R1100S Battery Replacement = Hell

PaddyDaddyO · 08-09-2005, 06:21 AM

Man, I am glad I didn't have to ever do that on the side of the road somewhere!

I told the new owner I would replace the battery and it took me freakin' hours! What a pain in the arse ... there has GOT to be a better design for that whole system in the works!

PDO

ExarKunONe · 08-09-2005, 09:44 AM

Yeah it sucks. I use my handy dandy accessory plug for a charge every two months or so. so I dont have to go in there for awhile.

JonyRR · 08-09-2005, 10:32 AM

hahahahahahaaaa!
I'm not laughing AT you, but WITH you. I said the exact same thing when I first went to check my stock battery, and being new to BMW, actually believed the propaganda krap about 'simple maintenance'....yeah, right...not if periodic battery maintenance is considered 'simple'

My fix, if you can call it that, is the most reliable, gelcell battery I could find (and cost is no object if a cheap battery makes you go thru battery-service-hell every time), reliable clean battery connections and a microporcessor-controlled charger.
I think the designer who came up with the S battery placement setup should be sentenced in purgatory to having to swap S batteries endlessly, over and over again...on the side of the road, at midnight, in a pouring rain...with the OEM toolkit...

Dale Flowers · 08-09-2005, 10:37 AM

Ah, the price of progress.

Ducati-Rider · 08-09-2005, 10:38 AM

Well, the battery for the S is in the same place as the RS, so it musta been the same brewery team that designed the location.

Even Ducati has the battery under the tank, but easier to get to. (900ss/sp).

Dale Flowers · 08-09-2005, 10:54 AM

When in doubt design teams tend to be near-sighted.

roger albert · 08-09-2005, 11:12 AM

worlds easier on the ducs though. Doesn't need tools, hinges at the back, and even has a prop rod. Easier than changing many car batteries.

Otoh, it's damn good for mass centralization and has to be done once every 3 years.

Christ, you'll want hydraulic lifters next

You're just naysayers
Yeah, that's it.

ExarKunONe · 08-09-2005, 11:14 AM

oooh hydraulic lifters would be nice... maybe an engine hoist in the tool kit too?

rob_wijhenke · 08-09-2005, 11:18 AM

Aahh, the all newly designed K1200R doesn't have a battery. Yes you are thinking WTF but I tell you it doesn't. It's all new and great design takes power from mother earth's magnetic field to start it's powerfull 1200cc super engine that only takes a moderate amount of normal combustion engine fuel to run and keep on running. For ever. Behold the all new and great K1200R, it's here to get YOU!

JonyRR · 08-09-2005, 11:22 AM

Rob, I think you should post us a pic with xiola or tove on your scoot....

foobeemer · 08-09-2005, 11:59 AM

I coulda pulled the battery 16 times in the time it took me to wrastle that sinister Bowden box out, speaking of design marvels. Just like Ex sez, the dangling trickle charge plug is the way to stay on top of things--mine tucks up nice behind the air box when not needed.

roger albert · 08-09-2005, 12:02 PM

Rob,

Does it run in reverse down under?
Perfect vehicle for retreats.

rob_wijhenke · 08-09-2005, 12:58 PM

Roger, no, sorry. I was making all that up, it runs just like any other bike. No reverse. It does consume a shatload of fuel I have to say, 1 liter on 13kms is pretty bad considering I'm still breaking in and keep the revs around 8000 rpm max.

roger albert · 08-09-2005, 01:00 PM

I'm so disappointed. I've been waiting for someone to roll out the magnetodrive.

shovelstrokeed · 08-09-2005, 01:01 PM

Roger, no, sorry. I was making all that up, it runs just like any other bike. No reverse. It does consume a shatload of fuel I have to say, 1 liter on 13kms is pretty bad considering I'm still breaking in and keep the revs around 8000 rpm max.

I'd still like a picture of Tove on the bike. Tee Hee.

JonyRR · 08-09-2005, 01:16 PM

hey Ed;
'I'd still like a picture of Tove on the bike. Tee Hee.'
...just WHAT have you been doing on that 'internet' thing and HOW do you know who 'tove' or 'xiola' is? hehehehehehe...
And just WHERE does that guy (HR) in holland FIND those wimmen and just HOW much do they get paid for their 'specialty'....

69 911s · 08-09-2005, 06:09 PM

Quit yer whinin', I can change my battery in less time than it takes to read this thread. Whatdya expect? The ease of chaging a 1969 F150 battery? If you want real pain, try owning a 911 or maintaining Bangle designed cars, then the S battery would look like the good old days...

Effervescent · 08-09-2005, 08:17 PM

Just for a lil'historical perspective, my 69 /2 uses a magneto and doesn't need a battery to start or to run.

-Eff

1967 R50/2 · 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Effervescent
Just for a lil'historical perspective, my 69 /2 uses a magneto and doesn't need a battery to start or to run.

-Eff

Sure, I love that about the /2, but there are PLENTY of other things that can keep it from running.

Just some things that have happened to me:

1. Coil heat failure...very common. Happened to me twice...once while waiting for inspection.
2. Coil shakes off it's mount (happened once on the Taconic parkway in the rain. Created sporadic contact. Luckily, had it all figured out and were back on the road in about an hour.)
3. Points
4. Condenser
5. Short in harness...yes this did happen to me. Brand new repro harness, which was probably the issue to start with. It was an intermittent break which made it really confusing to trace.

And of course the wires can shake out of the headlight contact board, but that is an easy fix. Put some paint on the little screws..not LOCTITE, you will regret it if you do.

Flatbutt1 · 08-10-2005, 10:08 AM

for me the worst part of battery replacement,or any service FTM, is the body panel screw sitting behind the roundel. man that one hurts!