Bike won't start.
- Thread starter Andz
- Start date
Help Support S1000RR FORUM:
I had this on my '15 bike earlier this year, dealer couldn't find anything wrong, I think it was the battery a little low on juice because after I put it on charge and started using the bike regularly it never happened again. So I'd say try charging the battery first before looking at anything else. Just to add I did read somewhere that the ECU isn't happy if the battery is a bit low and doesn't function correctly hence the strange starting issue.
Last edited:
Battery terminals being loose is common. So make sure you've tested them, I'd unplug the battery, charge it and put it back on after an hour.Let us know what happens when you key on and what happens when you hit the starter.
Dash; on/off
Starter; Spins yes/no
Noises etc.
Soof...my bike was a bit close to the GSA in the garage, sorry, must have passed on its disease
Battery is definitely flat. I've had the battery out and reconnected the terminals with no spark. The key ignition does literally nothing. Not even one pixel. I'm hoping they can jump it for me to get it back home so I can put it on charge overnight.
Can't say Bmw breakdown has been much use. First call took over 10 minutes to get through and I never got the text back with the eta within 90 minutes as promised. So called again after waiting an hour, took 14 minutes to get through. Told that a third party would get to me at 6.45 (I rang at 4.15) and I would get a call when they were 30 minutes away. Nearly 6.30 now and no call.
The biggest bummer is the GSA was the last thing to move out of my old house so I literally have nothing here other than light and the tools under the seat. Got dropped off by a friend thinking it was a good move lol.
Can't say Bmw breakdown has been much use. First call took over 10 minutes to get through and I never got the text back with the eta within 90 minutes as promised. So called again after waiting an hour, took 14 minutes to get through. Told that a third party would get to me at 6.45 (I rang at 4.15) and I would get a call when they were 30 minutes away. Nearly 6.30 now and no call.
The biggest bummer is the GSA was the last thing to move out of my old house so I literally have nothing here other than light and the tools under the seat. Got dropped off by a friend thinking it was a good move lol.
Not helpful. And like you say couldn't be worse timing. Battery must A) be being drained by something (short) and B) under warranty (not that it helps this second).
Last edited:
Recovery chap turned up at 6.55. I had the battery ready for him to put leads on it. Presto bike starts. Run it back to York and registering 14.1v so good. Will leave it on trickle charge overnight.
Funniest thing was the chap said I'm the first BMW owner he has attended who knew anything about the bike and was impressed that I had already got the battery ready. He said every other BMW he has recovered has gone straight in the van because the owners haven't a clue. Lol.
Funniest thing was the chap said I'm the first BMW owner he has attended who knew anything about the bike and was impressed that I had already got the battery ready. He said every other BMW he has recovered has gone straight in the van because the owners haven't a clue. Lol.
Checked the battery with a tester and it's a1 condition and fully charged.
When I turn the key the dash lights up but none of the usual fuel pump or exhaust valve noises happen. Then and hour later it'll start, then it won't. I bought it from my local Honda dealer 14 days ago and it's under there 3 month warranty. But Honda techs haven't got a clue. So I rang bmw who diagnosed the problem as a faulty on/kill switch, but as the bike is starting for the techs at Honda, they won't do anything.
When I turn the key the dash lights up but none of the usual fuel pump or exhaust valve noises happen. Then and hour later it'll start, then it won't. I bought it from my local Honda dealer 14 days ago and it's under there 3 month warranty. But Honda techs haven't got a clue. So I rang bmw who diagnosed the problem as a faulty on/kill switch, but as the bike is starting for the techs at Honda, they won't do anything.
A) BMW will replace that, usually FOC, take the bike to them.
B) Stephen on here will usually attempt to fix if you're unlucky with BMW.
B) Stephen on here will usually attempt to fix if you're unlucky with BMW.
Last edited:
I thought BMW stopped fixing these foc out of warranty in 2015?
powders
Well-known member
Yeah I thought they aren't doing them for free anymore.
I'd be interested to hear what the outcome is when you bring it to bmw
I'd be interested to hear what the outcome is when you bring it to bmw
I think it depends if the bike has been done already...certainly worth a question.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
kevh946
New member
Hi, just wondering if you ever got this fixed? I'm having similar issues
Good luck on the OP remembering, if he's even still on the forum, this post was from 2016
Is your issue Anything like this? https://s1000rrforum.co.uk/threads/odd-starting-issue.14461/
I can't replicate the issue, so I think I might have had something like dirt on a sensor that day.
I also had a problem with an K1300 some years ago (which shouldn't happen on an RR). On the K, because of the way that the ignition wires were channeled through the bike, they could expand when warm and it caused a pinch somewhere which prevented a warm bike starting until it cooled down a bit (or it got pushed a few hundred metres). As I said thought, unless you've moved things about on your bike, not something I've ever heard on RR. Sadly the switchgear issue is more likely...
Is your issue Anything like this? https://s1000rrforum.co.uk/threads/odd-starting-issue.14461/
I can't replicate the issue, so I think I might have had something like dirt on a sensor that day.
I also had a problem with an K1300 some years ago (which shouldn't happen on an RR). On the K, because of the way that the ignition wires were channeled through the bike, they could expand when warm and it caused a pinch somewhere which prevented a warm bike starting until it cooled down a bit (or it got pushed a few hundred metres). As I said thought, unless you've moved things about on your bike, not something I've ever heard on RR. Sadly the switchgear issue is more likely...
kevh946
New member
Thanks very much for the reply. Mine won't start like the battery is flat but if I eventually bump it then she rides perfectly, the battery tests OK on the multimeter at 13.8v and when I click the starter it only drops to 11.8. I think you may be right with the switchGood luck on the OP remembering, if he's even still on the forum, this post was from 2016
Is your issue Anything like this? https://s1000rrforum.co.uk/threads/odd-starting-issue.14461/
I can't replicate the issue, so I think I might have had something like dirt on a sensor that day.
I also had a problem with an K1300 some years ago (which shouldn't happen on an RR). On the K, because of the way that the ignition wires were channeled through the bike, they could expand when warm and it caused a pinch somewhere which prevented a warm bike starting until it cooled down a bit (or it got pushed a few hundred metres). As I said thought, unless you've moved things about on your bike, not something I've ever heard on RR. Sadly the switchgear issue is more likely...
