Remove and Replace a BMW R 1250 RS Sport Battery.

[@todtc]

Should have watched this before struggling for 1/2 hour to get the plate back on. Perfect video and exactly why I reference KZbin. Great job!

[@EvMc305]

😂😅😂😅 me too. And it's the SECOND video not first so other channel was useless

[@markmason3535]

Thank you. I was about to lose my mind with that cover.

[@RickLincoln]

Yours is the best video that I've seen yet on how to do this. This is exactly the same battery box as used on the RT wetheads too, which is what I'm riding. I used this today to replace my battery for the same reasons as yours. My '18 RT is now 2 1/2 years old, but I have no idea how old the battery is. With a bit of easing on the Covid pandemic, my wife and I are planning some long distance touring and for the peace of mind, I've done the switch. BTW, my dealer installed an SAE cable onto my battery and I charge it with a run of the mill Battery Tender Jr. in the winter months. Many BMW owners do the same without electronic issues. The pigtail is routed so that it comes out by the panel under the seat so that I can just plug into it. Thanks for your video. It makes so much more sense than the ones with the screwdrivers and other tools to do this job.

[@wacrs1171]

Thankyou. I've recently seen mention of the Battery Tender. I look forward to checking them out.

[@colinpitts7059]

Like everybody else I stuggled for half an hour and decided to search KZbin , great video you should contact BMW and offer to write the manual

[@kevinfurr3311]

Yes!!! I ahve had my bike for a couple months and on virtually any topic I find the manual to be shitty.

[@tomluciani3723]

Great info. I replaced my battery, but it still did not start up. I checked and asked a BMW shop what it could be, and he said it could be a fuse under one (?) of the seats. Another BMW shop helped with advice saying if all I have is a RED DOT on the display, it means my KEY FOB BATTERY (CR2030) is dead and not communicating. I much more prefer an actual key instead of more electronics. BAM! It started up...

[@kevinfurr3311]

holy shit! thanks for mentioning this about the key fob indication. I just bought a low mileage used 2019 1250rt and the manual seems to be useless on a lot of things.

[@oldenburg63]

thank you very much for your helpful video. I was starting to despair because I couldn't get the cover on when installing the battery. Thanks to your instructions it was very easy. Thanks buddy!!!

[@nicolas.9116]

3 years after, still a damn good video. Enjoyed it for the first time today, it gives me confidence that with the right advice I can make so many things on my own without dragging money from my pockets to a very well paid BMW official service. Cheers from Italy

[@dc319]

after about an hour of trying i found this. many many thanks

[@macmerized]

Many thanks for the video. I have a 2021 R 1250 RT which has the largest and heaviest battery I've ever seen on a motorcycle. Until I saw this video, I had almost given up. Getting the cover off was easy, I didn't even notice the extruding pin at the bottom. The manual (both in German and English) do not address the matter of replacing the cover sufficiently. Like you said, it is essential NOT to push the battery all the way in before replacing the cover. And still it's very tricky lifting the battery, pushing the cover under the battery and aligning the side pins. Took me a few tries, hard to see everything because it's black. I think BMW could do better here and make a battery compartment easier to access. Thanks again!

[@markharrison9247]

Brilliant ! Thank you worked perfectly and without this there would have been much broken plastic !!

[@kevinfurr3311]

me too. I just wasted an hour, till it got dark and had to put it off till tomorrow, trying to flex the cover on not knowing that it was a lift the battery process... I was at the state of getting broken plastic.

[@ianincolumis2907]

Was struggling big time to sort out fitting the battery plate back on my R1200R and your video solved it. Thank you!!! Is not covered in either the owners manual or the Haynes for the bike. I've posted your video on the R1200R forum so others can be helped. Once again thank you!...and it hurts to say this as a Brit but thank God for Australia!

[@wacrs1171]

;-)

[@AJnkns]

Very helpful video, thank you! Before watched this video I tried to install this cover around 20 minutes…

[@M2.0]

A really useful & helpful video, especially the comments regarding replacing the retaining plate which isn’t very user friendly… I would have struggled without this video so many thanks 👍🏻

[@bobs6432]

Great tip on how to remount the plastic plate, it was really helpful.

[@frednicholson]

Thanks for making this video. Struggled for a while. Will now try again!

[@Pyrrho_]

Bought my R1250RS used w/80 miles on it; previous owner barely rode it so I had suspicions about the battery as well. Bought an OptiMATE CAN-BUS charger and use that -- no pigtail off the battery or removal of anything required, and half the cost of BMW's charger.

[@asturiancetorix2552]

I bought some years ago a non-BMW battery charger, an "Optimate 4 CanBus Ready", it cost me about 65 eur. You select "CanBus mode" and connect it to the bike´s port. I´ve been using it for years on several BMW´s, and it definetly worth the money, the battery life is vastly extended. Even my old R850RT has a charging CanBus port, wich is very convenient, because there is some tedious work to access the battery, it´s a pain in the ass to charge it the old way (unless you improvise a longer positive wire, wich is wise sometimes).

