Any suggestions on easiest and most cost-effective way to keep a GS battery
optimised? Appreciate it's "just a battery" and I'm sure (or rather I assume)
the Optimate 3 that I used for the ZZR before will be fine.

It's more a question of whether there is a socket already present on these or
whether it's better to connect a short lead to the battery directly (as I had
on the ZZR).

I see I can dump £140 quid on this but surely this is overkill?

https://www.nippynormans.com/f650gs-08-on/bmw-charger-for-r1200gs-lc-r1250gs-k1600gtgtl-and-all-models-after-2004

Also looking on relevant internet forums for consensus on this.

Oh and wishing you all a merry xmas!

--
jeremy

jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:
> Any suggestions on easiest and most cost-effective way to keep a GS battery
> optimised? Appreciate it's "just a battery" and I'm sure (or rather I assume)
> the Optimate 3 that I used for the ZZR before will be fine.
>
> It's more a question of whether there is a socket already present on these or
> whether it's better to connect a short lead to the battery directly (as I had
> on the ZZR).

If there is a socket it's probably controlled by the CAN bus.

> I see I can dump £140 quid on this but surely this is overkill?
>
> https://www.nippynormans.com/f650gs-08-on/bmw-charger-for-r1200gs-lc-r1250gs-k1600gtgtl-and-all-models-after-2004

I think so.

Assuming the bike does not have a LiFePo battery, your existing
Optimate 3 will be totally fine, just attach a charging harness
directly to the battery terminals. The CAN bus won't know about it,
and the battery won't care.

> Oh and wishing you all a merry xmas!

Same to you!

--
FJR1300A, GL1000, KLR650A6F, EX250J9A, DR200SE, Vespa Ciao

On Wed, 22 Dec 2021 19:50:29 +0000, jeremy wrote:

> Any suggestions on easiest and most cost-effective way to keep a GS
> battery optimised? Appreciate it's "just a battery" and I'm sure (or
> rather I assume)

CTEK used to be the one recommended. I've got the basic cheap one, seems
to work fine.

jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote in
news:j2hds5Fdgl3U1@mid.individual.net:

> Any suggestions on easiest and most cost-effective way to keep a GS
> battery optimised? Appreciate it's "just a battery" and I'm sure (or
> rather I assume) the Optimate 3 that I used for the ZZR before will be
> fine.
>
> It's more a question of whether there is a socket already present on
> these or whether it's better to connect a short lead to the battery
> directly (as I had on the ZZR).
>

what Mark says

fly lead direct to the battery & use the Optimate 3. I would only put
the charger on for 1 day in each month the bike is not used.

like Mark, I am assuming the bike does not have the Lithium battery
option, just the standard AGM variety

> I see I can dump £140 quid on this but surely this is overkill?
>
> https://www.nippynormans.com/f650gs-08-on/bmw-charger-for-r1200gs-lc-r1
> 250gs-k1600gtgtl-and-all-models-after-2004
>

not necessary and there are cheaper options to wake up the canbus
controlled accessory socket

if the Optimate dies, buy a Noco as they are future proofed and work
with Lithium batteries. Halfords sell them.

> Also looking on relevant internet forums for consensus on this.
>

full of wankers including me, Gyp & Bonwick

> Oh and wishing you all a merry xmas!
>

bah humbug!

On 23 Dec 2021 at 00:15:55 GMT, "wessie" <willnotwork@tesco.net> wrote:

> I would only put
> the charger on for 1 day in each month the bike is not used.

Why's that - why not keep it attached when bike not in use?

ta

--
jeremy

On 22 Dec 2021 at 20:25:11 GMT, "Mark Olson" <olsonm@tiny.invalid> wrote:

> Assuming the bike does not have a LiFePo battery, your existing
> Optimate 3 will be totally fine, just attach a charging harness
> directly to the battery terminals.

OK makes sense. I didn't go for the lightweight battery option so assume it's
a "regular" one.

--
jeremy

On 23/12/2021 10:13, jeremy wrote:
> On 23 Dec 2021 at 00:15:55 GMT, "wessie" <willnotwork@tesco.net> wrote:
>
>> I would only put
>> the charger on for 1 day in each month the bike is not used.
>
>
> Why's that - why not keep it attached when bike not in use?
>
> ta
>

Some earlier 'chargers' will not reset if the mains power is interrupted
and then reinstated become a drain.

