Battery location...What were they thinking!

Wally Anderson · 03-31-2005, 01:18 PM

I decided to check the battery water this afternoon on the 01 R1100S I purchased this past winter. I was working in my "bike garage, a heated garage where I keep my tools, two bikes and wife's bike." This was a first for me so it took an hour just to get to the battery while reading my manual. I THINK IF I HAD DESIGNED THE BIKE I'D HAVE FOUND A BETTER PLACE FOR BATTERY PLACEMENT. Anyway, I didn't know that the previous owner had purchased an Odyssey PC680 so I won't have worry about battery water! I remember reading a couple of weeks ago about a lister who was miles from home and behind a gas station getting to his battery.......

Wally Anderson
01 R1100S
97 Ducati 916

Firebolter · 03-31-2005, 01:25 PM

Try getting to the ECU!

GotRoad? · 03-31-2005, 01:28 PM

Does the ECU need its water checked very often ?

tbsstunta · 03-31-2005, 01:38 PM

No, but it fancies a cuddle every now and again.

DavidSoine · 03-31-2005, 02:15 PM

Put yourself in BMWs shoes - Where would you suggest they put it?

IMO, once you've done it, getting to the battery is no big deal...

best,

Dave
99 R11S

Firebolter · 03-31-2005, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Does the ECU need its water checked very often ?

Just that in typical BMW fashion, nothing is easy to get too, including the airfilter, battery or the ECU. May not have to mess with it much, but still a royal pain.

davidgiannini · 03-31-2005, 03:11 PM

All the more reason to get a sealed battery.

Dr. Curve · 03-31-2005, 03:28 PM

The New K12S on the other hand..............has a battery that can be accessed in under one minute. Its right on the top, requires only two screws (which are in plain view) be removed, the lid moved foward and off........and there is the battery. Small unit.......even though the bike has three H 4 bulbs in its headlights. Great design for battery placement.

I always like the idea of a battery carried down low.......but its not to be.

blakebird · 03-31-2005, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Firebolter
Try getting to the ECU!

I was on a road trip in New Mexico.....riding back from Gila Cliff Dwellings in fading afternoon light....no traffic on a very twisty and narrow section of road.
About 15 miles from Silver City, I hit a huge pothole - just about invisible. I had enough warning to tug lightly on the bars and soften the front hit, but the rear swatted my but in the air....and the bike just died.

I got it to the side.... I had lights, camera, and no action. I realized the fuel pump wasn't being primed....but otherwise there was juice.
I pulled the bodywork off, propped the tank...and was able to reach back in (blindly) and wiggle the ECU. It seated with a and everything worked after that. Good thing too....no cell coverage, no help out there, and the light was about gone.

The only thing that even made me think of it was when I installed the Lasers and chip - I had the exact same problem when the ECU connector didn't seat.

bikpaintr · 03-31-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Curve
The New K12S on the other hand..............has a battery that can be accessed in under one minute. Its right on the top, requires only two screws (which are in plain view) be removed, the lid moved foward and off........and there is the battery. Small unit.......even though the bike has three H 4 bulbs in its headlights. Great design for battery placement.

I always like the idea of a battery carried down low.......but its not to be.

I agree, what takes up the space under the seat? What size battery is the K12 using?

plongo · 04-01-2005, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Curve
The New K12S on the other hand..............has a battery that can be accessed in under one minute. Its right on the top, requires only two screws (which are in plain view) be removed, the lid moved foward and off........and there is the battery...

Gee--it sounds just like 1970's Jap bike technology! Maybe in another 25 years, BMW will figure out how to make their motorcycles as reliable as Jap bikes, too.