[@bacbladerunner]

Thanks, Mate. That made the R&R much easier. Why didn't they just put a strap around it? 😵‍💫

[@michaelthompson3381]

Apparently, dealer Techs are sent on a a two day Battery Removal Course.

[@dgomes265]

Attach the SAE pigtail to the battery from the optimate 4 and charge the battery directly. Have been charging my current and previous AGM equipped BMW bikes this way for years.

[@adityaprakashdevdogra8657]

Appreciate your how it's done video. Simple process but drove me nuts trying to remove and refit the battery on my gs1200. I do wonder though if there wasn't a simpler n straightforward battery setup system possible!

[@tiempoespacial6996]

Your explanation is brillant, many thanks! By the way, I installed a direct power wire with fuse and Hella Din female connector, because when the battery is too low, the originally mounted battery connector will not work! To avoid any trouble, I use the BMW charger . So, I don't have to remove anymore the battery.

[@ernsthammargren1899]

Many thanks for your kindness of showing us how to do this! ❤

[@michaelvadney5803]

Thank you for this!

[@msphotography8452]

Appreciate your video -- super clear and saved me MUCH drama !!!!

[@paulv22]

Thanks. Very useful video. I bought the same bike, color and all, at the same time and I have the same missing grommet.

[@TA-nn8gz]

You’re right- this video was a life saver- that thing was killing me 😂😂😂

[@artovnoyes8479]

Wow, I need to go back and try that. Spent hours trying to do this on 2 occasions. Also had the same issue with a grommet, they come out easily. Great video. 👍

[@andypap7955]

Great video - very informative and clear - thanks mate. 👍🏼

[@michaelskinner896]

I'm a little late to this video, but thanks for posting. Nicely filmed and properly explained.

[@parkview113]

this was a great help regarding return of the cover plate ... thanks very much. on a 2019 gs1250 rallye te

[@petermacgregor9805]

Thanks for detailing how you took the plate lid off.

[@CRAWFORDJOHN8]

Great video and very helpful.Thanks from Bonnie Scotland.

[@johnrice2198]

Cheers mate. Once you’ve done it once your ok. Thank you

[@evbgrey]

Thank you!! I just didn't know how to get the battery out, but putting back the would have been harder!!

[@kevinfurr3311]

Thank you! I have just wasted an hour trying to get the plate back on without success. It got dark so I have to finish tomorrow. I had slid the battery all the way in, not as you have said and the cover just would not go on. I dont think I ever would have figured out that motion.

[@macraith]

Thank you! I was ready to set my bike on fire until you explained how to properly inset the cover.

[@kevinfurr3311]

me too. i just wasted an hour trying to do this till it got dark. came in and found this video and will finish it off in the morning. I was getting pissed off.

[@brianroyle2391]

Thanks for that video really helpfull I forgot to take a picture before taking battery out so got mucking fuddled! Cheers !

[@kevinroberts2395]

Thanks for the tip. Great 'easy to follow' video.

[@CousinJohnny1]

Thanks for the door trick. You saved my brain.

[@det999666]

I mounted a loading Port for the ctek charger. Works now for 6 years fine.

[@jaytro69]

Could you have left the battery in place and connected the positive terminal from the charger to the red terminal, outside the battery box, to the right, that has a red cap on it? I have a 2020 R1250RT which has the same setup and was thinking, how am I supposed to jump my battery if it needs it? I can't take the battery so the easy out and I'm not sure the alligator clip will fit to clip it to the positive terminal if the battery is in place. I think that connection outside the box, with the red cap on it, is where you'd place the positive terminal to jump the bike, so why not charge it from there as well? I've been trying to find information online to reference, but your video is the closest thing I've seen. Thoughts???

[@wacrs1171]

If we use the red terminal, the battery would still be in circuit with the motorcycle's electronics. This is an issue I think that could be debated forever but some people might think charging the battery while still in circuit could damage the BMW's electronics unless it's via the CAN bus. The problem is when using an off the shelf charger which can go upwards to around 15 or 16 volts. But jump starting with another 12V battery in parallel I wouldn't hesitate doing if need be, because the voltage will be about the same as the installed battery. The red terminal is a direct line to the positive terminal on the other side of the bike using thick cable, so it should handle the current draw required to spin the starter. It's recommended that when jumping late model cars, the negative clamp goes to the chassis or engine block somewhere rather than direct to the negative terminal of the battery otherwise we risk zapping the ECU. A similar approach could possibly be taken with motorcycles.

[@jaytro69]

Thanks! Makes sense!

[@kevinfurr3311]

@@wacrs1171 thanks for this discussion. I did not realize that there is a difference between hooking negative to the battery or the chassis and that this could be related to messing up the in circuit ecu. good to know. Can you tell me where the can bus is? Is that the connector that you pointed to under the seat. I have seen references in other comments to specific chargers with can bus. I assume that is a standardized connector?

