Talk me through battery install on 1100S pretty please

[Effervescent]

I have a 4+ yr old gel battery. ABS light is blink all day long now. ASSuming it's a weak battery. So I got a new one.

Do both side bodywork bits need to come off? Do have need to lift the tank? Disconnect fuel line?

"Gel batteries must be charged before being installed in a motorcycle." I can do this with my gel trickle charger correct? Or, if the bike starts, with a long ride, right?)

Talk to me...never did it before...

Thanks,
-Eff

[Flatbutt1]

Eff, yes sorry the panels need to come off and the tank propped up. You don't need to remove the tank, just prop it up with a hunk of 2X4.

The battery shouldn't need a full charge but check it before you install it. Yes a long ride "should" top it off nicely.

Oh you don't need to disconnect fuel, just be sure to observe the usual safety protocol and don't short anything out.

[Effervescent]

Thanks.

-Eff

[ckcarr]

Beware the mushrooms...

[R111S]

Be sure to do the Throttle Full-Twist action before you start the engine with the new battery because the Motoronic looses some battery backed info when you disconnect the old Battery.

From the R1100S Repair Manual:

Connect the positive battery terminal first, then the negative terminal.
• Apply acid-proof grease to the battery terminal posts.
• Install the battery.
• Secure the fuel tank in position.
• Install right and left side trim panels.
• Install dualseat.
• Switch on the ignition.
• Without starting the engine, fully open the throttle once or twice so that the Motronic control unit can register the throttle-valve positions.

Note:
Disconnecting the battery deletes all entries (e.g. faults, settings) stored in the Motronic control unit’s memory. Loss of settings can temporarily impair the operating characteristics when the engine is restarted.

[ExarKunONe]

You have to get the snorkel out of the way too, its easy to take off. I would strongly reccomend charging the battery before installing it. Remember to connect the positive first and remove it last.

[ckcarr]

This explains everything.

[bradzdotcom]

no it doesn't.
they left out the part where you need a fresh roll of paper towels to stuff under the raised fuel tank, to hold it up when you put the battery in.

[ExarKunONe]

its not a waste because you need a whole roll to wipe your hands off with

[Highlander179]

Eff, have you done this yet? If you haven't come on down to "the Shore" and bring the batt with ya.

edit: oh yea, forgot. leave that auxiliary fuel cell home. the seat needs to be removed.

[DeltaNu1142]

Originally Posted by bradzdotcom

no it doesn't.
they left out the part where you need a fresh roll of paper towels to stuff under the raised fuel tank, to hold it up when you put the battery in.

A 20oz bottle of Gatorade works GREAT.

[Highlander179]

Originally Posted by DeltaNu1142

A 20oz bottle of Gatorade works GREAT.

Maybe in your garage, but in mine, only the finest of domestic beer cans are used.

[Joeaksa]

Another thing to do while in there is to install a pigtail onto the battery terminals. This way you can put a battery tender or other adapter off of the power leads a whole lot easier. Otherwise its pull everything apart again everytime you want to charge the battery.

Joe

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Another thing to do while in there is to install a pigtail onto the battery terminals. This way you can put a battery tender or other adapter off of the power leads a whole lot easier. Otherwise its pull everything apart again everytime you want to charge the battery.

Joe

Not true.

The factory accessory power socket on the R1100S is designed to plug right into the bikes wiring harness and also takes the battery tender input via the $7.00 BMW accessory plug.

[Joeaksa]

Sorry, should have mentioned that I have an older (like 20 year old) BMW motorcycle charger that came with my 1988 R100RS with the smaller factory plug.

It WILL NOT charge through the factory socket on the R1100 series unless the ignition is left on, so a pigtail is needed.

Possibly the newer BMW chargers will work but not this one nor any other one that I tried that is not one of the new style BMW chargers.

Joe A

[ckcarr]

You mean R1100, but not the R1100S which this forum is about (Or once was about. Now it's cameras, photography, Kawasakis, GS's, beer, spiders... )

[Joeaksa]

I mean the R1100 series just like I posted, not the R1100 model of the bike.

You think that they have separate lines to build the bikes, and wiring harness, computers, fuse boxes etc for EACH model of bike? No way. I used to live in Berlin and went to the factory often and they build a R1100RS on the line, then the next on the line is a R1100S, then a R1100RT and so on. The majority of parts on these bikes are the same other than some specific stuff like bodywork and so on that make each model what it is.

Was posting info that should work on any of the R1100 series of bike. Personally there is not enough money in the world to get me to ride an R1100 model as its fugly as hell to me, but the "S" or "RS" suits me just fine. Aint old enough for an "RT" just yet!

[R111S]

My ProMariner 1.5 Amp Gel Type Battery Charger P/N 10116 (http://www.pmariner.com) bought for $29.99 from Cabela's (http://www.cabelas.com) works fine through the OEM Accessory Socket...I'm pretty confident there's no blocking Diode in the wiring between the Battery and the Accessory Plug.