BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

The present one came out about the same time as the 1600s went to Limbus and the LC GS was launched.. 

As confirmed by the change in Part Nos. from 77 02 8 551 896 to 77 02 8 551 897.

Levisp wrote:This may or may not help but I'm been using a Optimate 4 on my RT LC for the past 4 months and nothing has blown up yet. I did my own 6K service last week and then got Chandlers of Brighton to plug the bike into their diagnostic equipment to reset service reminder and check for fault codes. None were found.

Excellent feedback, you can't beat "field testing" & owner recommendations, backed up by your friendly local BMW Dealer.

I still find it difficult to understand that when a manufacture takes the trouble to produce something like battery chargers, specifically for their bikes, owners want or prefer to use aftermarket kit. Is it just to save a few quid.       

Yamaha offer this Battery Charger, http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/accessori ... etails.acc,

it looks very similar to this CTEK one, http://www.ctek.com/gb/en/chargers/MXS%205.0, both 8 Step Chargers.

MotorWorks offer a 7 Step CTEK Charger, http://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop/ ... Q=ACA66500,
plus this adaptor plug for the BMW Accessory Socket, http://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop/ ... =ACA66661C

Can't find a Suzuki branded one for my car.

The Datatool Charger will do all 3 vehicles & Battery types, Yamaha - Flooded Serviceable, Suzuki - Flooded Maintenance Free & BMW - GEL.

RTman10 wrote: I still find it difficult to understand that when a manufacture takes the trouble to produce something like battery chargers, specifically for their bikes, owners want or prefer to use aftermarket kit. Is it just to save a few quid.     

If 2 products do the same job then you have to make an informed decision. Optimate have been making chargers for a long time so I have no reason to question their quality. I agree with you that price should not be the controlling factor and I for one would not buy a cheap unknown make made in China. Branded goods are not always the best.


The biggest problem is that its really difficult to get accurate unbiased information, most of what we read is marketing bullshit. The BMW charger may be better than the Optimate but who knows. I think whats more important is that owners use any appropriate charger to keep their batteries fully charged because modern computerised bikes don't like flat batteries. Using something is better than nothing.

This looks very much like the Datatool charger I've got,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTORCYCLE-DA ... 3f3274209d

The Accumate 6/12 was a Ride Magazine "Best Buy", http://www.accumate.co.uk/accumate.htm

The specification seems the same as the Datatool one, for 1/3rd of the price.

Makes you wonder if there is a little factory somewhere in China churning these out and they have a row of boxes with different labels in.

A BMW Battery Charger,

http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/uk/en/index ... arger.html

DaygloDavid wrote: This looks very much like the Datatool charger I've got,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTORCYCLE-DA ... 3f3274209d

I don't do ebay & have tried the phone numbers I could find, either the "number has not been recognized" or "no reply".

Please could anyone "contact the seller" via the link to confirm the price, thanks.

DaygloDavid wrote:It sounds like, BMW themselves, may have been having problems, with their own previous battery Charger, in getting it to talk to the K1600.

Could this be the same issue that TecMate were having with their Optimate 4 DUAL PROGRAM Battery Charger.

http://www.tecmate-int.com/ENG/k1600.php

Their advice to overcome the problem is to connect the Battery Charger directly to the Battery.

Video of Optimate 4 v's CTEK, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KYnGPxvgbA

TEST at start TEST every hour, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNTtNMgF3io

Nippy Normans specification says:-

K1600GT/GTL update - now works flawlessly on this bike and on the R1200GS LC 2013 onwards.

This thread seems to be getting out if control. I'm resigning from any further input. PS BMW charger, Made in Germany.