With the R1150GS Adventure due for its MOT this Wednesday, I decided to fit a fresh Odyssey battery. A simple job, or so I thought. Once the old battery came out, I discovered what appeared to be the remains of the battery insulation foam scattered throughout the battery compartment. Closer inspection suggested it hadn’t simply deteriorated with age – it looked very much as though a mouse had decided the BMW was prime real estate and helped itself to the insulation for building materials.

Thankfully, the furry mechanic appears to have limited its work to interior decorating. A thorough inspection revealed no damage to the wiring or hoses, which was a considerable relief. The new Odyssey battery is now fitted, the mess has been cleared up, and the old GS fired straight into life.

It’s amazing what you find when working on a 24-year-old motorcycle. One minute you’re changing a battery, the next you’re investigating a rodent housing development. Hopefully that’s the last surprise before the MOT…