Keeping Battery Charged???

[apopj]

I recently had a total brake failure, like in no brakes.... The brake failure light was flashing like crazy and it felt like I had Triumph drum brakes.
So, jumped on the RT and headed to the local BMW dealer. After about 2 miles at 60MPH, brakes reappeared and light quit flashing..... ahha said I to myself, battery problem.
So, went to the dealer told him the problem and he said "What kind of charger do you use?" None, says I, I ride it everyday, and ride it fast for long distances....
He said, the BMW charging system will only "maintain" a charged battery, not charge a discharged one.... you need to keep it on a charger to keep the battery charged....
Sounds pretty strange to me, but thought I'd check with the experts....

[Burnszilla]

Perhaps your battery needs to be replaced.

[Screamineagle]

Moto
I have an 04 RT and it has never been on a charger. I ride almost every day and I always thought that was sufficient. I also have an 04 Harley, never has been on a charger either. Ride it less than the Beemer but still often.
I dunno, I wouldn't call the dealer wrong, he should know, but this is my personal experience.

[BradfordBenn]

I had a battery go bad on my 02RT after four months. Just cause it is new to you, doesn't mean the parts it was built with are. Most companies do a First In First Out system but sometimes one still can get an old part.

[k100lt]

I attended a battery maintenance seminar a while back that was put on by Yuasa. There recomendation was to remove the battery from the motorcycle once a month and to fully charge it using an external battery charger. Doing this on a monthly basis will greatly increase the life of the battery. I do mine every two months and have had no problems. My BATT is 4 years old now..

[cjack]

I attended a battery maintenance seminar a while back that was put on by Yuasa. There recomendation was to remove the battery from the motorcycle once a month and to fully charge it using an external battery charger. Doing this on a monthly basis will greatly increase the life of the battery. I do mine every two months and have had no problems. My BATT is 4 years old now..

I don't see how taking the battery out of the bike helps except that you can use a higher voltage to charge from without a chance of damage to the bike electrics. But if you use a Battery Tender or any smart charger which doesn't go above 15 volts, then no problem anyway.

[PGlaves]

So, went to the dealer told him the problem and he said "What kind of charger do you use?" None, says I, I ride it everyday, and ride it fast for long distances....
He said, the BMW charging system will only "maintain" a charged battery, not charge a discharged one.... you need to keep it on a charger to keep the battery charged....
Sounds pretty strange to me, but thought I'd check with the experts....

I think the dealer is wrong. Voni's R1100RS developed a short directly to ground which killed all of the circuits, melted a bit of insulation and pulled the battery pretty quickly down to about 4.5 volts. And it was too hot to remove without my gloves on. As quickly as I could I disconnected the battery - and then found the wiring problem. I fixed the wiring in a motel parking lot. The next morning we jump started her bike from my bike and rode several thousand miles over the next week.

At the first gas stop I was very suspicious that her battery wouldn't start the bike but it did. And every gas stop, meal stop, or overnight stop the whole trip. I did replace the battery on general principles when the trip was over, but the alternator charged it from very dead, and kept it charged.