Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Having Problems with your BMW R1200RT/R1250RT? or have some Maintenance and Service questions?
puckdropr
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Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by puckdropr »

I am looking to replace my battery in my 2016 RT.  Wanted some input about which route to go...conventional or Lithium?  Has anyone put a LI in.  I have quite a few things wired to the battery...Denali CanSmart, Innov K2 cameras and use an Optima charger.  Thanks for any wisdom y'all can provide.


CHEERS!
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David.
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by David. »

The OE battery (part no. 61218531121) is most likely to be a 12-16 AGM Ready made by Exide. Has the battery been performing satisfactorily over the last 4 years, if so, I'd get the same again but not from a BMW dealer.

Li-Ion batteries are significantly lighter than conventional ones and therefore appeal to those wishing to save weight, hardly a priority on an RT. Another advantage is the CCA for starting, if it's not been a problem, then why change. A disadvantage is the purchase cost of Li-Ion, plus a specific battery charger will be required.

What is the current draw (amps) of the additional items wired to the battery. (The on-board sockets are rated at 10A).
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Taz
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by Taz »

I bought a replacement battery from Motorworks for £62.40. It came the next day, fitted perfectly and has performed faultlessly.


[size=16px]Motobatt AGM yellow | [/size][size=16px]ELA05650 [/size]
So when is this “old enough to know better” supposed to kick in?
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emlevy
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by emlevy »

Not a scientific response, but if the OE didn’t originally specify Li, then I see no reason to change, especially considering the added cost.


A few pounds of weight savings would likely go unnoticed on an RT anyway. Case in point: my bike feels no different with a full tank of gas than it does when it’s down to its last gallon, and that’s a weight difference of about 40 lbs.
Last edited by emlevy on Mon Nov 30, 2020 4:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by Our Gee »

Would this be the same type of battery that was used to set early models of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on fire ?.
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Levisp
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by Levisp »

Taz wrote: I bought a replacement battery from Motorworks for £62.40. It came the next day, fitted perfectly and has performed faultlessly.


Motobatt AGM yellow | [/size][/color]ELA05650 [/size][/color]

Taz do you know the model number of the Motobatt AGM yellow you got. I looked at their site and Motobatt site for a replacement for my 2014 LC bike and got conflicting results.
Many thanks.
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Levisp
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by Levisp »

Taz ignore my last post. Just seen the part number in your post so I know which one you got. What I don't know is the difference between the yellow one you got and the black one below on the Motorworks site. They both seem identical except for colour. Any ideas ?
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David.
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by David. »

The OEM battery part no. is 61218531121.

From Motorworks, Battery Motobatt AGM | ELA31122

Fits R1200RT LC (09/2013 - 08/2018),R1250RT (09/2018 -) Show All...

Associated BMW part: 61218531121 (61 21 8 531 121)

The photo from Motorworks, when enlarged shows a Motobatt MBTX16U, https://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop ... 0&spPage=1

Available from M&P for £20 less than Motorworks, https://www.mandp.co.uk/products/mbtx16 ... ery-593051
Last edited by David. on Mon Nov 30, 2020 12:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Levisp
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by Levisp »

Thanks David for the clarification. Missed that one. Me being lazy not scrolling down the web page. Duh !!
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Levisp
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by Levisp »

When in doubt takeout. Good find M&P much cheaper free postage. Order today. Cheers.



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David.
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by David. »

Levisp wrote:M&P much cheaper.
Half the price of an Exide battery from BMW, https://www.online-parts.co.uk/bmw-bike ... 1218531121
puckdropr
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by puckdropr »

Thanks for everyones insight on this.  I will be sticking with an OEM Exide.  Just didn't know if the LI would provide additional benefits other than weight.


Thanks again!
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David.
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by David. »

puckdropr wrote:I will be sticking with an OEM Exide.
Just get the Exide AGM 12-16 without the BMW sticker, https://batterygroup.co.uk/detail/index/sArticle/10515

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Last edited by David. on Tue Dec 01, 2020 12:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Levisp
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by Levisp »

The Motobatt yellow battery MBTX16U arrived today. Ordered Monday afternoon, thank you David for pointing me in the right direction. Fits perfectly. The terminals are easier than the OEM type. M&P were very efficient. Be interesting to see if this one lasts as long as the OEM battery which did just over 6 years. Think that's pretty good.
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David.
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Re: Battery replacement OEM or Lithium Ion??

Post by David. »

Levisp wrote:The terminals are easier than the OEM type.
Is that because the terminals are threaded, rather than a bolt with a floating nut which is difficult to locate/pick up.

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Last edited by David. on Wed Dec 02, 2020 4:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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