Winter battery charging on 1200RT

[johnetto]

I have a 2005 1200 RT and a question about winter storage. This will be my second winter of storage. Last winter I removed the battery competely and charged it occassionally using a Battery Tender Plus. I read the notices about not using anything but BMW battery chargers due to the CAN bus system and the AGM battery, etc. Anyway, this time I got a pigtail to hook directly to the battery terminals, left the battery hooked up on the bike, and conveniently routed the end for access to my charger. I kept the Battery Tender Plus hooked up last week and then disconnected and went for a ride yesterday. At that time I noticed my dash lights intermittently coming on and going off. Am I potentially burning up my wiring or is this a coincidental fluke that means check my dash light bulbs?? I have never had any problems at all (second owner). By the way, I am new to BMW and will never go back to ride anything else!

[wsteinborn]

You probably have other issues.

I put a second powerlet socket in the tail of my 2006 RT and hooked it directly to my battery.

I use BMW's branded version of the Battery Tender Plus with no problems.

However I am careful not to plug it in until the bike has been off for 2-3 minutes, and I desconnect it before turning the key on.

[Greenwald]

I too have a 2005 R1200RT, and part of my winterizing routine is to ALWAYS pull the battery from the bike and keep it on the workbench in the basement. On our RT's, it's so easy to access and remove the battery.

Remember that BMW (bless the hearts of all those engineers) likes to build rather complex machines, and while CANbus technology has been around for more than a few years (and common on most cars and light trucks today), I have seen at least a half dozen amateur 'explanations' of it on this forum - take your pick.

My advice - go back to what you know worked well in season one of your ownership - pull the battery and keep it charged up once a month on the workbench (I too use a Battery Tender Plus approved for the gel battery in the R1200RT) and 'do not tresspass into the dark world of CANbus.'

If after reinstalling this spring, you still have intermittent lighting of your dash, seek out the assistance of a dealer (hopefully, it wasn't rodents munching on wire insulation!). I have developed a 16-step process of 'Winterizing and Spring Prep' for my RT that I would gladly forward to you in a PM, if you so wish.

Good Luck!

[bmwmick]

You'd do your battery more good by connecting the Battery Tender and leaving it connected all winter. No need to ever disconnect it. It WILL extend the life of your battery.

Update: With the new Canbus bikes, you should connect the Battery Tender directly to the battery.

[wsteinborn]

....ALWAYS pull the battery from the bike....If after reinstalling this spring...

Nah. I use the battery tender if I am not riding each day, but even in winter we have days you can ride (like today, and last weekend, etc) so I never pull the battery.

[Greenwald]

Nah. I use the battery tender if I am not riding each day, but even in winter we have days you can ride (like today, and last weekend, etc) so I never pull the battery.

Under your circumstances, I don't argue with your logic at all.

But up here in the snow belt, where Winter is spelled with a capital 'W', even when we are tempted by a break in the weather, our bikes should probably stay tucked away for their long Winter's nap.

Though roads may be clear of snow and ice, frost, potholes and motorists not accustomed to watching for bikers make such day forays a real hazard.

Not to mention, the tires on my motorcycle are way too stiff from many freezing days and nights of storage to be realistically safe.

Wisconsin winters require patience and prudence. And tucked away on a corner of my workbench, if my battery could smile, it would.

[AdventureGoat]

I have a 2005 1200 RT and a question about winter storage. This will be my second winter of storage. Last winter I removed the battery competely and charged it occassionally using a Battery Tender Plus. I read the notices about not using anything but BMW battery chargers due to the CAN bus system and the AGM battery, etc. Anyway, this time I got a pigtail to hook directly to the battery terminals, left the battery hooked up on the bike, and conveniently routed the end for access to my charger. I kept the Battery Tender Plus hooked up last week and then disconnected and went for a ride yesterday. At that time I noticed my dash lights intermittently coming on and going off. Am I potentially burning up my wiring or is this a coincidental fluke that means check my dash light bulbs?? I have never had any problems at all (second owner). By the way, I am new to BMW and will never go back to ride anything else!

I use the BMW battery tender. My bike has the CANBUS wiring system and this bettery tender works perfectly and I do not need to go through the hassle of removing my battery for the "winter"; especially when the the conditions are right for me to get a ride in the middle of January! I just unplug and go!

