suggestion from the board and cut a couple of 1-1/2 " piece lengths out of a copper pipe (1/2") that I had in the garage. Flattened them, bend a 90 degree and drilled two holes. Worked like a charm - not as easy as buying though.

You might want to hunt up the post about changing the battery if you're going to DIY. The manual is OK, but the pics in the post were very helpful. Good luck with the quick connects.

Post by **towerworker** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:35 pm

I replaced my stock battery a yr ago with an Odessey. I want to say the model # is something ...580. I may be wrong on that but anyway I have been very pleased. Do get the adaptor brackets for the terminals as already suggested. I made mine out of some copper scrap and while they work fine I would suggest the other. Rode my 03 r thru the winter and the only time it failed to start was when it was 2 degrees above 0. After to switching to 5W50 synthetic in the crankcase even that problem disappeared.

I bought mine from some Ebay dealer for about $75.

Wayne

MoraleHazard · Post by **MoraleHazard** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:16 pm

Odyssey PC680. And yes, buy the post adaptors. I had to call the number at http://www.westcoastbatteries.com in order to get the adaptors, but at $20 incl. shipping it was well worth it.

Post by **sjbmw** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:34 pm

I had my battery replaced by the dealer after 3 years.

But more importantly, can you adopt me?

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:05 pm

How long do the Odyssey batteries last? My original stock battery went 4.5 years for me, so I decided to stick with the original.

Post by **mcollect** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:14 pm

$20..00 for two scraps of copper? It only takes two scrap pieces of copper pipe,a hammer, a drill and ten minutes. Thats is an hourly rate of $120.00 I can use the $20 for gas and and drinks for a days ride. NOT CHEAP BUT FRUGAL.

prpbmw · Post by **prpbmw** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:16 pm

sjbmw wrote:But more importantly, can you adopt me?

frayed knot

Post by **rdsmith3** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:22 am

I bought a Panasonic maintenance free battery that is significantly cheaper than the Odyssey. It is a Panasonic LC-X1220P

fallingpines · Post by **fallingpines** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:22 pm

I bought an Odyssey 680 battery after my 04's gel battery kicked. I got the 90 degree copper adapters with it. I'm in the process of installing it and believe that the copper adapters are hitting the underside of the tank, not allowing the tank to sit perfectly straight, perhaps will short out if and when the paint is scuffed away. Has anybody had this issue? Should I bend the adapters straight to avoid contact?

And also, I am a bit nervous about re-connecting the fuel quick releases...if I botched an o-ring in them, would I have a fuel leak right away or would it happen over night when I'm not looking filling my garage floor with stanky ol' gas?

Kazushi · Post by **Kazushi** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:01 am

Original Battery here, still going strong after 3+ years...

Post by **MartinW** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 12:54 pm

My original is 5 years old on 1st May and still going strong.

I usually keep it attached to an Optimate when not in use but have had no power source in my garage for the past 6 months but it still lives although it can't last much longer surely.

Sunbeemer · Post by **Sunbeemer** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:18 pm

Fallingpines: Don't let the battery terminals short out! This would be Very Bad juju. The battery could explode if it shorts out through those heavy copper brackets and ignite your tank full of gasoline. Maybe you can turn the "L" brackets over so they point downwards and won't interfere?
As for your QD o-rings, it's best to replace them while you have them apart (BMW part # 13317659110 $2.55/ea at Chicago BMW). No telling when they might fail. Chances are they would start leaking shortly after you swiched on the ignition one day when the pump pressurized the fuel system, but some here have reported roadside failures.

Post by **JCsman** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:48 pm

fallingpines wrote:I believe that the copper adapters are hitting the underside of the tank

Ho Lee Katz. Now you have me paranoid (me with the do it yourself adapters. Am I to pull my tank to check?

I'll be honest, I didn't think the fit above the battery was THAT tight. Anybody else have that concern?

Oppps, jusr read down a few posts. Off comes the tank.

Post by **mcollect** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 3:49 pm

I think you installed them upside down. I made the pipe ones and they point down, of course I did not have instructions, so I used the little common sense I have.

Post by **JCsman** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 4:34 pm

Common sense ain't all that common. LOL

FWIW I took off the seat and discovered the two posts might be hitting the tank. At least I couldn't see a visible gap there. Off she came.

Fortunately on one I could remove and discard the copper "L", twist the cable and mount directly to the battery. For the other I pounded the copper "L" flat and hung it off the rear of the battery. I now have a visible bit free and clear on that one.

I actually thought of the bend down option, but:
- the originals point up so I didn't think it was an issue on the original install. Plus I didn't have the tell tale sign that the tank wouldn't seat, and
- the cables have limited movement on mine and I couldn't get (one of) them to work right. It has a press in bolt that limited my twist and turn options. I couldn't mount it directly due to the press in bolt. That's the one now attached via the flat copper connector. The pressed in bolt sticks up. But I can see a decent gap between the top of the bolt and the tank.

I feel better now.