1978 R80/7 battery recommendation

[Tony M.]

I'm new to the board, however, not new to BMW motorcyles, having a 1978 R80/7 for 30 years. I am looking for a new battery for it. I have always liked the OEM batteries, but am also considering a good alternative, not as a money saving measure, but as a better battery. Westco is recommended as OEM I believe. I was considering an Odyssey battery, which I put in one of my Moto Guzzis two years ago and it has been fine. The Odyssey site recommends the PC925L battery, but when I went on boxerworks to see about ordering one I saw that they are recommending the PC680 for all the airheads. I was wondering if anyone on the board could shed some light on the subject, comparing the two Odyssey batteries to the Westco battery. The bike has not been ridden much the last few years as I have been racking up many miles on the Guzzis, but I miss riding the R80 and wish to put it back on the road asap. Thanks for your thoughts. Tony

[Seth]

I have a PC925L in my 77RS for about 4 and have had no problems. The positives is it's got plenty of power and fits well in the space. The down sides is it's heavier (if you care) than the 680 and costs more. The 680 has sufficient power (probably more than oem) but you need to provide some form of spacer, as it's much thinner and leaves room in the box for it to move around.

[Tony M.]

Thanks. Did you have to make any modifications for the PC925L or did it fit in properly and accept the existing terminal connections?

[Kurt in S.A.]

I've always been a slosh lead-acid battery person for my /7. I've gotten good service with them and they're a match to the charging system that is built into the bike. It usually gives me warning when it's time to change. AFAICT, the newer gel/VRLA/AGM/etc. batteries can fall off a cliff and be dead with no warning and are generally not a perfect match to the bike's older charging system. No personal experience...just what I've read about them...

Kurt in S.A.

[She'llbe]

I've had a 680 in my 90S for about 5 years and think it's great. Height negates the tool box and I use velcro strapping to hold the battery in place due to its smaller size. This is one of the best batteries I've ever had in one of my BMW's. I can't compare it with any of the other size Odysseys.

[SteveD]

Consider Deka ETX16L.
Excellent, and it's not bright orange.

[Tony M.]

So if I understand you, you are saying that with the PC680 in your R90/S you can no longer use your tool tray?

[chasbmw]

You can still use the PC680 with the tool tray on a /6 or /7.

to do so just turn the metal holding down bracket upside down, so the plastic finger nuts fit into the casting.

I use a strip of plastic foam from a cheap camping mat between the holding down bracket and the battery, which helps keep everything in place. You doo have to make sure that there is no way that the postive battery cable can short out on the holding bracket, I use a piece of thin flexible plastic sheet in this area.

[She'llbe]

I found the 680 to be about 10 mm to high. I have a very complete tool kit that I carry in my pannier. I also like to use the hingeless set up that Duane recommends and use the downtube as a stash place for contraband, like smuggling Tasmanians to the mainland!!!!

[Tony M.]

The PC935L looks like it would fit in the tray just like the OEM battery. I'm assuming the PC680 is being used by so many because it is about $50.00 less costly and does the job.
Hey She'llbe, I had a foreign exchange student from New Zealand in my class this year and all year long I would say to him, "so how are things back in Australia" and he would say "no..no not Australia....New Zealand!!!!