I acquired a Noco, which acts as a proper battery 'tender'.

Just as well as the battery on the 401 is rather small and I don't use
the bike very much.

--
Moto Morini 2C/375, Moto Morini 2C/350
Gilera 175 Sport, Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen
1937 Sunbeam Model 14 250 Sports
"Do not adjust your mind, there is a fault in the reality"

On 23 Dec 2021 at 00:15:55 GMT, "wessie" <willnotwork@tesco.net> wrote:

> fly lead direct to the battery & use the Optimate 3. I would only put
> the charger on for 1 day in each month the bike is not used.

Thx all. TM71 ordered.

--
jeremy

jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote in news:j2j0f5FmhccU1
@mid.individual.net:

> On 23 Dec 2021 at 00:15:55 GMT, "wessie" <willnotwork@tesco.net>
wrote:
>
>> I would only put
>> the charger on for 1 day in each month the bike is not used.
>
>
> Why's that - why not keep it attached when bike not in use?
>
> ta
>

you said cost effectively - having a charger on 24/7 is a waste of
electricity as a decent AGM battery does not need constant monitoring
let alone constant topping up. Assuming no tracker or alarm to be a
parasitic load, you could probably start the bike after 8 weeks without
a charge.

Then there is what Pete says, hopefully a legacy but the original
Optimate and mk2 of the late mid to late 90s would flatten a battery if
there was a power outage. They did not have a reverse current diode so
happily munched the battery electrons rather than resetting to use mains
power when it came back on.

The original Optimate mk3 from c2000 fixed the problem. Weirdly,
Optimate launched another model called Optimate 3 a couple of years ago.
I assume you have this more recent model?

Being a bit old school, I don't like leaving anything powered up longer
than necessary. Especially when it has the potential to fuck up
something expensive, like a BMW, should it develop a fault. This is
another reason why I much prefer a direct connection to a battery than
through the accessry socket that is connected to the canbus.

On 23/12/2021 13:01, wessie wrote:
> jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote in news:j2j0f5FmhccU1
> @mid.individual.net:
>
>> On 23 Dec 2021 at 00:15:55 GMT, "wessie" <willnotwork@tesco.net>
> wrote:
>>
>>> I would only put
>>> the charger on for 1 day in each month the bike is not used.
>>
>>
>> Why's that - why not keep it attached when bike not in use?
>>
>> ta
>>
>
> you said cost effectively - having a charger on 24/7 is a waste of
> electricity as a decent AGM battery does not need constant monitoring
> let alone constant topping up. Assuming no tracker or alarm to be a
> parasitic load, you could probably start the bike after 8 weeks without
> a charge.
>
> Then there is what Pete says, hopefully a legacy but the original
> Optimate and mk2 of the late mid to late 90s would flatten a battery if
> there was a power outage. They did not have a reverse current diode so
> happily munched the battery electrons rather than resetting to use mains
> power when it came back on.
>
> The original Optimate mk3 from c2000 fixed the problem. Weirdly,
> Optimate launched another model called Optimate 3 a couple of years ago.
> I assume you have this more recent model?
>
> Being a bit old school, I don't like leaving anything powered up longer
> than necessary. Especially when it has the potential to fuck up
> something expensive, like a BMW, should it develop a fault. This is
> another reason why I much prefer a direct connection to a battery than
> through the accessry socket that is connected to the canbus.
>

GPWM. A local VMCC chap narrowly averted a fire when a charging
lead/socket went in to meltdown.

The Noco gets moved from machine to machine and connected directly to
the battery. Only issue is that it doesn't recognise the 6v ones, so I
use the pikey Aldi one on those.

--
Moto Morini 2C/375, Moto Morini 2C/350
Gilera 175 Sport, Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen
1937 Sunbeam Model 14 250 Sports
"Do not adjust your mind, there is a fault in the reality"

Pete Fisher <peter@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk> wrote in
news:j2jav6Fogi6U1@mid.individual.net:

> The Noco gets moved from machine to machine and connected directly to
> the battery. Only issue is that it doesn't recognise the 6v ones, so I
> use the pikey Aldi one on those.
>

I have 2 modern bikes, 2016 vintage, so also rotate a charger if needed.

