Changing a battery

[Gowerboy]

As I store my bike for about 4months over winter and have no access to electricity and therefore can’t connect my maintenance charger, I have a good battery at home on charge all the time, would it be ok to make up a lead to that battery and have a Din plug fitted to its other end, take that to the bike and just plug it into the Aux socket so as to retain all info including service interval, (not to be used for starting) then charge up the main battery at home at my leisure, will that work, OR has someone got a better idea, thanks guys,

[David.]

As I store my bike for about 4 months over winter and have no access to electricity and therefore can’t connect my maintenance charger. Has someone got a better idea.

Would a solar powered battery charger be an option, https://www.optimate.co.uk/products/optimate-solar

[David.]

I have a good battery at home on charge all the time, would it be ok to make up a lead to that battery and have a Din plug fitted to its other end, take that to the bike and just plug it into the Aux socket so as to retain all info including service interval, (not to be used for starting) then charge up the main battery at home at my leisure, will that work.

Not sure that the remote (good) battery would "open up" the Aux. socket to allow power to the bike. If the main (bike) battery is removed for charging at home, what happens to the exposed (potentially live) battery terminal leads. Can a lead be manufactured from the remote battery in order that it can be bolted directly to the bike battery terminal leads, with suitable insulation. Like if "jump start" leads were being used, but just to maintain a power supply to the bike, whilst the main battery is off the bike.

[Graham88]

Is the service data actually stored in volatile memory? I thought the manual suggests disconnecting the battery for wintering. If its non-volatile memory all that good stuff will remain indefinitely with the battery disconnected.

[milleplod]

If losing data worries you....slave battery in garage at side of bike....cheap jump leads connected from slave to bike battery leads before disconnection....disconnect and remove bike battery. Job done.
Pete

[Graham88]

I have changed the battery on mine, by taking the old one out and then putting the new one in, without loosing anything. So you have at least 10 minutes.

[David.]

I thought the manual suggests disconnecting the battery for wintering.

This is true, however, the manual also says,
"If the battery was disconnected from the motorcycle for a prolonged period of time it will be necessary to enter the current date in the instrument panel, in order to ensure that the service-due indicator functions correctly.
If you want to have the date set consult a specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW Motorrad dealer."

[David.]

Is the service data actually stored in volatile memory?

I have it on good authority from a GS-911 user that the service data is stored and not lost. Following a service, the next service due can be set for 12 months time or 6,000 miles. If the battery is disconnected for say a month, the service due date will be 13 months from when it was set, not 12 because the clock has stopped, hope that makes sense. Obviously, the service mileage would not be affected and remain at 6,000 miles since the last service. Therefore, it looks like the battery can be disconnected without any major problems, just reset the clock. For a reminder of the next service due date/mileage, look at the last stamp in the service book, it'll be written in there. It's not a big deal, just an irritation, the bike won't stop.

[Gowerboy]

Thanks guys, David, Solar not possible as it’s in a small 12 car underground car park, backed into the corner, ground anchor, and a car backed up tightly, but like your idea of simple jump leads, just had its service done in Nov so didn’t want to lose the info, thanks Milleplod, had thought of that but thought that losing the connection for a split second might lose the info, Thanks again guys for the quick replies.