Evening All:
During a ride today on my 2008 R12R through Northern Kentucky, my battery had a Sudden Battery Death Syndrome. Started weird at a Shell Station-should have known to turn around from all the previous reports. Rode another hour, turned it off-tried to start it-no click or any cranking. Jump started-got it running-held it at ~3K for 10 minutes-let it go to idle-Died.
Called BMW Assistance-they sent a tow truck with a flat bed-but of course no battery, bike HAS to go to a dealer-unfortunately all the nearest dealers are at least 1.5 hours away from my residence. This really sucks-a $15K lead weight!
Fortunately, my riding buddies hung around until the tow, and my wife headed down to pick me up.
All and all, not a bad day-beautiful weather-good friends-crappy battery though.
Regards;
Chris
SuddenBatteryDeath R12R--Update
Moderator: Moderators
SuddenBatteryDeath R12R--Update
Last edited by Ckaine on Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Chris
R1200R Black with stripes(current)
K75 Blue gone
R75/6 Gold gone
850 Norton Black/Gold Gone
R1200R Black with stripes(current)
K75 Blue gone
R75/6 Gold gone
850 Norton Black/Gold Gone
Re: SuddenBatteryDeath R12R
The battery may be the bane of R1200R ownership.
I just replaced mine four weeks ago and unfortunately, the bike has been sitting for the last three weeks NOT on a battery tender. Headed out for a ride soon and I sure hope she turns over.
There's nothing worse than no faith in your ride...
I just replaced mine four weeks ago and unfortunately, the bike has been sitting for the last three weeks NOT on a battery tender. Headed out for a ride soon and I sure hope she turns over.
There's nothing worse than no faith in your ride...
- Eric V
Re: SuddenBatteryDeath R12R
All:
Well my ride was towed to one of the dealers 1.5 hours away from my residence-at the moment I am not sure if it went to Louisville KY or Columbus Ohio.
At the moment it doesn't really matter-as neithr is open on Mondays- I wonder how the tow company delivered it???
I have been checking out the information about replacement batteries-perhaps when the bike makes it's way home- I will invest in a more reliable electron storage device!
Well my ride was towed to one of the dealers 1.5 hours away from my residence-at the moment I am not sure if it went to Louisville KY or Columbus Ohio.
At the moment it doesn't really matter-as neithr is open on Mondays- I wonder how the tow company delivered it???I have been checking out the information about replacement batteries-perhaps when the bike makes it's way home- I will invest in a more reliable electron storage device!
Chris
R1200R Black with stripes(current)
K75 Blue gone
R75/6 Gold gone
850 Norton Black/Gold Gone
R1200R Black with stripes(current)
K75 Blue gone
R75/6 Gold gone
850 Norton Black/Gold Gone
Re: SuddenBatteryDeath R12R--Update
Evening All:
I have an update from the dealer in Louisville-and I am not particularly impressed. It has been at the dealer since Monday(although they are closed that day) I called Tuesday to alert them as to the issue why it was towed in-a dead battery. So today, Thursday, I call-and they have to check. Battery on charger-will not take a charge-it is dead. Funny, that is what I described- Sudden Battery Death. So now comes the complication--the bike has been in service since June of 2008-and it is now ~1.5 years in service. I mention that the battery has a two year warranty-then the comment is; have you been putting it on a Battery Tender or BMW Charger?? I state-I have been riding it. How about over then Winter?-I reply-it was on a charger and I rode it at least one day each month. Dealer-well there is no recall campaign on the battery-my reply-there is a two year warranty-Dealer-we will have to check with BMW.
So, there it stands!!
Not impressed at this point-and I am worried about towing damage.
Regards;
Chris
I have an update from the dealer in Louisville-and I am not particularly impressed. It has been at the dealer since Monday(although they are closed that day) I called Tuesday to alert them as to the issue why it was towed in-a dead battery. So today, Thursday, I call-and they have to check. Battery on charger-will not take a charge-it is dead. Funny, that is what I described- Sudden Battery Death. So now comes the complication--the bike has been in service since June of 2008-and it is now ~1.5 years in service. I mention that the battery has a two year warranty-then the comment is; have you been putting it on a Battery Tender or BMW Charger?? I state-I have been riding it. How about over then Winter?-I reply-it was on a charger and I rode it at least one day each month. Dealer-well there is no recall campaign on the battery-my reply-there is a two year warranty-Dealer-we will have to check with BMW.
