BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

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!

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).

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]

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.

Would this be the same type of battery that was used to set early models of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on fire ?.

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.

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 ?

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

Thanks David for the clarification. Missed that one. Me being lazy not scrolling down the web page. Duh !!

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

Levisp wrote:M&P much cheaper.

Half the price of an Exide battery from BMW, https://www.online-parts.co.uk/bmw-bike ... 1218531121

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!

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

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.

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.