Is it possible?

[PastorJay]

Is it possible to get some kind of consensus on the best battery replacement from my 2015 RT?

[Prz42]

Battery Yuasa    YTX20CH-BS

[old_farmer]

Probably not. This is what I bought most recently. Too recent to know if it's any good.

 

https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/cyla20chbsxta

[Boxflyer]

This is a copy of the post I put up over on the BMWMOA Forum back in early 2021.
 

Replacement Battery Info for R1200RT WetHead/R1250RT ShiftHead

There are lots of forum threads that contain individual users' experience with what battery they use to replace the OEM battery on the 2014-2018 R1200RT WetHead series of BMW.
This info is also probably applicable to the 2019-on R1250RTW as well, since the only real change with the ShiftHead was the engine. It's just not updated on the YUASA site but shows the same battery is used for all WetHead and ShiftHead RTW from 2014-2020 on RealOEM.com Part #61218531121. https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=61_3636
https://parts.maxbmw.com/a/BMW_2020_...M/61_5416.html $176

Since YUASA appears to make some of the BMW labeled OEM batteries, going to their website provides a couple of answers to help out when trying to find a suitable replacement battery.

There are few option choices if you stay within the original spec of lead-acid battery. I'm not going to get into replacement Li-Ion or other alternative chemical composition batteries since that's going outside the OEM Spec for batteries.

To gain some background on the development of batteries since 1859, this site has plenty of info on the SLA (sealed lead-acid) batteries we use.
https://www.canbat.com/agm-vs-gel-ba...one-is-better/

For the WetHead series of bike, we are limited in the type/size of battery that will fit into the location provided, specifically 6 x 3 7/16 x 6 3/8 inches, or 150x87x161mm (LxWxH).
Post/terminal position and polarity are also considerations. Knowing these 2 factors allows you to narrow your search very easily. (Using a slightly smaller battery in any dimension is not used in my search for a "proper" replacement)

Using this link to the YUASA Application Guide helps establish that there are just 2 batteries that are listed as, AGM or High Performance AGM.
http://www.yuasabatteries.com/wp-con...Guide_File.pdf

The 2 batteries that are listed for the 2014-2018 BMW R1200RT are YTX16-BS AGM and YTX20CH-BS High Performance AGM.
If you follow the link above to the YUASA site and then search with the FIND Command, Command+F (Mac) or Ctrl+F(Windows) and fill in the SEARCH field with YTX20CH-BS it will step thru all occurrences of this battery on the entire website.
It's apparent that the difference between a "16" and a "20" series is capacity/power generated within the same size case.

To summarize what's there if the link to the YUASA site changes, these 2 batteries listed have the correct external dimension/size to fit our bike, but these differences in performance.


I have listed this as the replacement battery I'm using since the fall of 2019 when my OEM battery failed on my 2016R1200RTW at 52k…now 70k+.
Rechargeable YTX20CH-BS Chrome Pro High Performance Power Sports Battery
https://www.amazon.com/Chrome-Pro-YT...4662783&sr=8-3
Still working, as well as or better than, the OEM and at less than $55 delivered has been a good value for me.

Hope this helps WHEN…NOT IF…you need to replace your battery.

[PastorJay]

Thanks for the help. Great place to begin. 

[Rougarou]

On 7/27/2022 at 11:46 AM, PastorJay said:

Is it possible to get some kind of consensus on the best battery replacement from my 2015 RT?

 

That's like asking for the best oil replacement, or the best helmet replacement, or the best lightbulb replacement.

 

Many will differ.  I just know, when my Odyssey dies, I ain'ta gonna get another one.

[strataj]

1 hour ago, Rougarou said:

 

That's like asking for the best oil replacement, or the best helmet replacement, or the best lightbulb replacement.

 

Many will differ.  I just know, when my Odyssey dies, I ain'ta gonna get another one.

I wish Odyssey made one that would fit in a Wethead/Shift Cam RT.