Battery Charger

[wfd103]

Whole strawberries Batman, I'm in quite a jam!!

My 2007 RT owners manual stats that I can charge the battery through the on board socket with the battery connected. The BMW Motorrad USA Accessories catalog says I have to disconnect the battery on 2005 and later models. They are using the same part number. So riddle me this Batman, which one is right??

[marcopolo]

Whole strawberries Batman, I'm in quite a jam!!

My 2007 RT owners manual stats that I can charge the battery through the on board socket with the battery connected. The BMW Motorrad USA Accessories catalog says I have to disconnect the battery on 2005 and later models. They are using the same part number. So riddle me this Batman, which one is right??
Don't know what specific charger you're referring to, but here goes...

If you want to charge your battery through the accessory socket on a CANBUS bike, you have to use a BMW charger which will be appropriately "recognized" by the bike. Otherwise, the accessory socket will shut down automatically about 10 minutes after you turn the key off. You also have to hook the charger up in the appropriate sequence to ensure the socket stays live.

You have a couple of other options. You could wire your accessory socket directly to the battery, and use any brand charger (as long it's the type appropriate to your type of battery -- gel, AGM etc.).

You could also simply wire the lead of any appropriate battery charger directly to your bike's battery (and zip tie it to a frame member aft of the rider's seat) and plug the charger into that lead, thus bypassing the accessory socket altogether. That's what I do on my R12RT. It's a neat, clean installation and works well. I know others who have added a second accessory socket wired directly to the battery, in effect bypassing the bike's electronics, which will shut the socket off after the ten minutes I mentioned above.

[Ctrod]

I have a 06 R1200RT with the battery charger recomended for the cambus system.
Is there any reason why I can't leave the battery charger on while the bike is covered? Will acid fume build up under the cover any caroid the bike?:dunno

[flybike]

Well maybe I'm just lucky but for the last 3 winters, including this one which seems to be going on forever...I have been using a regular 'smart' battery charger pluged into a socket which goes directly to the battery, AND leaving it for months like that, UNDER the cover. So far no melt down...of the canbus or plastic.

I think we tend to read to much into the way some manuals are written, and a little 'think it thru' can save a lot of unnecessary concern :bolt .

Jim

[hlothery]

Well maybe I'm just lucky but for the last 3 winters, including this one which seems to be going on forever...I have been using a regular 'smart' battery charger pluged into a socket which goes directly to the battery, AND leaving it for months like that, UNDER the cover. So far no melt down...of the canbus or plastic.

I think we tend to read to much into the way some manuals are written, and a little 'think it thru' can save a lot of unnecessary concern :bolt .

Jim

I agree. That is the way I charged mine during my first knee replacement in June, and I am doing it again that way now.

[wfd103]

I think I will keep it simple. Get a charger that is designed for my battery and just wire the pigtails directly to it. I guess I just read so much and fried my skull. I guess info is good but when I reached .08 I should have said stop. I shall keep it simple and get a battery tender plus.

[Ctrod]

Thanks.

[BMWDEAN]

See the charger discussion here:

http://bmwdean.home.att.net/r1200rt.htm

[lebenfitti]

I just bought a 2004 R1150RT with a BMW 12V 19Ah Gel Battery. I have read a great deal of confusion regarding the maintenance of gel batteries.

The guy I bought the RT from gave me an ACI model 1202CC charger.

http://www.acichargers.com/

Does anyone have any experience or recommendations with this type of charger?

Thanks in advance.

[RTRandy]

If you own the BMW charger and a Canbus system bike, all you do is :

1) Turn the ignition on

2) Plug in the BMW charger

3) After plugging in the charger, turn the bike off.

How hard is that?

Again, make sure the bike is switched on before plugging in the charger


The circuit of the BMW charger let's the bike know it's now hooked up to the charger. It then tells the bike " Instead of shutting everything off like usual, you will leave the outlet which I am charging routed to the battery. That's why the bike has to be turned on so the software can comunicate to the Canbus system. There are a couple of other nuances about the BMW charger in the way it spikes the voltage to the battery at different points during the charging cycle.

[gabentx]

Ok...now apologies to all if this is a dumb question but I am new to BMW's as of last December. I've had quite a few bikes over the years and have never had the need for a battery charger as I can ride year-round here in TX for the most part. I've seen and read quite a bit about battery chargers on this forum and others so my question is this.... Do I need to get a charger and keep the bike on it? If so, why does the BMW need it more than other bikes (i.e. Honda Shadow, Kawasaki Vulcan, etc.)?

I'm confused as to the need other than winter storage or long periods of inactivity.

Thanks in advance...

[deilenberger]

I'm confused as to the need other than winter storage or long periods of inactivity.

Thanks in advance...I'm confused also. I have yet to plug my '07 R12R into the charger that hangs on the wall next to it - ready to go. Instead I just ride the bike on as regular a basis as I can. It's possible a case could be made for use of one if you're running 2 sets of auxiliary lights and full heated gear for two people - and going on short trips with a lot of stop/go activity... but other than that - the charging system seems to be more than adequate to me.

I think it's just another "BMW" thing - sorta like aways using the centerstand (which I also don't do..)

[cjack]

I think it's just another "BMW" thing - sorta like aways using the centerstand (which I also don't do..)

Hey, me too. 37 years on the side stand. R bikes, K bikes. I put the bike on the centerstand when I want to take off a wheel.

[deilenberger]

Hey, me too. 37 years on the side stand. R bikes, K bikes. I put the bike on the centerstand when I want to take off a wheel.Mine goes on it in the garage - just for the extra room to walk around. Other than that - it's on the sidestand. Airheads, K bikes, Oilhead, Hexhead.. all have been sidestanded - and never fell over.