1150GS cold start questions

[petkostas]

Hello all,
I recently purchased my first GS and since I was a Japan owner for many years I have a few quick questions!
1) When starting in the morning I always need to hold the fast idle / choke level, if I don't the bike will attempt to start but it will immediately die, once it's warm there are no issues with starting the bike...is this normal?
2) My idle once in operating temperature is around 1000, should I increase the idle? or let it be?
3) When using the choke lever (see #1) my idle (cold bike) rises to 1000 ~ 1050 (thats with the first position of the lever, if I further push it and hold it, it rises around 1100 ~ 1150) is that a normal idle for this? or should this also be raised?
The bike has 29000 km's and unfortunately the owner did not have the owners manual anymore (need to get to a BMW store and get one).

 

[robroy]

Hi,

I know this is not quite what you asked for, but you may find it useful.

The R1150GS Repair Manual at least is online - http://www.scribd.com/doc/7179043/BMW-R1150GS-Repair-Manual

Rob

 

[sproggy]

Hello all,

Hello and welcome.

1) When starting in the morning I always need to hold the fast idle / choke level, if I don't the bike will attempt to start but it will immediately die, once it's warm there are no issues with starting the bike...is this normal?

The fast idle lever pulls on the throttle cable slightly - it's the same as holding the throttle a bit open when you start the bike. In warm weather you shouldn't need it unless your idle speed is set too low.

2) My idle once in operating temperature is around 1000, should I increase the idle? or let it be?

Idle speed should be 1100rpm +/-50 so 1000rpm is a bit too low - this will contribute to the starting problems that you mention.

3) When using the choke lever (see #1) my idle (cold bike) rises to 1000 ~ 1050 (thats with the first position of the lever, if I further push it and hold it, it rises around 1100 ~ 1150) is that a normal idle for this? or should this also be raised?

If your idle speed was higher to start with (i.e. 1100rpm rather than 1000) then your fast idle would be higher too. What you describe is normal behaviour given your low idle speed but the fast idle isn't very effective!

Many people don't use the fast idle at all and just open the throttle a bit when the start the bike and for a few seconds after. It's only in really cold weather (i.e. much colder than Athens in early October) that you might need it more.

Correct use of the lever (according to the manual) is to hold it all the way up while you start the bike, then let it return to the 1st position until it's warmed up slightly. Better advice is to just start the bike with a bit of throttle and ride off straight away like you would with a car.

 

[petkostas]

Thank you very much!
I will be heading to the dealer in a few KM's for the service of 30000 and gonna check all the issues with them.
Apart this issue, the bike rides lovely! (Only need to get used of the feedback through the telelever )

 

[iftikartaxis]

idle

Mine did that till i changed the stick coils
once they were changed it started much better and idled no problem
or could be throttle bodies need balancing

 

[mozzup]

My slider (1150 W) sticks somat awful in the middle position, is this an easy-ish fix? It takes some pushing back down - fraid it'll break.
(sorry if this is hijacking the thread)

 

[sockpuppet]

WD40 it first to see if that helps.

 

[Steptoe]

Idle speed should be 1100rpm +/-50 so 1000rpm is a bit too low - this will contribute to the starting problems that you mention.



.

I have my bikes idle set at 750-800 rpm - never stalls and starts on the button and runs at 1400 rpm when cold.

 

[petkostas]

Went to the dealer! Everything is ok I just got used to starting the bike Had no problems, only needs a small tad of throttle when cold starting so that it wont stall.
After that its ready to go
Just made my first small trip (and under heavy rain) loved how the bike feels and handles (though the telelever is still strange feeling to me ). I surely need a new pair of tires, as the Anakee's that are on the bike now are old and in poor condition.
One final question, I hear from a lot of people not to leave the bike on its side stand, and that I should use the center stand!
I do that (center stand) which I was used to to do as well on my KTM (640 Adventure), but why? I heard because of oil etc etc

 

[John Armstrong]

One final question, I head a lot of people not to leave the bike on its side stand, and that I should use the center stand!
I do that (center stand) which I was used to to do as well on my KTM (640 Adventure), but why? I heard because of oil etc etc

Starting with the airhead, it can put out some smoke on start up if kept on the side stand as some oil can leak past the rings. Some of the 1100's also do this, but apparently the later engines have better oil control rings. I don't know about the 1150, but if they mananged to get it sorted on the 1100, I'd have thought the 1150 should be ok.

There's also a thought that it's not a good idea to let the bike idle on the side stand. Some 1100 owners have bypassed this feature, the 1150 lets you do it without any messing about.

 

[petkostas]

Starting with the airhead, it can put out some smoke on start up if kept on the side stand as some oil can leak past the rings. Some of the 1100's also do this, but apparently the later engines have better oil control rings. I don't know about the 1150, but if they mananged to get it sorted on the 1100, I'd have thought the 1150 should be ok.

There's also a thought that it's not a good idea to let the bike idle on the side stand. Some 1100 owners have bypassed this feature, the 1150 lets you do it without any messing about.

As far as I know the oil can leak past the ring on the oil cap, but apart from that I had heard horror stories of right cylinder getting dry from oil and stuff like that
Let's me wondering though...if that was the case, wouldn't BMW herself recommend the use of the center stand and place a warning?

 

[oblertone]

Sidestand is fine ...

... unless you get lots of blue smoke on start-up, which is unlikely. However, you need to keep an eye on the oil level because it'll probably use some, and you can't do this on the sidestand. Checking the oil level is a matter of consistency i.e. you must do it the same everytime or you'll get false readings. My routine is park bike on sidestand engine off, open garage, put on mainstand, check level the following morning; there are lots of variants but the common important point is to let it rest on the sidestand for a short while after turning the engine off, the rest is up to you

 

[John Armstrong]

The imporant point with the oil level is to do it consistently, side stands / temperature / miles since last check / side for 5 mins main for 5 / etc etc mean nothing if you don't go through the same procedure every time, otherwise you'll think it's either gulping or making oil.

And if your topping up, try to put a max of 1/2 litre in, the boxer engine doesn't like running with double the oil in it that it's meant to have. One trick if you think it's low because you have tried your method, put the bike on the side stand and see if you can see any oil now. If you can add the 1/2 litre and then check after it's been run a few miles.

 

[petkostas]

My slider (1150 W) sticks somat awful in the middle position, is this an easy-ish fix? It takes some pushing back down - fraid it'll break.
(sorry if this is hijacking the thread)

I had a problem with my slider not pulling upwards (although it used to) i removed the grip (and the handprotector) and saw that a small screw was loose and was "denying" the lever to move upwards.

 

[mozzup]

I had a problem with my slider not pulling upwards (although it used to) i removed the grip (and the handprotector) and saw that a small screw was loose and was "denying" the lever to move upwards.

cheers petkostas, must admit, I just sprayed into slot with WD40 (as sockpuppet advised) and it's like new now