Best Battery to Overcome 3 Biggest BMW Motorcycle Battery Complaints

August 17, 2021

BMW Motorcycle Battery Complaints and How to Fix It

There are three major battery complaints we have identified (and now fully resolved) for BMW motorcycle owners. The issues and resource guide described below may help you better address the question of “why does my BMW motorcycle battery keep dying?”

Complaint #1 - Access

S1000RR Model BMW Motorcyle Battery The batteries on BMW motorcycles are especially difficult to access. In some cases, you feel like you are dismantling the entire bike just to gain access. This makes it hard for the owner to install and maintain the battery on a regular basis. This hardship is exacerbated when the original equipment battery is of the conventional lead-acid type requiring regular electrolyte level checks.

To help with this maintenance issue, Yuasa, in 2014, introduced the YT19BL-BS as their sealed AGM replacement for the conventional 51913 and 51814 lead-acid BMW battery. This particular battery size fits the vast majority of BMW motorcycle models from 1970 to 2017 model years, and engine sizes from 500 cc to 1600 cc.

This AGM improvement, along with its predecessor the YIX30L-BS that replaced the 53030 battery on older touring type bikes, definitely helped with maintenance concerns.

But neither one of these “maintenance” upgrades necessarily addressed other rider concerns that seemingly shortened battery life.

Complaint #2 - Starting

The starting demands from these high compression machines can wreak havoc on batteries. As bikes age, these engine start stresses do not relent; they get more strenuous. Accordingly, you need a battery that can maintain its high cold cranking for the duration of the batteries working life.

Lithium batteries provide this high crank needed to spin that motor. However, most lithium batteries do not provide enough amp hour to address the next BMW motorcycle battery issue. Additionally, not all charging systems or chargers are properly programmed to charge lithium batteries.

Complaint #3 - Electronics

BMW’s early adoption and reliance on computer electronics certainly makes the ride safer and more enjoyable. But these features come at a price: they demand power.

Two scenarios jump out as common frustrations derived from an abundance of electronics.

City driving with its constant stop/start does not allow the charging system to fully replenish the battery. This is worsened when additional power-sucking accessories such as GPS units or heated grips are installed.

Infrequent riding where the bike sits for weeks or months will leave the rider dismayed when they finally get a chance to ride again (assuming a smart charger was not attached). The parasitic drains caused by the plethora of electronics will drain the battery to where it cannot turn the bike over or worse needs to be prematurely replaced.

Some folks tried addressing this electronic drain concern by installing a Valve Regulated Lead Acid battery (VRLA) that allowed for a deeper discharge and higher amp hour capacity. Again, this tactic, which also cut down on battery costs, addressed only one aspect of the spectrum. Ultimately, the rider would be left wanting.

Hands Down, Top Pick for Best BMW Motorcycle Battery

MotoBatt MH51814 Best BMW Motorcycle Battery

What is the solution to reducing the number of times you need to replace/access the battery? MotoBatt Hybrid.
What is the solution to persistent electrical drains? MotoBatt Hybrid.
What is the solution to charging problems from power demands beyond what the alternator/stator can provide? MotoBatt Hybrid.
What is the solution to extreme weather? MotoBatt Hybrid.

MotoBatt has developed a new Hybrid battery. This new technology utilizes both AGM and lithium technologies and harnesses the best aspects of both while eliminating their individual short comings.

Looking specifically at BMW motorcycles, two (2) MotoBatt Hybrid batteries fit most all the newer and larger 1100 cc to 1600 cc motorcycles. While two (2) additional part numbers will help complete the fitment of the entire BMW line going back to the 1970’s with few exceptions.

Let’s take a closer look at and compare the BMW 51913 motorcycle battery. For years this battery was the workhorse for most all BMW motorcycles.