[flybike]

Any direct connection to the battery...either pigtail or accessory direct socket...with any brand of regulating charger will work fine.

I have never had the battery out of the bike, this is the 3rd winter for my '05RT and no issues whatsoever.

KISS system.

Jim

[bikerfish1100]

Not to mention, the tires on my motorcycle are way too stiff from many freezing days and nights of storage to be realistically safe.



so does this mean that you shuck your tires every spring and put on a new pair with flexible rubber :scratch

[nrpetersen]

OK - What BMW bikes have the Canbus system? Mine is a 2005 K1200LT. I assume this is a problem only with pulse type chargers/battery conditioners spiking the electronics?

These pulse type charging units do hit the system hard with a lot of voltage with a very short rise time. I've seen like 20 V spikes (< 1 microsec) on the dinky one I've got, and I doubt my 600 KHz oscilloscope was picking out the true peak. I don't use them on any battery connected to electronics.

[johnetto]

Thanks to all who wrote in. I have hooked up a pigtail socket directly to my battery and have the Battery Tender Plus plugged in 24/7. But my other question in the initial thread was regarding that annoying, intermittant dash light. This was a new problem for me. My dealer states maybe a bad relay or circuit problem. I will take it to them in the spring. But once again, thanks for all your thoughts and comments.

[lenrt1200st]

Thanks to all who wrote in. I have hooked up a pigtail socket directly to my battery and have the Battery Tender Plus plugged in 24/7. But my other question in the initial thread was regarding that annoying, intermittant dash light. This was a new problem for me. My dealer states maybe a bad relay or circuit problem. I will take it to them in the spring. But once again, thanks for all your thoughts and comments.

fwiw - My 2006, R1200 ST would not start yesterday afternoon, I'd planned a quick ride back to work after lunch, but ckick, click, click...no go! Dead battery, I thought.

I quickly removed the seat, attached the pigtail leads to the battery, and connected the socket to the Battery Tender +. BT+ glowing "red" indicating a low voltage battery. I drove back to work in the p-up.

Later, that evening the BT+ green light was glowing steadily! I disconnected the leads, the ST started right up, no warning lights, no problem. I went for a 15 mile run and gassed up.

Upon returning, I re-attached the BT+. The "blinking" green light came on for about 5 minutes, then went to solid green, full charge. The clock didn't even need re-setting.

I hope this is helpful, again no warning lights noted.

Len

[guzzi1]

I have a 2006 and connected the pig tail directly to the battery and i have my battery tender on a timer so that it charges for 6 - 7 hours and then off for 18 -17.
My BMW suggested this and said the battery tender was no problem.

[Greenwald]

so does this mean that you shuck your tires every spring and put on a new pair with flexible rubber :scratch

Cute. No - come warmer weather, tires once again become pliable and perform as they were designed to. I teach this stuff in Basic and Experienced Rider Courses for MSF.

I can only hope you were speaking 'tongue in cheek' - there are assumptions out there in the motorcycle world that scare me.

Ride Safe.

[lenrt1200st]

fwiw - My 2006, R1200 ST would not start yesterday afternoon, I'd planned a quick ride back to work after lunch, but ckick, click, click...no go! Dead battery, I thought.

I quickly removed the seat, attached the pigtail leads to the battery, and connected the socket to the Battery Tender +. BT+ glowing "red" indicating a low voltage battery. I drove back to work in the p-up.

Later, that evening the BT+ green light was glowing steadily! I disconnected the leads, the ST started right up, no warning lights, no problem. I went for a 15 mile run and gassed up.

Upon returning, I re-attached the BT+. The "blinking" green light came on for about 5 minutes, then went to solid green, full charge. The clock didn't even need re-setting.

I hope this is helpful, again no warning lights noted.

Len

It was 22 degrees F this morning! The R1200ST started right up. The ride to work was a little brisk, however!:bliss

Len

[Burnszilla]

A little FYI...
Battery Mart sells the Battery Tender Plus for Gel Cell (the exact same model as the BMW branded one) for a fraction of the price. It can charge all types of batteries (AGM) + gel, but the AGM and regular batteries will take longer to charge.

http://www.batterymart.com/p-battery-tender-plus-12v-1_25a-gel-battery-charger.html

This tender puts out 14.6 volts charging rather than 14.9v, which makes it more gentle on the BMW electronics.