Can I charge through power outlet?

[BjossiBolla]

Hi all
A friend of mine has a 1200GS. Can he charge through the poweroutlet or is it neccesary to connect straigt to the battery?

Best regards - and a happy new riding year
Björn Tr.

[Woolly]

Hi Bjorn, on the LT you can charge through the front power outlet, not the rear one - this is switched by the ignition. Not sure on the GS.

[drifter36]

I have an 03 and have always successfully charged through the pillion powerlet and have never had the ignition on.

Bob

[drifter36]

I was refering to the LT, not the GS. Sorry.'
Bob

[jzeiler]

I have an 03 and have always successfully charged through the pillion powerlet and have never had the ignition on.

Bob

It is off in the "locked" position, it is hot when in the "R" position.

[jwd98056]

To answer your original question about charging an R1200GS through the powerlet socket, yes or no.

If you buy the super duper CAN Bus communicating battery charger from BMW (http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=2678) it will allow you to charge through the powerlet. If you do not have that charger or an after market equivilent, and I am not sure there is one, the answer is no.

I don't own a motorcycle without a Gerbing power cable installed so I connect my battery tender to the R1200GS through that. I just needed to by an SAE to Gerbing Coax adapter (http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=43321).

[BjossiBolla]

Thank you guys :)

[jpalamaro]

Thank you guys :)

The definitive answer. Buy a Battery Tender, Battery Tender +, or Battery Tender Jr. They all come with an assorment of connections. Take the one with the spade/eye lugs and attach to the battery. The other end is a standard SAE plug. Wind it around and have it come out somewhere convenient. There will be a small cap on it so when not in use it can be covered. The Battery Tenders all have mating SAE plugs. The Jr's run about 30 bucks and will keep the battery in tip-top shape. Avoiding the 100 dollar + CAN-bus charger which is a royal pain in the butt.