Battery woes or something else?

[Jeffem]

Hi,

On my last few ride outs I’ve noticed a couple of events and thought it was a sign of my battery starting to decline.

1. The bike reset itself back to the RT logo instead of the digital speedo I had set. It did this on two separate occasions, after a week of being sat in the garage.
2. Slight hesitation on the starter button after it’s been sat in the garage for a week.

The two issues may not be connected but it made me run the bike with the voltage indicator and it showed over 14v, which seemed healthy enough to me. Occasional visits to the bike, to switch on the ignition, and monitor the indicated voltage seemed to show a slow decline to 11.9v over 2 days.

I made the leap and purchased a Yuasa YTX16-BS. Having removed the original battery(dated 2017) and checking the voltage, out of the bike, it shows 13.5v. This contrasts with the new battery, after a couple hours on charge, showing 13.8v

I realise measured voltage isn’t always an indication of a healthy battery but I am now confused as to whether I actually needed to buy a new one.

Anyone else have any expertise in batteries?

[Stu]

yup battery is just about done best to replace now rather than leave you stranded one day

[Loopers]

Have to concur, the voltage shown across the terminals doesn't indicate if the battery is actually any good, ideally you really need to use a battery analyser which will place a load across the cells and check amperage and cell condition. Basic rule of thumb is if your battery is over 4 years old and still starting the bike ok then you're doing well.
You definitely haven't wasted your money..

[Gavj]

Looking like mines on the way out too, half an hour after a run, checked voltage on dash… 12.1v still starts ok etc but when I put the Optimate on it’s taking full charge for a while… think I’ll change it now rather than getting weird errors etc with low voltage
2020 bike just over 4 yrs old

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[Gavj]

Had a search for Batteries.... seems to be a lot of Lithium ones being offered... woud these work with the charging system on the bike (and my optimate?)

Also seen this Gel battery, sort of same questions...... I traditionaly stick with Yuasa but they dont seem to appear in my searches? Anyone bought one recently?

GEL UPGRADE BATTERY for BMW R1250 RT (K52) (13-19) - YTX16 - FULBAT FTX16

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[David.]

The R1200RT (Wethead) and R1250RT (Camhead) share the same battery part # 61 21 8 531 121

MDS have it listed but currently out of stock, https://www.mdsbattery.co.uk/yuasa-ytx1 ... ttery.html

The Yuasa YTX16-BS is also out of stock with Tayna Batteries but they do offer a list of alternatives, https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batt ... /ytx16-bs/

Their "Star Buy" and recommended replacement is the FulBat (AGM), https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batt ... /ytx16-bs/

The lithium ones won't work with your optimate.

GEL should be ok, they are fitted to R1200RT Camheads, got an Exide GEL on my 2012 model.

[David.]

The Yuasa battery is available from other suppliers, "Google" Yuasa YTX16-BS.

e.g, Halfords, https://www.halfords.com/motoring/motor ... 40330.html

[Gavj]

The Yuasa battery is available from other suppliers, "Google" Yuasa YTX16-BS.

e.g, Halfords, https://www.halfords.com/motoring/motor ... 40330.html

Thanks, just had a look on Yuasa's site, they say it should be a 14? Think I will pull mine out to see whats fitted...

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[David.]

This might be the OEM battery and BMW may have changed the part #.

[Stu]

isn't the Yuasa YTX16-BS the heavy duty one?

I was under the impression there are two available

[Gavj]

14Ah fitted as standard, just going with that. Disconnected the old one to see the label, service light came on then went off? Read somewhere its something to do with the date making the bike think its due a service?? Wouldnt be supprised I have to take it to BMW to get them to plug their computer in

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sorry pic is upside down....

[Stu]

Pic fixed for you

I had the same battery and got a YTX16-BS from halfords at a good price

Having looked on motorworks mine is the same battery as yours

Here is the fitment chart for that part number

K series K1600 K1600 Bagger (09/2016 - 07/2021)
K series K1600 K1600 Bagger (10/2021 -)
K series K1600 K1600GT (09/2016 - 07/2021)
K series K1600 K1600GT (10/2021 -)
K series K1600 K1600GTL (09/2016 - 07/2021)
K series K1600 K1600GTL (10/2021 -)
R series R1200 liquid cooled R1200RT LC (09/2013 - 08/2018)
R series R1250 R1250RT (09/2018 - 09/2020)
R series R1250 R1250RT (11/2020 -)

https://www.motorworks.co.uk/battery-ela31123-1.html

This is the dimensions of the YTX16-BS if they match yours then get that one
Length (mm) 150
Width (mm) 87
Height (mm) 161

The YTX14 dimensions are
Length (mm) 150
Width (mm) 87
Height (mm) 145

As for the service reminder its just related to the date once you set the date it will go off again

[Gavj]

Tayna price, another 5% off with code FIVEOFF

[David.]

Isn't the Yuasa YTX16-BS the heavy duty one.

I was under the impression there are two available.

The Yuasa YTX20CH-BS is the high performance one listed against the YTX16-BS for an R1200RT (Wethead) same as that for the R1250RT (Shifthead).

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[Gavj]

Thanks, just had a look on Yuasa's site, they say it should be a 14? Think I will pull mine out to see whats fitted...

Yuasa.jpg

New battery arrived today so im now thinking 2 + 2 = 5

So the Yuasa site says fit the 14, the original battery is a 14 Ah so obviously.. not.... the 14 is half an inch lower and is 12.6 Ah

So 14 is 12.6Ah / 16 is 14.7Ah / 20 is 18.9Ah..... so the prize goes to Sakm who suggested the 16 was the best replacement

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There seems to be a spring plate at the roof of the battery compartment so the shorter battery fits snugly and the rubber strap is tight on it.... so its in


And the prize for worst designer goes to the guy (or girl) who designed the batery box cover.. what a piece of cr&p..... after several attempts I ended up forcing the lower clip in below the battery, while doing this the plastic cover fouls the frame rails... then you have to lever it up with a screwdriver along with the battery to get two pins to fall into their slots?? Probably an easier way to do this but I couldnt find it. The cover is also two piece, so I removed the front thinking it might make it more flexible... not sure if that helped..

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Then, grey service warning came up at first start, didnt on second or subsequent starts... not sure if it just shows once a day at this stage? Checked the date as was suggested but its correct, and my next service isnt due till the end of september..

Showing my age here but anyone else remember when you just opened your saddle ( on its hinges with a key lock) and lifted the battery out

ps: apologies again, my pics always go in upside down for some reason. edit, just worked out how to rotate the images