R1200GS Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

New GS 1250 Battery? Already?

3 reading
Jump to Latest
21 - 40 of 53 Posts
#21 · (Edited)
I use a battery tender (charger) pig-tailed directly to the battery on all my bikes year 'round (even if I'm not riding for a few days) and I get 5-6 years out of each battery.
 
#22 ·
Just FYI... This item won't stop battery drain but it will keep yur battery in tip top condition in every other sense! They're not a big unit so installation wouldn't be to much of an issue using a bit of lateral thinking.. I've had one on my 4x4 aux battery (Remco) for over 15 years & it's still a strong performer!!! Proofs in the pudding...

Cheers...

26808

26809
 
#23 ·
Bluec10 said:
I bought my 1250 GSA last spring. Everything was fine for a couple of months, then the bike started having starting problems. When I turned it on there was enough power to start the display/lights, but not enough to crank the starter. I charged the battery with a 5A trickle charger (out of the bike) and that got it started...but if I stopped for gas or something it often would refuse to restart. Same problem - display would turn on but not enough juice to crank the starter.

Over winter I had it connected to my brand new Optimate with CAN-bus through the accessory port. All the Optimate lights were doing the right thing. Tried to start the bike today and it had the same old problem. Right now I’m using the Optimate to charge the battery without CAN-bus - maybe that will make a difference.

I brought the battery to the dealer last summer and it tested fine. He told me that BMW batteries almost never fail. (Whatever - a battery is a battery!) Anyway, trying to get the bike started so I can bring it to the dealer for a warranty check. What a pain for an expensive bike!

Appreciate any experience, wisdom, or advice. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I have 2019 1250GS, after sitting for 5 weeks and me playing with the setup screens repeatedly without starting it would not turn over, seems it locks out <11 volts. put a trickle charger (standard) for 1 hour and have been fine ever since. I would change the battery, once deep cycled in my experience they can be unreliable. what is the advantage of Optimate with CAN-bus charger?? this is my first BMW and don't know much about the bike.
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
Thanks so much for your responses - good to know that my fellow BMW riders are generous with their advice/support!

I live over an hour away from my dealership so I finally loaded the big GS onto my pickup and brought it in for service. I'd had enough of troubleshooting something that is on warranty. For the record, the dealership took very good care of me, even while respecting all the COVID-19 guidelines.

Turns out that BMW made a battery change for 2019 when they went away from the gel type. The battery that came with my new GS 1250 GSA in spring 2019 was over a year old. The service manager told me that the battery hadn't been properly charged at the factory and likely wouldn't have had enough cranking amps if it had been. He told me that he'd already processed a few warranty claims batteries installed in 2019 bikes. They gave me a fresh new battery and washed my bike for me. The guys from the shop even loaded the bike for me.

I appreciate it when great service transforms my frustration into appreciation.
 
#26 ·
Hello OP. I was also having the same issue as you with my battery draining on bmw '19 GS. I would notice the voltage would dip to sometimes below 12V over a few days without being driven. Sometimes, It would die at the gas station near my house after starting in the garage (very frustrating).

I believe the bike has some voltage draw by one of the accessories honestly. It does have Denali lights and horn.

Thus far, I have been putting the bike on a tender every few weeks overnight and that seems to help it.

I have also considered replacing the battery, but almost all the folks I have checked with, have recommended I stick with the tender route.

Maybe it's just something we'll have to get used to.
 
#27 ·
Avneet said:
Hello OP. I was also having the same issue as you with my battery draining on bmw '19 GS. I would notice the voltage would dip to sometimes below 12V over a few days without being driven. Sometimes, It would die at the gas station near my house after starting in the garage (very frustrating).

I believe the bike has some voltage draw by one of the accessories honestly. It does have Denali lights and horn.

Thus far, I have been putting the bike on a tender every few weeks overnight and that seems to help it.

I have also considered replacing the battery, but almost all the folks I have checked with, have recommended I stick with the tender route.

Maybe it's just something we'll have to get used to.
Click to expand...
Nope. BMW has some bad batterys out there. Yours might be one. Take it in and tell them what problems your having and let them figure it out.
 
Discussion starter · #29 ·
Ok, so here's what happened. I brought the bike into the dealership (pain because he's 65 mi away) in the back of my truck. They checked over the bike and found no problems - I didn't think they would given that the bike is a 2019 with about 4000mi on it. They charged and checked the battery and discovered that it was totally shot. I could have told them that but at least I got a new battery on warranty. It turns out that the manufacturing date on the battery was 2018 so the battery sat on a shelf at BMW for a long time before it was installed in my bike. It wasn't properly charged at the factory and so it failed after a relatively short time. The new battery hasn't let me down yet. Thanks for all your ideas.
 
#33 ·
My GS's parking spot is on the 5th floor of a high rise garage. With no electrical outlets available, trickle charging is not an option for me.

