The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: BooG on September 24, 2008, 05:08:11 AM

Title: Correct Battery
Post by: BooG on September 24, 2008, 05:08:11 AM
This is my battery. Seems to run down a bit. Reading various sources might lead me to think it is not the correct one. Had the R65 for 4 years..same battery. Could have been in there longer.
Title: Re: Correct Battery
Post by: Darwin_R65 on September 24, 2008, 05:56:05 AM
FOUR YEARS ?!?!?!?

Here in Darwin with the heat and humidity battery life is 12 months, 2 years if you're lucky.
Title: Re: Correct Battery
Post by: donbmw on September 24, 2008, 12:45:29 PM
That is not the correct battery by BMW but is close in size to the battery that goes in. I have been using that battery in my bikes for a few years because it is one that you can get anywhere. Four years is good for that battery I normal go 2 to 3 years with the way my bikes set.

Don
Title: Re: Correct Battery
Post by: Justin B. on September 24, 2008, 04:21:33 PM
Looking at the part number I would guess it to be a 16 AH 12V battery which is what the R65 calls for, I think.  Is it ridden all of the time or does it sit and get discharged a lot?  I now have the sealed AGM batteries in all of our bikes...
Title: Re: Correct Battery
Post by: nhmaf on September 24, 2008, 06:25:09 PM
I am on 2 years with the sealed AGM in my R65, and am pretty pleased with it.   It is an 18A-H rating battery.   This year I took the plunge and bought some
Batter Tender Jr. tenders for both of my motorcycles - keep the cells charged up automatically and I think that the battery life is improved as well.

I think that BMw spec'ed sevearl different amp-hour rating batteries for use with the R65, though the lowest rating one that you'd want to go with is the 16 A-H.
Title: Re: Correct Battery
Post by: Justin B. on September 24, 2008, 08:17:55 PM
The Gruber batteries I've put in are 18 AH and I think the Odyssey PC680s I have in the R100s are either 20 or 22 AH.  But, for the $50 difference I think the 18 AH spins an R65 over just fine!  ;)

Boo, I think you got your money's worth, at least in my experience.  I've never had a wet-cell battery last more than a couple of years...
Title: Re: Correct Battery
Post by: rl900 on September 25, 2008, 09:34:16 AM
Yuasa recommended replacement is a 19AH rated battery, the Odyssey PC-680 is a 17AH, but as Justin says I'm sure it would spin it easily.  A Harley VRod uses a 14AH battery!

The biggest issue I have seen is the battery box on the R65 is narrower than on the bigger BMW's.  The battery needs to be about 3 1/4 inches wide to fit in the box.  My '81 came with a new batter the DPO fitted, but when I looked at it, it sat up on the box and would have cracked and spilled acid over the frame and engine.

Ron L
Title: Re: Correct Battery
Post by: Semper Gumby on September 29, 2008, 05:53:41 PM
+1 on the PC680.  4 years and 5 months and counting....
Title: Re: Correct Battery
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on September 29, 2008, 09:27:39 PM
Quote
The biggest issue I have seen is the battery box on the R65 is narrower than on the bigger BMW's.  The battery needs to be about 3 1/4 inches wide to fit in the box.  
Ron L

A lot of that space is how the R65 gets a shorter wheelbase and more nimble handling package.

But you probably don't worry about that... ;)