[@stansmiley7206]

Nice description of the process, thanks! I was worried about applying too much force during the winter when plastic can be brittle. It's definitely tight in there - feels like I'm going to struggle when adding an SAE pigtail

[@MG-hp2sp]

thanks bro. i spent 30 minutes trying put this f. plate with poor result :)) tw i'll try by your advice.

[@ryanmalone2681]

Oh thank you so much. You saved me. I was pulling my hair out.

[@trevorlee7945]

I had a BMW R1200c and you had to remove the gas tank to get to the battery . I couldn't freaking believe any engineer would approve of that but ,,, BMW you know those clever Germans haha . All kidding aside they make great bikes but sometimes outthink themselves .

[@kevinfurr3311]

I just got a low mileage used 2019 1250rt and still have my 1996 r1100r. Yes you had to take the tank off that one too. I did the first or second time I replaced the battery, then decided to try to place a foot or two length piece of wood to leverage the tank up and hold it there and was able tolife the ass end of the tank enough to be able to get the battery out and save me from taking the whole thing out.

[@MrEquequ]

Very nicely explained, thank you!

[@EvMc305]

Thank u thank u. WTF bmw?!? Owners manual is trash. You sir, are gold!

[@stags-gr8to]

Really nice detailed video! Thanks for bothering 👍😊

[@tonyhewitt1345]

Excellent info. Thanks my friend.

[@andreasantini492]

Bravo! In effetti NON è affatto facile rimontare la placca di fissaggio! Con il tuo video sono riuscito a rimontare la mia batteria. Bmw non ok a fare un meccanismo del genere...

[@wacrs1171]

Grazie!

[@ponponvel]

will removing the battery from the bike cause error codes or lose data with the keyfob?

[@wisemolar]

Thank you! Took the cover off and couldn't put cover back on....

[@CraigHammell]

What tool did you use to get the battery cover off? When the video starts, it's already been removed.

[@wacrs1171]

Yup. there is a tool under the seat which has a screwdriver type handle on it but the blade is reversible between a slotted and a torx. Use the torx end.

[@CraigHammell]

@@wacrs1171 Thanks!

[@tobiashankers7356]

Great video! Thanks, saved my day!

[@terryjohnson2830]

Well explained.. many thanks..

[@philippetorresin9242]

merci pour cette video grace à vous j'ai pu chager ma batterie .je ne comprenais pas comment ouvrir le compartiment de la batterie

[@wacrs1171]

Vous êtes le bienvenu monsieur

[@lennykibbs260]

Thank you- I would of been frustrated and thrown it into the woods

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

Hi, what is your overall impression of this bike? Do you like it? Now you probably have done some km/miles. Would you buy it again? Thank in advance.

[@wacrs1171]

There's no going back now! But seriously, I sold my KTM 1090 ADV to buy the BMW. I tried the KTM for what it is - an oversized dirt bike with long legs for touring but I found the KTM fatiguing on motorways and had trouble touching the ground and manoeuvring. So I decided to go back to a sports tourer. On both occasions though, the KTM and the BMW were purchased mainly for their engine. The KTM is an exciting bike on back roads but the BMW engine outclasses the KTM with its liquid torque in any gear.

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

@@wacrs1171 Thanks for describing your experience.

[@krashdown5814]

My problem on my 2017 R1200RS is the thick cabling, around 8mm diameter, I cannot get the battery back in because the very long positive cable jams against the top. HELP !! Battery is exact same size as the one I pulled out.

[@bilmuhalper]

Thank you 👍👍

[@15LoydsCustom]

Thanks for the video bro ride safe

[@UncleWally3]

Okay, euphemistically we call it “character” but really, has there ever been a BMW motorcycle without some idiosyncratic (IE: wonky) design feature?

[@johnpaul3806]

Cheers a godsend!

[@mikeadams2351]

damn I'm glad my 2012 r1200r's battery doesn't come out like that...

[@josema5b]

Muchas gracias

[@77AbleArcher]

Where is the fuse box on these?

[@DaveBoothroyd-ej5in]

The grommets do fall out, the rubber battery straps holes will soon break, the plastic door thing, all in all, is a crappy bit of design. Why the f''k does it have to be so poor?

[@milabaigar]

I have anew 2023 triple black the battery has failed for the last 5/6 weeks took it to stealer ship and they said because I connected a camera which has its own internal lithium battery, I just spoke to bmw europe they said looks like the put wrong battery in it and a very old one at that and charged me 83€ for the privilege looks like I am going back to chew some balls but knowing bmw they wont give a 💩! Ride safe guys 👍

[@milabaigar]

The little rubber grommets have a mind of there own and disappear 🤦‍♂️

[@ArnoldClarke]

No plastic plate on mine. the rubber thing just hanging? Now I know what's it for. Important, please remember the battery was fooked on most of the first RS1250 so maybe the Black Mans Willy realised the plastic cover was the problem.

[@Reclaim68]

Can you just replace the existing battery without affecting the bikes computer? You know how modern machines are these days!

[@wacrs1171]

I noticed that disconnecting the battery only seemed to reset the clock.

[@leopoldoorozco5890]

Thank you much!