R1200GS Odyssey Battery Install Pictorial

So, a few weeks ago my friend Kermit realizes his battery of 2+ years, and 42K miles on his R1200GS is dying a slow death. I advised that I thought the Odyssey PC 535 Battery would be a good replacement, and while he was picking up one for him, pick me one up too. My R1200GS, 05 with 40K miles, was going too.
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We then undertook the minor task of installing one in his bike.
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Tools in hand, we got started.
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#1 is a T-27 Torx that held the manual clip. We removed it.
#2 is the negative battery cable, a 10 mm socket removed it, and it will be relocated.
#3 is the positive cable, the same 10 mm socket removes it. It will also be relocated.
#4 is the battery strap that hold the battery in, we removed it with the same T-27 Torx.
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Then we simply lifted the battery out. Make sure you have already pushed the cables out of the way.
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Next we go to work modifying the Odyssey Battery. Yes, this will void the warranty, and yes some have installed it without removing fins, but I would not recommend it.
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First we remove the brass wire mounting plates. Just two small plastic “rivets”. We used a small wood chisel to remove them.
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One on each side.
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Clean. No need to trim the “rivet” bumps if you don’t want to.
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Next we trim the fins opposite the battery terminals. This helps give clearance for wires on the frame of the bike.
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We used a simple carpet knife, sharp! Trim in several passes right flush with the battery case.
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Be gentle, and careful. It cuts easier than you might think.
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Trim the top edge straight down for a clean cut.
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Clean up the edge left on the case, if you want.
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Place the battery in the box and check clearances. The ridge, arrow, will need about 1/8” trimmed off.
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We marked it by cutting first with a carpet knife, then trimmed it clean with wire cutters after removing the battery.
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Note, the battery is a snug fit, and needs a little persistence to pull out, but there is plenty of room.
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With the battery back in place, check your clearance. On the right is a brake line that you may have to tweak a bit to not touch the battery.
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On the left is a small wire bundle that is close, see arrow.
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If left like this it can chafe on the battery.
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Pull it up, and secure it with a zip-tie. Not too tight, just snug.
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Take the original battery strap and flatten it out. All except the top part which needs a bend at about 3.25 inches.
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On the bottom edge you need to add a slight bend towards the battery about where the arrow is. This will help it catch the lip when installing it.
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See the bend on number 1? That is correct.
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See the bend in number 2? Flatten that out altogether. Otherwise it wont fit right.
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Install the battery strap with a T-27 Torx. Make sure it doesn’t pull too hard on the edge of the battery. You may have to adjust the bend of the strap to get it right.
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Strap correctly installed.
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Here is Kermit’s finished.
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Note the battery cables now come up from the left. The negative cable is pulled back and bent over to fit the lugs. We tie-strapped it in place out of the way. The positive comes across the battery and is similarly curved back and tie-strapped in place.
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We used the owner’s manual clip to hold the positive cable in place, and added some shrink-wrap as it passed the negative terminal
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Here is a close-up of the positive cable tied down.
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A few weeks later I got around to doing mine, and here is the result.
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I did mine exactly the same as Kermit’s, but I added a roll of shrink-wrap over the positive cable under the Owners Manual clip and made the clip a stronger hold-down. I added a similar piece of shrink-wrap under the positive cable over the negative terminal.
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Kermit’s bike has several thousand miles on it since, and mine about 1K. Both are doing great, no clearance issues at all with the seat bar, or any other issues. I expect they will both do fine on our 7K mile summer trip!
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Just $109 from www.batteriesplus.com ignore the web price, go to the store. Great battery, noticeably more starting power!
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Jim
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thanks!!!!! & good job!

Wow, looks great.

Thanks as always JVB.

I wonder if this will fit in an 1150?

PC 680 is a direct drop in, with a little reorganizing of the cables.

Jim

JVB,

What would we do without your always-outstanding tech tutorials?? Many thanks!

Rick F.

Thanks Rick!

Jim

Jim
Thank you for another great write up.
I was just wondering, do you leave yours on a charger?
Living in a NYC apartment and having nowhere to charge it sure takes it toll on my batteries.
I had the stock battery perform flawlessly until early this winter when it suddenly died on a cold morning.
Then, I bought a new BMW battery- same thing. Then to the odyssey battery- thinking it will hold a better charge- and now it dies on me as well.
Could there be a short somewhere that is causing this to happen ,and what is the best way to look for something like this? Or is it just the fact that I ride the GS in the city for short commutes without charging it that brings the voltage down?

I never use a charger, and never have (except when I accidentally kill it)!

Do you have a lot of accessories on your bike? Unless it sits several weeks the battery should not suddenly discharge.

One thing I have done before is to accidentally leave the bike with the keyset in the park position, it will kill the battery overnight. The key does not have to be in it to happen. On the R1200 you can do it by hitting the turnsignal for a few seconds just after turning off the key. I hang my helmet on the mirror and it hits it sometimes.

Jim

How come all cracks and crevises of your bike are soo clean all the time ??? I can never get mine thaat clean.

I don't know. I wash it about every 3-6 months, though I don't do a lot of dirt. That might explain it. I do ride year round, salt, rain etc.

Jim

Is this the Standard After market Batt peopel are using on the thier GS? I wonder why not buy a battery made for the bike...no modifiying need? Trying to learn and be prepared for the replacement when it comes my way.

No, there are plenty of batteries that fit.

I just like the Odyssey Battery. It has proven very stout, and hold up better IMHO than anything else.

Jim

Why would you bother doing that?


Stock battery works just fine, fits and costs less than the Odyssey.


It's a wheel. Don't reinvent it, wear the fucking thing out.

Exactly why I did it. The stocker lasted OK for 2 years and 40K miles, but it never turned over as easily as it does with the Odyessy. Besides, the cost difference isn't really that much. Another $20-30 over the internet prices of a stock like battery, or cheaper than the one from BMW.

So, if you want to be pickey, the Odyessy is actually cheaper than replacing it with one from BMW!

Jim

Guess I've been lucky. It turned over slowly but never failed to start. I replaced mine at 60K as a precaution.

But why, if it was working, replace it at all?





























Jim

Strange, the BMW branded battery I bought from a dealer, not online, began with an 8 in the price.


And I didn't have to fuck with anything.