Contact Overland Solutions for all your custom modifications and setup for overland travel.               Discover the extraordinary with Compass Expeditions.

Go Back   The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > BMW Tech
AGM Batteries in an R100GS AGM Batteries in an R100GS
Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

BMW Tech BMW Tech Forum - For Questions specific and of interest to BMW riders only. Questions comparing which bike is best etc go in the "Which Bike" forum.
With more than 58 destinations worldwide, Edelweiss Bike Travel is Number 1 in guided motorcycle tours!
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12 May 2007
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 70
AGM Batteries in an R100GS
Has anyone had any experience using a gel/AGM battery (e.g Odyssey, Deka, etc) in an airhead boxer? I like the concept of a spillproof battery but from what I've read in their user manuals they are more particular about under/over charging.

I've been looking for a description of the charge curve Volts v RPM in a boxer on the web but haven't found one yet. Does anyone have any ideas, comments?

Thanks

Ian J

P.S A previous owner of my bike had wired up an extra headlamp in such a way that the +12V for the new headlamp was taken directly from the connector on the back of the high beam terminal instead of via the battery and a relay. This was a very BAD thing I found the insulation on this wire had melted and was about to short out. You have been warned!
__________________
Always have plan B, and maybe plan C
www.travelswithkitty.com
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12 May 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: South Australia
Posts: 28
I had the Odyssey on my 900 cc R75/7 and it was OK , but just before the two year warranty was up it just died under load ..

It was replaced without cost , and the second one did the same thing , this time just after the warranty expired.

The current battery cost 1/3 the cost and is fine after 15 months.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 16 May 2007
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 229
Smile Odyssey
I had a simialar experience to BeemerBoff - purchased and Odyssey gel/ sealed battery for my R80 G/S, which died after a year and a half, and was replaced under warrenty. The replacement has been fine so far.

These batteries are reputed to have much more resistance to abuse (poor charging/ storage, etc.) which I have found to be true. It does seem that they occasionally go south - nice to have the 2 year warrentee, but it will not do you much good unless you can wait to return the battery to the dealer. This would put me off, except that it seems to happen to other brands as well, some batteries just die and early death. On the whole I think they are a good product, and it is one less thing to worry about when you dump your overloaded machine on some remote road.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 16 May 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Posts: 320
I put a Panasonic (sometimes labeled Westco) battery in my R-100 GS five years ago and it has been flawless. I rode around the whole world, crashed and left the bike on it's side overnight, run heated vest, lights on at low RPM for hours and left the battery connected without using the bike for four months only to have it start right up.

I can't think of any other way to test this thing. It still works great.

I am also running a high output voltage regulator. Some people do not like them with conventional batteries because they tend to keep the battery hot and the it dries out quickly. Not an issue with a gel battery though. I love this setup.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 17 May 2007
Mr. Ron's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC, for now...
Posts: 798
Smile
Quote:
Originally Posted by petefromberkeley View Post
I put a Panasonic (sometimes labeled Westco) battery in my R-100 GS five years ago and it has been flawless. I rode around the whole world, crashed and left the bike on it's side overnight, run heated vest, lights on at low RPM for hours and left the battery connected without using the bike for four months only to have it start right up.

I can't think of any other way to test this thing. It still works great.

I am also running a high output voltage regulator. Some people do not like them with conventional batteries because they tend to keep the battery hot and the it dries out quickly. Not an issue with a gel battery though. I love this setup.
...+1 on the Panasonic! Awesome batery.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 17 May 2007
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 70
Thanks for the feed back,

I think that I will bite the bullet and buy a Deka ETX30L it's not that much more expensive than a standard battery.

The only difference between it and the standard Mareg battery is that the Deka is 5mm higher and the +ve terminal does not have an insulating cover. Insulating tape covers a myriad of sins.

Ian J
__________________
Always have plan B, and maybe plan C
www.travelswithkitty.com
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
(another) R100GS wanted theprinceofmince TRAVEL Bikes for Sale / Wanted 3 3 Mar 2007 16:22
R100GS ve8nc BMW Tech 3 29 Oct 2003 02:34
Optima Batteries? roamingyak.org 4WD Overland Tech 18 1 May 2003 00:19
'Road test' : 1989 BMW R100GS chris BMW Tech 7 27 May 2002 02:12


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:46.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top