26/07/2026
The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Hidden Challenges
Owning a big bike is a dream for any motorcycle enthusiast, and it was the same for me. As soon as I got my motorcycle licence, I started browsing Facebook Marketplace, where I came across this ’01 BMW R1150RT.
The 1150s are a treat to ride, a great experience, and are fairly reliable if the servo ABS is removed(Comment below if you want to know more about servo model BMWs and the signs to identify them)
After travelling around 400 miles in total to collect this from a private seller, I brought her home.
The initial few days were alright but one day, due to the bike having a higher power draw, especially during winter, and the battery being old, the bike stopped cranking.
I bought a new Odyssey PC680 and thought of changing it myself.On opening the battery tray,I found that due to age,the positive terminal eye had rusted and broken off.The previous owner had somehow screwed it in place.
One problem was that the Odyssey has vertical bolt points, so fitting the battery with just traction between the bolts was difficult and really unsafe.So I decided to change it.
Little did I know that it would be really difficult to find the battery lead connectors.So it started, endless searching on the internet,going to parts shops,and buying a lot of leads. Later,I realised that it was challenging to get a fitting lead,as the positive terminal was quite wide due to the two cables:one to the starter motor and the other to the relay.
After a few days of searching and quite a lot of stress,I found one BMW car part which looked almost like it would fit after measuring,I ordered it, paying crazy price for delivery - a single part that costs pennies.
The part was not the ideal one,but it did fit.
I attached the part to the leads with a crimp tool and added some insulation.The job didn’t look perfect,but it all worked.
The satisfaction of completing the job and turning the bike on was pure bliss.
These are some of the hidden challenges of owning older motorcycles.Troubleshooting them is a headache, and getting around issues can cause a lot of stress, but if you succeed,it is quite rewarding.
