[GNO]

As an update, the battery and software update seems to have done the trick, no issues yet. Hopefully none to come

 

[Ryno23]

Don't worry, We can just assume you were an AO. 😁

AO?

 

[Rick92040]

The Yuasa site recommends YTZ14S battery for my 2017 GSA. Your YTX14H is almost 1.5 inches taller. Just want you to confirm the YTX14H would fit into the battery compartment on our bikes. Thank you.

My bike is a GS. From what I understand they put a smaller battery in the GSA with some kind of spacer underneath it to fill up the space. People have removed the spacer and installed the bigger battery. Open it up and see if the taller battery will fit.

 

[Stray Trons]

Nice to know the ATX-12 fits the GS battery case. I just installed an ATX-10 but had to manufacture a 'booster seat' for it, as it is about half the height of the OEM battery. I'm thinking the ATX-10 will get re-homed in the 03' H-D that sits on a tender most of the time (unless the lass wants to go for a ride of a weekend) and an ATX-12 will replace it on the GSA.

 

[GNO]

the issue may not be the battery at all, I have had starting issues with my 2020 GS1250, error codes and poor turn over. I have had it into the shop twice already for this and was told they could not reproduce the problem, they upgraded the software, I replaced the battery and boom today after a short ride I turned it off to go into a store and error codes galore! no start two turns and it dies electrically! let it sit for the length of a coffee and came back and it started up! F#ck! I am loosing confidence in this bike VERY quickly!

 

[Gmachine]

Licensed pilot, boat owner, licensed captain, motorcycle rider for 55 years (you got me by one) multiple motorcycle and car owner (also, lawyer and corporate executive). I’ve never had a battery problem with any of my cars, motorcycles or boats that wasn’t caused by the battery coming to the end of its useful life. This is not to say that I’ve never had a vehicle fail to start because of a dead battery. I have had such experiences, usually caused by my mistakingly leaving the ignition on or lights or other accessory on. I jump start and I’m good to go. I do imagine that, if I made a habit of doing that, I would damage the battery, but once or twice, has not resulted in the need prematurely to replace a battery. I don’t use a trickle charger, have left every one of these vehicles unused for well more than two months, let alone three days or two weeks. They have always started. Still no battery problems. So, I’ll take my real world experiences over your aircraft engineer license as well.

You, sir, have never owned a '2000 Aprilia Mille R. Absolutely a battery-muncher. Leave it for 3 weeks and it's flat.

That said, my RT with mat battery, was pretty good a storing a charge for a long time.

 

[Stray Trons]

AO?

Aviation Ordnance? Count's to three then gets lost after "LIFT!"? Come on Senior Chief, you aught to know that one.

 

[Ryno23]

Aviation Ordnance? Count's to three then gets lost after "LIFT!"? Come on Senior Chief, you aught to know that one.

Ha!
I knew that, you never know on these forums though.

 

[MaxMaximilan]

Hi there, I have a 2019 GSA and have had the same problem at least 6 times since new. Error messages include "Fault in the engine control" and "Brake light faulty". It has happened three times after refuelling and other times after long or short rides. The shop has replaced the battery and it still happens. The battery reads at 12.2 V but the motor won't turn over unless left switched off for 30+ minutes. Which is why after the tow truck ride back to the shop it starts just fine. My fob also required a new battery and I just had an error mssg saying it is at 50% already (barely a year old). I even tried starting it with a battery booster and that did not kick it over. So I'm not convinced it is entirely the fault of the battery, it is either electronic failure or part of the starter motor process? It bugs me that it can happen at random times and at best will require regular battery replacements as a "solution". I'm used to getting more than two years out of a battery, so unless there is some problem with the electronics killing the battery then it must be something else.

 

[Krons]

Hi there, I have a 2019 GSA and have had the same problem at least 6 times since new. Error messages include "Fault in the engine control" and "Brake light faulty". It has happened three times after refuelling and other times after long or short rides. The shop has replaced the battery and it still happens. The battery reads at 12.2 V but the motor won't turn over unless left switched off for 30+ minutes. Which is why after the tow truck ride back to the shop it starts just fine. My fob also required a new battery and I just had an error mssg saying it is at 50% already (barely a year old). I even tried starting it with a battery booster and that did not kick it over. So I'm not convinced it is entirely the fault of the battery, it is either electronic failure or part of the starter motor process? It bugs me that it can happen at random times and at best will require regular battery replacements as a "solution". I'm used to getting more than two years out of a battery, so unless there is some problem with the electronics killing the battery then it must be something else.

Similar thread but maybe without the errors you are seeing. Seems some 1250s need a lot of juice from the battery to overcome the compression of the 1250 when hot. Seems BMWs CCA spec of the battery may not be enough as the battery ages.

Battery related starting issue ~ update

This may be boring now, I don’t know, but I’m into my first week of R1250GS ownership. It’s 2 years old and with 6500 miles. First trip out with the Mrs. Rode fine for an hour, stopped to fill with fuel. Bike wouldn’t start. All the hallmarks of a flat battery. called BMW assist. Just...

www.r1200gs.info

 

[beema]

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.

Same happened to my 2021 r1250 gsa just over 12 months old it fail to start one morning in my garaged.. battery was flat as pancake.. the day before I did a 250 mile ride out! called bmw recovery.. must admit was well impressed with the service was at my door in under a hour tested battery and confirmed it was faulty most likely with dud cells.. he rang up 4 main dealers till found a battery in stock for my model.. then did a 2 hour round trip to collect battery return and fit it.. the tech told me their was a lot of 2020/2021 bmw r1250 gs's that ended up with faulty batteries..

 

[Hogges]

With the lockdown, I’m seeing many posts on several forums about battery issues. In most of them, trickle chargers were used. I have a BMW CANbus suitable trickle charger. I never use it. I do ride all winter, but one of my bikes, my K1600GT, gets little action during the winter because I use it primarily for touring and two up riding, which I don’t usually do in the winter. I also have had periods where I haven’t ridden at all-broken ribs two years ago, for example. Even though I don’t use a trickle charger? I’ve never had a battery problem other than one caused by the expected end of the useful life of a battery. I don’t put trickle chargers on my cars, and don’t know anyone who does. I commute by motorcycle and go where I need to go by motorcycle whenever possible, so my cars sit idle for extended periods, they always start when I decide to use them.
The point of this all is that I have come to the conclusion that trickle chargers are overused, in most cases, are not necessary and actually cause damage to the bike’s battery or shorten its life.

Exactly. 14.3V is normal during riding, but for permanent storage it’s going to slowly boil your battery to death. I never use any charger for more than a few hours at a time, with months in between. A properly wired bike should be able to handle at least a couple months just being parked without a charger. Longer if it’s cold.

 

[beema]

Exactly. 14.3V is normal during riding, but for permanent storage it’s going to slowly boil your battery to death. I never use any charger for more than a few hours at a time, with months in between. A properly wired bike should be able to handle at least a couple months just being parked without a charger. Longer if it’s cold.

you may have a point there.. but I use a optimate 4 tender on my r nine t and have done on all my bikes over winter.. if not riding bikes their are on tenders.. also use bmw genuine charger on the r1250 gsa.. never had a flat battery except for the 2021 r1250 gsa and was told it was due to a batch of faulty batteries with dud cells.. also optimate tenders and bmw genuine tenders go into sleep mode/ maintenance mode every hour and only top up if required unless you have a faulty tender can't see how tenders would boil a battery.. their designed for long term maintenance when bike not being used..