Battery?

[Duccrazydave]

Reaching out here for some troubleshooting direction. A few weeks before the Colorado trip, I replaced the stock battery with a Shoria LFX21A6-BS12. Not a popular choice, but the performance of this brand in my Ducati has been unparalleled.
Not so much with the Beemer.
Since installing, I’ve had 1 or 2 “false starts” where it was barely turning over fast enough to fire up. This happened 3 times in Colorado too.
Today I took the battery to 2 different auto parts stores to load test the battery. Both showed the same result: Good voltage and condition.
Connections are tight and the RS display has always showed sufficient voltage and after the initial start, it turns over quickly. Any ideas?


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[BobAin'tStoppin']

Try this, Put your voltmeter on the battery terminals (not the wires leaving the battery, but the terminals themselves). Then try to start the bike and see what happens to the voltage. If it drops below say 9 volts the battery is either bad, or in your case, perhaps just too small for the application. In my limited experience the BMW bike charging systems are very reliable, so my guess is either bad connection or bad battery.

[Duccrazydave]

Thanks Bob. Will do. Was hoping the load test would have picked up on that. After digging into some google and forum feeds (particularly concerning BMW) the symptoms I described sound too familiar.


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[Duckbubbles]

Try this, Put your voltmeter on the battery terminals (not the wires leaving the battery, but the terminals themselves). Then try to start the bike and see what happens to the voltage. If it drops below say 9 volts the battery is either bad, or in your case, perhaps just too small for the application. In my limited experience the BMW bike charging systems are very reliable, so my guess is either bad connection or bad battery.

Difficult to get to the positive terminal without sliding the battery out some. The hot post just forward of the battery (red cap) has a lead directly from the positive post of the battery.

Frank

[Duccrazydave]

Appreciate that Frank. It is easier from that location, for sure. Haven’t detected any problem with the resting charge. Consistently reading 13.6V. It’s that initial start, from cold, I need to measure.


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[mspratz]

Sounds like it could be just dirty terminals. You try cleaning both posts and connectors with steel wool, and then coat them with ACF-50 or something similar to prevent oxidation.

[Duccrazydave]

Thanks Mike. They appear clean, but will try that too.

[Olgry1]

Dave I had probably 4 or five Shorai batteries on different bikes from a R1200RT to a S1000RR. They are great batteries but have one quirk.

When it is cold out, like in Gunnison, (less than 50 degrees) turn the ignition on and and wait 30 seconds before you try to start the bike. This gives the battery time to "warm up". The bike should start normally after the battery is warm.

When it is warm out the Shorais operate normally.

[Ray]

Dave I had probably 4 or five Shorai batteries on different bikes from a R1200RT to a S1000RR. They are great batteries but have one quirk.

When it is cold out, like in Gunnison, (less than 50 degrees) turn the ignition on and and wait 30 seconds before you try to start the bike. This gives the battery time to "warm up". The bike should start normally after the battery is warm.

When it is warm out the Shorais operate normally.

I recall this recommendation for lithium iron batteries in general. I'm not riding, so I pulled the manual:

COLD WEATHER STARTING: Down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7C) most users find that they can start normally on first crank. If your headlight comes on at key-ON, it is good for the batteries to flow some current before cranking in cold weather. The suggested headlight-on time before cranking depends on the temperature. If starting at 40F/5C, 30 seconds will help wake the battery and increase cranking performance. If at 0F/-17C, leave the lights on for 4~5 minutes before cranking. The result will be a better first crank, and longer battery life. If the engine fails to start on first crank, that first crank has warmed the battery, and the second attempt will be much stronger. Other accessories that can be turned on before cranking can also be used for this purpose, such as heated gear, radio, etc... Insuring that the battery is fully charged after storage also improves first-start performance in cold weather.

[Lee]

Dave I had probably 4 or five Shorai batteries on different bikes from a R1200RT to a S1000RR. They are great batteries but have one quirk.

When it is cold out, like in Gunnison, (less than 50 degrees) turn the ignition on and and wait 30 seconds before you try to start the bike. This gives the battery time to "warm up". The bike should start normally after the battery is warm.

When it is warm out the Shorais operate normally.

Good post. I forgot about having to delay pressing the start button during cold weather.
If I remember right the temps in Gunnison were below 45 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

[Duccrazydave]

Appreciate the feedback. I’m a victim of my own expectations. I’ve never had the typical weak start issues with the Shoria, in my Ducati. Lighter rotating assembly, lower compression, etc. probably make it more of an apples to oranges comparison.
The weak first starts In Gunnison and a couple in warmer weather (letting it sit for 30 seconds) closer to home, have me running back to a Yuasa. A GYZ16H.


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[Lee]

Appreciate the feedback. I’m a victim of my own expectations. I’ve never had the typical weak start issues with the Shoria, in my Ducati. Lighter rotating assembly, lower compression, etc. probably make it more of an apples to oranges comparison.
The weak first starts In Gunnison and a couple in warmer weather (letting it sit for 30 seconds) closer to home, have me running back to a Yuasa. A GYZ16H.


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When we had the K1300S a tech suggested a Shoria battery. The battery on the S is mounted in front of the gas tank and removing weight from that high location would be a good thing.
I lost interest when he mentioned we would need to wait 30 to 60 seconds before pressing the start button.

[Grumpy Goat]

Small point of order guys ... its a Shorai battery, I believe. A Shoria might be a Chinese knock-off hence the problems.

In all seriousness, Dave, it sounds like despite your 30-sec delay it still had problems. Gunnison was not all that cold during the day (not sure when you attempted to start it). Maybe a bad battery, which is a shame considering the premium you would have spent getting it.

I am very pleased with my Yuasa GYZ16H and I am sure you will be with yours.

[Lee]

In all seriousness, Dave, it sounds like despite your 30-sec delay it still had problems. Gunnison was not all that cold during the day (not sure when you attempted to start it).

I thought the temps were below 45 when he headed out Tuesday morning and again when stopping at the pass.
I don't know if he started the bike when he loaded it on Wednesday.


   

[Duccrazydave]

I did start it that morning,just to load it. Same lack of enthusiasm from the battery. Repeated the behavior when we unloaded in Arkansas.
Going to chalk this one up for experience :-)


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[Duccrazydave]

Follow up final report on my battery adventure. I've had multiple conversations and emails provided to customer support, at Revzilla, describing the unusual behavior. I sent them pics of the battery showing resting voltage - 13.4V, and reported the findings of 2 different local repair shops after a load test - 100%. Explained how my fully charged stock battery (on a 11/15 build date frame) still "first cranked" better on a 55F morning than the Shoria. After all the info provided, I received an email yesterday to return the battery for a full refund.
I've only had a couple of instances that required customer support from Revzilla and they have resulted in positive outcomes. Additionally, they have knowledgeable reps that can typically answer product questions. The only online retailer I've encountered with better support and staff is Sweetwater :-)
BTW, the Yuasa GYZ16H is working out great!

[Grumpy Goat]

I've only had a couple of instances that required customer support from Revzilla and they have resulted in positive outcomes. Additionally, they have knowledgeable reps that can typically answer product questions. The only online retailer I've encountered with better support and staff is Sweetwater :-)
BTW, the Yuasa GYZ16H is working out great!

Glad to hear you won't be out of pocket on the Shorai battery.

Agree 100% on both counts. That is why Revzilla gets all of my motorcycle business, except when they don't actually carry a product I want, then it is over to Twisted Throttle. I too have dealt with Re3vzilla CS and their service delivery has been excellent.