The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: TomHoldom on March 27, 2026, 04:15:01 AM

Title: Battery for '79 R65 (AGM)
Post by: TomHoldom on March 27, 2026, 04:15:01 AM
Hello,
I'm looking for help recommendation for an AGM battery for my occasionally used 1979 R65
My old AGM battery is dead (after forgetting to leave on trickle charge of winter)

I have seen an Exide AGM12-18 (12V, 18Ah, 250A) recommended which is available where I am (france) for ?65.
Does this look ok? After the size and quality is it only the 12V and 18Ah that I need to check when choosing ?
Thanks for your help.
Tom
Title: Re: Battery for '79 R65 (AGM)
Post by: Bob_Roller on March 27, 2026, 02:07:38 PM
That's not a bad price .
I have been using generic agm batteries for 25 years .
I live in a low desert and batteries last at best 3 years .
Do an online search for agm motorcycle battery 12 volt 22 ah and see what you come up with .
There are 18 and 20 ah batteries available I've been using the higher ah batteries they seem to last a little bit longer than the 18 ah batteries .
See if you can do better on the price shipping costs may outweigh the savings .
Also I would recommend using a battery tender if the bike isn't ridden often .
Get a quality tender I went cheap and had early battery failure .
I'm sold on Battery Tender brand, they have the Junior Tender 750, 800 ma and 1 amp tenders .
Title: Re: Battery for '79 R65 (AGM)
Post by: Tiedie on March 27, 2026, 05:48:27 PM
That's not a bad price .
I have been using generic agm batteries for 25 years .
I live in a low desert and batteries last at best 3 years .
Do an online search for agm motorcycle battery 12 volt 22 ah and see what you come up with .
There are 18 and 20 ah batteries available I've been using the higher ah batteries they seem to last a little bit longer than the 18 ah batteries .
See if you can do better on the price shipping costs may outweigh the savings .
Also I would recommend using a battery tender if the bike isn't ridden often .
Get a quality tender I went cheap and had early battery failure .
I'm sold on Battery Tender brand, they have the Junior Tender 750, 800 ma and 1 amp tenders .
Hello,
I'm looking for help recommendation for an AGM battery for my occasionally used 1979 R65
My old AGM battery is dead (after forgetting to leave on trickle charge of winter)

I have seen an Exide AGM12-18 (12V, 18Ah, 250A) recommended which is available where I am (france) for ?65.
Does this look ok? After the size and quality is it only the 12V and 18Ah that I need to check when choosing ?
Thanks for your help.
Tom

Ive had excellent success with the Odyssey PC680 for the last 15 years or more. As Bob mentioned Battery Tender brand is excellent been usins one for 30 years or more and upgraded to a 4 bank to run the lawn tractor, the LS and my Kubota B7100 tractor. Have one in the garage for my generac generator too.

When everything gets put up for the winter I plug up and it maintains.
Oddyssey owns X2 power batteries by the way.
Title: Re: Battery for '79 R65 (AGM)
Post by: Barry on March 28, 2026, 11:26:33 AM
Another vote for generic AGM's. My first one cost GBP32 and  lasted almost 11.5 years. I recently replaced it with another very similar battery for GBP35.

PC680's are great batteries but at GBP140 in the UK they they make no economic sense at all compared to a generic AGM.

That's strange, I type pounds signs and it displays pounds signs until it's saved and posted when they then turn in to ? marks.  So I've used GBP instead
Title: Re: Battery for '79 R65 (AGM)
Post by: TomHoldom on March 28, 2026, 11:29:08 AM
Thanks for the help