One is shat drive & winterised with muffs so gets used once or twice a
month usually. That is usually enough to keep the battery charged as it is
leisure use now commuting is largely not a thing. Leisure rides tend to be
in daylight using only LED DRLs and longer than the 10 mile commute. The
bike started on Saturday with the integral voltmeter showing 11.8V but
would have had a charge for a day if it wasn't taken for a decent ride.

The other bike is less likely to be used as it is chain drive and does not
have muffs or leg warming cylinders. This bike did a trip to Scotland in
late September/early October, and has not had a charge yet. I check
occasionally by turning on the ignition. If the fuel & ABS pumps energise
then I assume the battery is okay.

People worry too much about modern AGM batteries ...

On 23 Dec 2021 at 13:01:29 GMT, "wessie" <willnotwork@tesco.net> wrote:

> Then there is what Pete says, hopefully a legacy but the original
> Optimate and mk2 of the late mid to late 90s would flatten a battery if
> there was a power outage. They did not have a reverse current diode so
> happily munched the battery electrons rather than resetting to use mains
> power when it came back on.
>
> The original Optimate mk3 from c2000 fixed the problem. Weirdly,
> Optimate launched another model called Optimate 3 a couple of years ago.
> I assume you have this more recent model?

Thanks for the background - my model was bought around 2010 i think and is
labelled Optimate III SP

cheers
--
jeremy

jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote in
news:j2jc4jFooc1U1@mid.individual.net:

> On 23 Dec 2021 at 13:01:29 GMT, "wessie" <willnotwork@tesco.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Then there is what Pete says, hopefully a legacy but the original
>> Optimate and mk2 of the late mid to late 90s would flatten a battery
>> if there was a power outage. They did not have a reverse current
>> diode so happily munched the battery electrons rather than resetting
>> to use mains power when it came back on.
>>
>> The original Optimate mk3 from c2000 fixed the problem. Weirdly,
>> Optimate launched another model called Optimate 3 a couple of years
>> ago. I assume you have this more recent model?
>
> Thanks for the background - my model was bought around 2010 i think
> and is labelled Optimate III SP
>
> cheers

that's an update of the original Optimate III with Tamiya connectors

Seems the newer one, is now Optimate 3

https://www.optimate.co.uk/products/optimate-3 which has more universal,
higher rated, SAE connections so the lead can double to connect a tyre pump
as well as for charging

On Thu, 23 Dec 2021 13:01:29 -0000 (UTC), wessie
<willnotwork@tesco.net> wrote:

>you said cost effectively - having a charger on 24/7 is a waste of
>electricity as a decent AGM battery does not need constant monitoring
>let alone constant topping up. Assuming no tracker or alarm to be a
>parasitic load, you could probably start the bike after 8 weeks without
>a charge.

Conversely, I found my tracker ran the battery down over several
weeks, so I now keep the Optimate on all the time.

--
Colin Irvine
FJR1300A

Colin Irvine <look@colinandpat.co.uk> wrote in
news:1v59sg1uigpm56rr56k2hb2061fe7elhe7@4ax.com:

> On Thu, 23 Dec 2021 13:01:29 -0000 (UTC), wessie
> <willnotwork@tesco.net> wrote:
>
>>you said cost effectively - having a charger on 24/7 is a waste of
>>electricity as a decent AGM battery does not need constant monitoring
>>let alone constant topping up. Assuming no tracker or alarm to be a
>>parasitic load, you could probably start the bike after 8 weeks without
>>a charge.
>
> Conversely, I found my tracker ran the battery down over several
> weeks, so I now keep the Optimate on all the time.
>

so you had a parasitic load, yes?

wessie <willnotwork@tesco.net> wrote:
> Pete Fisher <peter@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk> wrote in
> news:j2jav6Fogi6U1@mid.individual.net:
>
>
>> The Noco gets moved from machine to machine and connected directly to
>> the battery. Only issue is that it doesn't recognise the 6v ones, so I
>> use the pikey Aldi one on those.
>>
>
> I have 2 modern bikes, 2016 vintage, so also rotate a charger if needed.
>

Speaking of 2016 vintage BMWs, it looks like mine needs a new battery. Took
it out to visit Cab earlier and turnover was sluggish to say the least,
despite the battery being charged last week. Time to see what’s what in the
world of bike batteries these days.

