BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

So my 2013 appears to need a new battery as the old Exide Gel feels a bit 'slow' even in the summer.

I was looking at different alternatives and my short list consists of the following in no particular order or preference:

1. Exide GEL12-19

https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batt ... ide/51913/



2. Exide AGM 12-18

https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batt ... /agm12-18/



3. Motobatt AGN MB51814

https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batt ... t/mb51814/



4. Yuasa AGM YT19BL-BS

https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batt ... yt19bl-bs/



All of them over here are within 10...to 20 Euros of each other so price diference is not that relevant.

Unfortunately it seems that batteries nowadays are a hit or miss type of thing ie. quality seems to vary a lot.


Thoughts?

I have the Exide GEL 12-19 fitted to my 2012 Camhead, it's now been in service for 4 years.

It's the same as the BMW OEM battery without the sticker and price, plus a GEL battery.



This is the Tayna 51913 Motorcycle Batteries list, https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batt ... pes/51913/

When I next need a battery, I might consider upgrading to a Banner for more CCA, https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batt ... ner/52101/



Might not be much use to you but available here in the UK, https://www.batteriesontheweb.co.uk/pro ... l-battery/

I have always been a lover of Motobatt

My FJR got one and was in there for 6 years before I got rid of it and before that my TL1000s had one and my brother owns that bike and it still has the same battery in which must be at least 12 years old now

The wet flooded Yuasa battery on my Yamaha XJ650 has been in service for 6 years.

Thanks guys.

I'd rather stay away from traditional wet batteries and I feel that the gel is not so powerful or lasting in my use. Perhaps I will consider one of the AGMs this time.

Too many choices, too much time...

PS. That Banner has CCA of 310A. Can that be right??? That is what they inform but it is plenty.

The wet battery is just an example of Yuasa's longevity of service. Wouldn't use one myself on the RT and would like to change it to AGM for the XJ650.

I believe that GEL batteries have a very low discharge rate. My bike is stored over the winter and when the battery is put on charge, it goes to maintenance mode almost immediately. There must be a reason that the OEM battery is one of the few GEL types available. The OEM (Exide) batteries gave good service from new, therefore I was happy to use the same again without the BMW sticker and price.

I've never used or have any knowledge of Banner batteries but it's a suggestion for more CCA. This would hopefully improve he slow cranking when starting the bike.

Odyssey batteries are a make which are often used as an upgrade, again haven't used them myself.

The Odyssey PC680 isn't a perfect fit and requires some packing. I prefer the OEM (Exide) style terminals too.
https://www.tayna.co.uk/industrial-batt ... 49427e3172

I have an Exide GEL fitted. Seems to hold its charge well when left for a long time. My other bikes were fitted with Motobatt batteries. They are a very good replacement. I had problems with the Odyssey my 07 came with. It was one and a half years old and wouldn't hold its charge for more than 2 weeks.

I feel a poll coming on, I'll start with the manufacturers listed so far in this thread.

Any others not listed, just fire away and they can be added later.

David. wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 2:17 pmI feel a poll coming on, I'll start with the manufacturers listed so far in this thread.

Looks like Exide is the battery of choice, viewtopic.php?t=6706

Ed Harley wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:00 amI'd rather stay away from traditional wet batteries and I feel that the gel is not so powerful or lasting in my use. Perhaps I will consider one of the AGMs this time.

Of all the conventional lead acid batteries, i.e. wet flooded, AGM or GEL, I have one of each type. In storage, the one which maintains its' charge the best is the GEL battery fitted to my RT. (AGM on a car and wet flooded on the Yamaha XJ650).

I stand corrected on which type of battery i have fitted. I thought it was GEL but on inspection, it is an Exide AGM.

The Exide motorcycle battery finder only comes up with the GEL battery, https://www.exidegroup.com/eu/en/battery-finder

Which one have you got fitted to your RT.

In the Tayna 51913 motorcycle batteries range, they list this Exide AGM battery as an alternative, https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batt ... /agm12-18/
It's physically slightly smaller in all dimensions. 18 Ah vs 19 Ah but more CCA 250 A vs 170 A.

That's the one and the place i bought it from. I pair £54 plus delivery(Dec 2020)

I have to buy a battery shortly. What is the actual physical dimension of the "proper" oem BMW battery for an 09' RT? I saw 7' x7" x3" is that right? I am opting for an AGM