1200GS engine cutting out

[Grant Molay]

When I pulled up to a roundabout today, the engine cut out and refused to sart for a few minutes. When it did start, it ran fine and I got home, but when I went out later the engine died as I was riding along. It re-started after a couple of goes, ran fine, but kept cutting in and out as I rode along. Then it died again, then re-started, died again, re-started - all the time cutting out and picking up. Then it died and wouldn't start, the battery gave up, and I had to push the bike home.

Any ideas, I haven't checked anything yet, but could it be a sensor?

The bike is an '06 GS, just under a year old, about 9000 miles.

 

[Pukmeister]

Possibility 1) Flat battery could cause it IF your alternator was not providing any juice to the bikes electrics eg slipping alternator drivebelt or blown voltage regulator or a totally shot battery. Once the battery is 'empty' the spark plugs and fuel injection computer die. After a pause the battery recovers chemically enough to restart and ride a bit more. Usually the bikes electrics are self-sustaining from the alternator, but if the battery has an internal fault it could suck the life out of the alternator, leaving nothing to run the bikes electrics on.

Possibility 2) A poor connection on the kill switch/water in the kill switch.

Possibility 3) A faulty ECU.

Possibility 4) Loose wire/intermittent wiring fault.

Possibility 5) Loose battery terminals.

Possibility 6) Faulty fuel pump/ pump electrics

Best check the easiest things first.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

The solution

You can drive yourself mad trying to find out the cause - but the computer in the dealer's workshop will tell you straightaway. That is what modern motorcycling is all about.

 

[Putneybiker]

Tesco fuel?

 

[Grant Molay]

Thanks guys for the ideas, I'll have a quick check over a few things this morning, and then trundle off to the dealer.

I haven't bought any Tesco fuel, so I should be safe on that one.

 

[runeo]

Could be the safety switch on the sidestand! Give it some massage!
/Rune

 

[Magwych]

Those are the exact symptons I had when my fuel pump went @ 6,000 miles.

I called BMW Assist, gave them the symtons and the Assist man turned up with only one R1200GS component in the car - the fuel pump.

12,000 miles later, no more problems, but I did fill in the slots on the fuel pump cover with black silicon t ostop rain water filling up its recess.