BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

I just purchased a 2013 R1200RT. This replaced my 1996 R1100RT. Since I only use the bike on weekends I keep the battery charged by using a Battery Tender. I plug it into the accessory port. On the old r1100 it worked great. On my 2013 r1200rt it starts to flash red after a short time which means it isn't charging. Any idea why? Wonder if anyone else had or has that problem. Thanks. 

Looks like CAN-bus was introduced in 2004, https://motorcycleinfo.co.uk/bmw-r1200g ... indexc97d/

Is the battery tender/charger CAN-bus compatible.

bargood wrote: I just purchased a 2013 R1200RT. This replaced my 1996 R1100RT. Since I only use the bike on weekends I keep the battery charged by using a Battery Tender. I plug it into the accessory port. On the old r1100 it worked great. On my 2013 r1200rt it starts to flash red after a short time which means it isn't charging. Any idea why? Wonder if anyone else had or has that problem. Thanks.

You need a specialist CAMBUS charger, lastest Optimates do this but older ones do not (although even the latest ones need to be set correctly),but I had problems with mine so ended up shelling out for a proper BMW one which works faultlessly

Which battery tender/charger have you got, can it be hardwired to the battery with an appropriate lead.

I use a 2004 Datatool charger via a lead bolted to the battery.

Either connect a trickle charger direct to the battery or get the canbus version and use the auxiliary socket.

Battery Charger thread, viewtopic.php?t=9

Accumate 6V/12V Battery Charger, https://www.mdsbattery.co.uk/accumate-6 ... gJ1pvD_BwE

BMW Motorrad Battery Charger (UK plug),  https://bmw.europe-moto.com/gb/motorcyc ... gInOvD_BwE

BMW trickle charger is the best bit of kit to keep your bike battery fully charged all of the time especially during long winter and Covid19 lockdown days/weeks.

Frank123 wrote: BMW trickle charger is the best bit of kit to keep your bike battery fully charged all of the time especially during long winter and Covid19 lockdown days/weeks.

Agree its brilliant, plug in the auxiliary socket and a warning sign on the Bike  cover reminding me its connected and you can forget it.


https://www.nippynormans.com/k1600gtgtlsportbaggerga/optimate-44-bmw-can-bus-goldline-dual-charger

I would recommend plugging a pigtail directly into the battery and using the charger in standard mode. Charging via CanBus for example via an Opitmate you are only using a fraction of the feature on the charger.

Are BMW volts & amps really better than other makes.

NLC wrote: I would recommend plugging a pigtail directly into the battery and using the charger in standard mode. Charging via CanBus for example via an Opitmate you are only using a fraction of the feature on the charger.

That's why I use a BMW charger, it talks to the bike and the two work together to keep the battery in the best possible condition.

PeteM wrote:
That's why I use a BMW charger, it talks to the bike and the two work together to keep the battery in the best possible condition.

Unless the battery has been neglected and is very flat (sulphated),  the Optimate 4 (dual CAN-bus version) should work just fine through the accessory socket.

This program is designed for charging, testing and long term maintenance of batteries mounted in vehicles fitted with CAN-bus.

Optimate 4, Instructions for use, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/ ... ctions.pdf

PeteM wrote:
That's why I use a BMW charger, it talks to the bike and the two work together to keep the battery in the best possible condition.

I’d rather take the money I saved and buy my mates a few rounds. BMW charges £68 for the special oil. At the end of the day it is oil. The “special” charger is BMW profiting from white labelling someone else’s product.


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David. wrote: Unless the battery has been neglected and is very flat (sulphated),  the Optimate 4 (dual CAN-bus version) should work just fine through the accessory socket.

This program is designed for charging, testing and long term maintenance of batteries mounted in vehicles fitted with CAN-bus.

Optimate 4, Instructions for use, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/ ... ctions.pdf

David I have spoken to Optimate about this. Answer from them is to not use the Canbus. Many of the Optimate functions are disabled in the Canbus mode.


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