RE: BMW Garbage Batteries - 2

I should add that most of my motorcycle batteries have been pretty reliable. Some of my old flooded batteries have lasted as long as 8 years. However the original German-made, BMW-brand, AGM Exide batteries that came in my 2007 R1200R and my 2009 F650GS both failed suddenly. The one in the R12R lasted for 23 months, while the one in the F650 only made it to 6 months after purchase of the bike. Both batteries were replaced by BMW at no charge per BMW's 24-month battery warranty (Exide-brand batteries only have a 6-month warranty) with the same type and brand and those lasted for 6 years on both bikes. So there is something going on here and I suspect it has to do with either the age of the battery when it is purchased or some sort of manufacturing defect or cost-cutting design by the battery manufacturer.

My area has very moderate climate, with no freezing temperatures and it rarely gets above 80 degrees R. 50-70 degrees F is typical all year long. Also, I park my bikes inside an enclosed garage and always connect the battery to a maintainer after each ride, which I disconnect once the battery tender shows a full charge. And I ride each of my motorcycles at least once a week.

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #15

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AGM batteries should arrive fully charged, ready to fit. The ones I have bought have come in sealed cartons from the factory so presumably left the factory fully charged.

A theory: as the OP hails from Florida and Richard is in California, is the average ambient temperature of the bike's location significant?

Do we have any posters in the southern parts of Europe who experience short battery life?

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We're lucky to get 3 years out of a car/truck batt here in the Sonoran desert. My bike batteries seem to last 5 years but they always remain on trickle charger when not on the road. Seems that makes a big difference.

My spare car is always on trickle as it's rarely used, and that seems fine after 4-5 years sitting on 100+F temps for months at a time

Took bike in to dealer today for a load test. Battery was bad and was replaced under warranty.

Zitat von azqkr im Beitrag #18

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We're lucky to get 3 years out of a car/truck batt here in the Sonoran desert. My bike batteries seem to last 5 years but they always remain on trickle charger when not on the road. Seems that makes a big difference.

My spare car is always on trickle as it's rarely used, and that seems fine after 4-5 years sitting on 100+F temps for months at a time

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Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #20

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Zitat von azqkr im Beitrag #18

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We're lucky to get 3 years out of a car/truck batt here in the Sonoran desert. My bike batteries seem to last 5 years but they always remain on trickle charger when not on the road. Seems that makes a big difference.

My spare car is always on trickle as it's rarely used, and that seems fine after 4-5 years sitting on 100+F temps for months at a time

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Up until last month my brother lived in Yuma Arizona and he mentioned car batteries and windshield wiper have a very short life there.
As you know the wipers are usually shot when you get a chance to use them :)

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My battery luck has been good.

My bike is now a year old with 11,000 kms on it. Went to fit the new BMW phone holde cradle only to find the original Brazilian made Exide flat. Bike was UK supplied, Park Lane of London, and lived in south of France since day 2. Tried to charge but could only get it to 8 volts max.
Phoned the dealer down here who immediatly swapped it for a nice new Yuasa.
I'll put a Lithium into it soon as they don't lose chare over time in the same way as AGM do. They also weigh less and last much longer.

Zitat von runnerhiker im Beitrag #22

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My battery luck has been good.

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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #25

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Zitat von himoverthere im Beitrag #23

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My bike is now a year old with 11,000 kms on it. Went to fit the new BMW phone holde cradle only to find the original Brazilian made Exide flat. Bike was UK supplied, Park Lane of London, and lived in south of France since day 2. Tried to charge but could only get it to 8 volts max.
Phoned the dealer down here who immediatly swapped it for a nice new Yuasa.
I'll put a Lithium into it soon as they don't lose chare over time in the same way as AGM do. They also weigh less and last much longer.

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another example of a battery failing where it is exposed to high ambient temperatures for several months a year

my 2016 battery is still working and is in the middle of its 6th winter

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Zitat von himoverthere im Beitrag #26

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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #25

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Zitat von himoverthere im Beitrag #23

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My bike is now a year old with 11,000 kms on it. Went to fit the new BMW phone holde cradle only to find the original Brazilian made Exide flat. Bike was UK supplied, Park Lane of London, and lived in south of France since day 2. Tried to charge but could only get it to 8 volts max.
Phoned the dealer down here who immediatly swapped it for a nice new Yuasa.
I'll put a Lithium into it soon as they don't lose chare over time in the same way as AGM do. They also weigh less and last much longer.

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another example of a battery failing where it is exposed to high ambient temperatures for several months a year

my 2016 battery is still working and is in the middle of its 6th winter

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I wish that we had high ambient temperatures at the moment, the UK is much warmer.

Funny though that the girls new S1000XR is in the same garage and has the same rideouts, but no sign of suffering. The car is the same. In the 18 years that I have been here and had about 25 bikes, some of them for a few years, and sometimes 4 bikes, I have never had a battery problem. The Ducati 848 and 939 Supersport both used to generate tons of heat and those batteries were mounted behind the fairing next to the engine.

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I had an identical problem last year with my 2020 R1250RS, used Optimate 4 but battery died at a petrol station. At the time I was reassured by BMW and Optimate that the fault lay with the battery. I charged via the DIN socket.

I had the same problem 2 weeks ago, another dead battery.

This time apparently there is guidance out from BMW advising against using CANbus DIN socket to charge the battery (I saw the brief circular on the technician’s laptop)

Thought, I’d share

Zitat von Saw im Beitrag #28

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I had an identical problem last year with my 2020 R1250RS, used Optimate 4 but battery died at a petrol station. At the time I was reassured by BMW and Optimate that the fault lay with the battery. I charged via the DIN socket.

I had the same problem 2 weeks ago, another dead battery.

This time apparently there is guidance out from BMW advising against using CANbus DIN socket to charge the battery (I saw the brief circular on the technician’s laptop)

Thought, I’d share

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Following this thread now, as I just this past weekend was advised by my shop that Optimate 4/Canbus port was the best way to keep things charged on my inbound '22RS. If this has changed, then is the solution a pigtail/Battery Tender+?