So, there it stands!!
Not impressed at this point-and I am worried about towing damage.
Regards;
Chris
Chris
R1200R Black with stripes(current)
K75 Blue gone
R75/6 Gold gone
850 Norton Black/Gold Gone
R1200R Black with stripes(current)
K75 Blue gone
R75/6 Gold gone
850 Norton Black/Gold Gone
-
Kieran R1200R
- Basic User
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 2:18 am
- Location: Adelaide South Australia
Re: SuddenBatteryDeath R12R--Update
It's not only the R1200R that has battery problems, all the boxer bikes have the same.
Some use a tender and some don't and most go around the 18 month mark.
I personally haven't got any more than 14 months out of one.
The two R1100S I had died a sudden death as well.
The R1200S I had only got 12 months out of the battery.
I don't know if they sit on the shelf at BMW and are old before they go in or what, but they are sure not up to there job.
I personally think they need to be bigger than they are to crank these motors. 13.1 compession is a lot to move over. The other thing is just because the battery may read 12 volts it doesn't mean it ok. A new battery will read 13.5 volts on the meter.
These bikes are voltage sensitive. Most of the trouble to short life is Exide, there crap, just ask all who are getting short life.
I am using a smart charger when the bike is parked up in the garage in hope it may extend life.
The new R1200R I have has a exide so I am expecting it to go 12 months from now.
I suppose for what they cost it's not to bad.
Just look at it like tyres, they ware out to quick, and how much do we spend on them.
Some use a tender and some don't and most go around the 18 month mark.
I personally haven't got any more than 14 months out of one.
The two R1100S I had died a sudden death as well.
The R1200S I had only got 12 months out of the battery.
I don't know if they sit on the shelf at BMW and are old before they go in or what, but they are sure not up to there job.
I personally think they need to be bigger than they are to crank these motors. 13.1 compession is a lot to move over. The other thing is just because the battery may read 12 volts it doesn't mean it ok. A new battery will read 13.5 volts on the meter.
These bikes are voltage sensitive. Most of the trouble to short life is Exide, there crap, just ask all who are getting short life.
I am using a smart charger when the bike is parked up in the garage in hope it may extend life.
The new R1200R I have has a exide so I am expecting it to go 12 months from now.
I suppose for what they cost it's not to bad.
Just look at it like tyres, they ware out to quick, and how much do we spend on them.
Re: SuddenBatteryDeath R12R--Update
Thanks for the reality check with regard to battery life.
My consternation with all of this is; being stranded with a 16 month old bike, and the dealer's (although they have been very good in the past) service group's attitude and taking two full days of work sorting out a dead battery(I told them on Tuesday it was dead).
Hopefully, there was no towing damage, and BMW puts a working/new Exide in. Then I will need to decide when to put an Odyssey 535 in-because being stranded with the few dealers we have to work with-is less than pleasant.
My consternation with all of this is; being stranded with a 16 month old bike, and the dealer's (although they have been very good in the past) service group's attitude and taking two full days of work sorting out a dead battery(I told them on Tuesday it was dead).
Hopefully, there was no towing damage, and BMW puts a working/new Exide in. Then I will need to decide when to put an Odyssey 535 in-because being stranded with the few dealers we have to work with-is less than pleasant.
Chris
R1200R Black with stripes(current)
K75 Blue gone
R75/6 Gold gone
850 Norton Black/Gold Gone
R1200R Black with stripes(current)
K75 Blue gone
R75/6 Gold gone
850 Norton Black/Gold Gone
Re: SuddenBatteryDeath R12R--Update
My battery died of the sudden death 200 miles from home. It was covered under warranty, but very inconvenient. My dealer, A & S BMW did not give me any grief about it.