Higgins <the.best.names.are.gone@gmail.com> wrote:

> Speaking of 2016 vintage BMWs, it looks like mine needs a new battery. Took
> it out to visit Cab earlier and turnover was sluggish to say the least,
> despite the battery being charged last week. Time to see what???s what in the
> world of bike batteries these days.

Any quality name brand AGM. I've been burnt too many times by no-name
batteries that are supposedly equivalent to OEM. Yuasa is my go-to,
FWIW. LiFePO aren't worth the extra cost on top of the tradeoffs
(special balancing charger, don't work until they're warmed up, etc.).

--
FJR1300A, GL1000, KLR650A6F, EX250J9A, DR200SE, Vespa Ciao

Higgins <the.best.names.are.gone@gmail.com> wrote in
news:sq2d06$794$1@dont-email.me:

> wessie <willnotwork@tesco.net> wrote:
>> Pete Fisher <peter@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk> wrote in
>> news:j2jav6Fogi6U1@mid.individual.net:
>>
>>
>>> The Noco gets moved from machine to machine and connected directly
>>> to the battery. Only issue is that it doesn't recognise the 6v ones,
>>> so I use the pikey Aldi one on those.
>>>
>>
>> I have 2 modern bikes, 2016 vintage, so also rotate a charger if
>> needed.
>>
>
> Speaking of 2016 vintage BMWs, it looks like mine needs a new battery.
> Took it out to visit Cab earlier and turnover was sluggish to say the
> least, despite the battery being charged last week. Time to see
> what’s what in the world of bike batteries these days.
>
>

mine on the XR died last year at a Tesco forecourt - my little jump
start pack from Ebay worked perfectly. It was getting green lights on
the Optimate so holding a voltage but not many amps were hanging around.

Replaced with an Exide YTX9BS[1] from Tayna which spins the motor very
nicely. As mentioned in this thread, it has yet to need a charge after
my Sept trip to Scotland and maybe one last local ride in October.

https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batteries/types/ytx9-bs/ lists
several makes which you should be able to source in Paradise. �31
delivered was a great price!

The R1200RS battery still has the original from mid 2016.

[1] you can fit a larger capacity battery if you do lots of short
journeys as there is plenty of room, maybe YTZ12S or YTX12-BS or even a
14.

On 23/12/2021 18:18, Mark Olson wrote:
> Higgins <the.best.names.are.gone@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Speaking of 2016 vintage BMWs, it looks like mine needs a new battery. Took
>> it out to visit Cab earlier and turnover was sluggish to say the least,
>> despite the battery being charged last week. Time to see what???s what in the
>> world of bike batteries these days.
>
> Any quality name brand AGM. I've been burnt too many times by no-name
> batteries that are supposedly equivalent to OEM. Yuasa is my go-to,
> FWIW. LiFePO aren't worth the extra cost on top of the tradeoffs
> (special balancing charger, don't work until they're warmed up, etc.).
>

Motobatt. I've had one DOA which was replaced without question, and one
other expire from the lights being left on for weeks/days. But other
than that I have "quite a few" that are left on cteks for months at a time.

--
/Simon

Mark Olson <olsonm@tiny.invalid> wrote:
> Higgins <the.best.names.are.gone@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Speaking of 2016 vintage BMWs, it looks like mine needs a new battery. Took
>> it out to visit Cab earlier and turnover was sluggish to say the least,
>> despite the battery being charged last week. Time to see what???s what in the
>> world of bike batteries these days.
>
> Any quality name brand AGM. I've been burnt too many times by no-name
> batteries that are supposedly equivalent to OEM. Yuasa is my go-to,
> FWIW. LiFePO aren't worth the extra cost on top of the tradeoffs
> (special balancing charger, don't work until they're warmed up, etc.).
>

The only advantage I can see seems to be the reduced weight but, frankly, I
should spend more time worrying about the weight on the seat rather than
under it.

wessie <willnotwork@tesco.net> wrote:
> Higgins <the.best.names.are.gone@gmail.com> wrote in
> news:sq2d06$794$1@dont-email.me:
>
>> wessie <willnotwork@tesco.net> wrote:
>>> Pete Fisher <peter@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk> wrote in
>>> news:j2jav6Fogi6U1@mid.individual.net:
>>>
>>>
>>>> The Noco gets moved from machine to machine and connected directly
>>>> to the battery. Only issue is that it doesn't recognise the 6v ones,
>>>> so I use the pikey Aldi one on those.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I have 2 modern bikes, 2016 vintage, so also rotate a charger if
>>> needed.
>>>
>>
>> Speaking of 2016 vintage BMWs, it looks like mine needs a new battery.
>> Took it out to visit Cab earlier and turnover was sluggish to say the
>> least, despite the battery being charged last week. Time to see
>> what’s what in the world of bike batteries these days.
>>
>>
>
> mine on the XR died last year at a Tesco forecourt - my little jump
> start pack from Ebay worked perfectly.

