Batteries and stuff

My bike being a 16 valve, is different from the older K100s (8 valve) and different to the later K1100s. Mine was the one where BMW introduced many modern features including, better ABS, 16 valve engine, radial tyres on 3 spoke wheels, floating disc brakes on the front and a few other things. Most of this stuff carried over to the K1100, but the electrical system was still as per the older bike. This means a 32 amp alternator and a huge battery that would look fine in a diesel truck! The later K1100s got a 50 amp alternator and a smaller battery.

The battery on my bike was showing signs of weakness even though it was trickle charged with an Optimate charger every now and then. My wifes F800ST was similar. I bought a pair of Hawker Odyssey batteries (PC680 for mine and a PC535  for hers) from www.batteriemegastore.fr, which were very well priced. The Odyssey is an AGM battery with a huge amount of power in the cold cranking amps department. I have one fitted to my microlight and it will also hold its charge through many months of none use.

The PC680 is the same height and width as the old battery, but is half the depth, so overall half the size. It leaves loads of space in the battery tray. I can also be fitted any way up as there is no liquid acid in the thing – great on a bike as it won’t spill should you drop it. On that point I realise that the old battery is probably fine and has just lost some electrolyte as the bike was on its side when I first saw it!

Anyway with both batteries fitted it is amazing to see how quickly the engines turn on start up now.

As is normal on this blog, click on the pictures to enlarge them.

The red top part of the battery is half the width as the old one hence the space in front and behind the battery.