My solution to this problem was to replace the OEM battery with a 3-pound, nanophosphate lithium Antigravity ATX12-HD RE-START Battery - 480 CA, 16 Ah, fits the GS's battery compartment perfectly and saves about 13 pounds.

Standard Antigravity batteries can maintain their charges for about a year but those with the RE-START technology take this one better for vehicles with significant parasitic drain. Once the battery drops to about 90% capacity it shuts itself off the maintain the rest of the remaining charge. To turn the battery back on you simply push the "RE-START" micro switch located atop the battery.

It got its first real test a couple of months ago and passed with flying colors. Due to a health issue I was unable to ride for almost all of the first 4 months of this year. After the long absence, I was pleasantly surprised when I went to take my first ride and discoverd that the battery had not only not turned itself off, the bike fired up like the starter was connected to 440V outlet.

For those that can't or don't want hassle with trickle charging, these batteries are a fantastic alternative.

For those that want to simply track and monitor their battery's health, Antigravity has recently released an ingenious, tiny and inexpensive Bluetooth Monitoring system that provides real time and 31 days worth of historical data on your bike's voltage, starting performance, charging system and parasitic draw. Warnings are automatically sent to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Dimensions are 2.75" x 2" x 0.7" (70 x 50 x 18 mm). These trackers are available for both Lithium and Lead/Acid batteries and retail for $35.99 each.

I've ordered (but yet received) two: One for my GS's AXT12-HD; the other for the ATX20-HD battery I'm running in an Alfa Romeo 4C.

Antigravity Bluetooth Battery Tracker, How it Works: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkFMBfqS-Hk&feature=youtu.be
 
#34 ·
For what it's worth, the battery in my 2016 GS got weak at about 2.5 years into ownership. It would start but struggle to do it and after a routine check at the dealer they informed me I should replace it. I declined the BMW replacement and installed an EarthX and now two years later haven't had any problems at all. Sometimes the bike sits for a few months over the winter (I've got 4 bikes and ride others during the winter). Never put a charger on the EarthX and it spins the engine up with way more energy than the OEM battery. The EarthX is a battery that does not require any special charger or balancing like some others. I put their batteries in all my bikes now.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#35 ·
Bluec10 said:
I bought my 1250 GSA last spring. Everything was fine for a couple of months, then the bike started having starting problems. When I turned it on there was enough power to start the display/lights, but not enough to crank the starter. I charged the battery with a 5A trickle charger (out of the bike) and that got it started...but if I stopped for gas or something it often would refuse to restart. Same problem - display would turn on but not enough juice to crank the starter.

Over winter I had it connected to my brand new Optimate with CAN-bus through the accessory port. All the Optimate lights were doing the right thing. Tried to start the bike today and it had the same old problem. Right now I’m using the Optimate to charge the battery without CAN-bus - maybe that will make a difference.

I brought the battery to the dealer last summer and it tested fine. He told me that BMW batteries almost never fail. (Whatever - a battery is a battery!) Anyway, trying to get the bike started so I can bring it to the dealer for a warranty check. What a pain for an expensive bike!

Appreciate any experience, wisdom, or advice. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I absolutely agree, I have a 2020 1250 and having the exact same issue! put the battery on a charge and it says no problem, then stop for gas or anything and it won't have the juice to turn over. In addition if I let it sit for a period of time and come back it will start right back up. I don't understand, ive had the bike into the dealership and they did a software update? doesn't seem that is correct. So far I have only noticed this in cold weather, wonder if you are having an issue also. Also wonder if you have auxiliary lights that might be a big draw on the start sequence? just wondering here as I am a bit disappointed
 
#36 ·
GNO said:
I absolutely agree, I have a 2020 1250 and having the exact same issue! put the battery on a charge and it says no problem, then stop for gas or anything and it won't have the juice to turn over. In addition if I let it sit for a period of time and come back it will start right back up. I don't understand, ive had the bike into the dealership and they did a software update? doesn't seem that is correct. So far I have only noticed this in cold weather, wonder if you are having an issue also. Also wonder if you have auxiliary lights that might be a big draw on the start sequence? just wondering here as I am a bit disappointed
Click to expand...
My 2018 GS did that so I replaced the battery. The places I go I do not want to get stranded. Havn't had the problem since. https://www.walmart.com/ip/YUASA-YT...5483961?comm-msg-vehicle=EMAIL&comm-msg-id=099409ae-4344-4b59-848c-61dab6730f7a
 
#40 ·
21 - 40 of 53 Posts
About this Discussion
52 Replies
27 Participants
Last post:
beema
R1200GS Forum
posts
132K
members
33K
Since
2005
A forum community dedicated to BMW R 1200 GS motorcycle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about maintenance, performance, classifieds, troubleshooting, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General chatter Maintenance and Modifications Accessories New Member Introductions Tires (Tyres)