Yes, the one I picked up in Aldi now resides in the top box until I source
a new battery.

Higgins <the.best.names.are.gone@gmail.com> wrote:
> Mark Olson <olsonm@tiny.invalid> wrote:
>> Higgins <the.best.names.are.gone@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Speaking of 2016 vintage BMWs, it looks like mine needs a new battery. Took
>>> it out to visit Cab earlier and turnover was sluggish to say the least,
>>> despite the battery being charged last week. Time to see what???s what in the
>>> world of bike batteries these days.
>>
>> Any quality name brand AGM. I've been burnt too many times by no-name
>> batteries that are supposedly equivalent to OEM. Yuasa is my go-to,
>> FWIW. LiFePO aren't worth the extra cost on top of the tradeoffs
>> (special balancing charger, don't work until they're warmed up, etc.).
>>
>
> The only advantage I can see seems to be the reduced weight but, frankly, I
> should spend more time worrying about the weight on the seat rather than
> under it.

Amen.

It's theoretically a benefit to the FJR since it carries the battery
up high in the cowling. But the bike's so fucking heavy that even if
the battery weighed nothing, it wouldn't make much difference.

Some (all?) of them come in a normal sized case with a lot of empty
space inside, so if you extract the inner battery from the case,
one might make sense for a custom build where a tiny battery allows
an unusual placement.

--
FJR1300A, GL1000, KLR650A6F, EX250J9A, DR200SE, Vespa Ciao

Higgins <the.best.names.are.gone@gmail.com> wrote in
news:sq2fnq$v3g$2@dont-email.me:

> wessie <willnotwork@tesco.net> wrote:
>> mine on the XR died last year at a Tesco forecourt - my little jump
>> start pack from Ebay worked perfectly.
>
> Yes, the one I picked up in Aldi now resides in the top box until I
> source a new battery.
>

practice putting the seat back on without the key - it's simple if you work
out which way to wiggle the seat rather than using brute force on a plastic
mechanism.

On 23/12/2021 21:01 wessie penned these words:
> jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote in news:j2j0f5FmhccU1
> @mid.individual.net:
>
>> On 23 Dec 2021 at 00:15:55 GMT, "wessie" <willnotwork@tesco.net>
> wrote:
>>
>>> I would only put
>>> the charger on for 1 day in each month the bike is not used.
>>
>>
>> Why's that - why not keep it attached when bike not in use?
>>
>> ta
>>
>
> you said cost effectively - having a charger on 24/7 is a waste of
> electricity as a decent AGM battery does not need constant monitoring
> let alone constant topping up. Assuming no tracker or alarm to be a
> parasitic load, you could probably start the bike after 8 weeks without
> a charge.

For sure. The repeated travel restrictions have meant mines has gone several
weeks between short runs. I did fit a new battery the old one was a bit sub
optimal and would be reluctant after a week or so

>

--
Ian

"Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of
the last priest"

On 24/12/2021 02:18 Mark Olson penned these words:
> Higgins <the.best.names.are.gone@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Speaking of 2016 vintage BMWs, it looks like mine needs a new battery. Took
>> it out to visit Cab earlier and turnover was sluggish to say the least,
>> despite the battery being charged last week. Time to see what???s what in the
>> world of bike batteries these days.
>
> Any quality name brand AGM. I've been burnt too many times by no-name
> batteries that are supposedly equivalent to OEM. Yuasa is my go-to,
> FWIW. LiFePO aren't worth the extra cost on top of the tradeoffs
> (special balancing charger, don't work until they're warmed up, etc.).
>

This
URL:https://www.lazada.com.my/products/i540136328-s1071844326.html?urlFlag=true&mp=1
is what I ended up getting last year. Seems okay.

--
Ian

"Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of
the last priest"