1250 GS won’t start!

[Baumy]

Granted my bike (21-reg) doesn’t get a lot of use hence it sits on a BMW optimate thing in my garage but wouldn’t start today. Eventually got a message on the screen saying FAULTY DROP SENSOR

Has anyone else had this and is it something I can do myself or is it a dealer job?

Thanks in advance

 

[SBD]

1250 GS not working correctly?

Start by putting a new battery in it.

 

[littleade]

On a 4 year old bike the first thing I'd do would be to check all the battery connections, if they're OK then change the battery for a new one.

The ecu is prone to flashing up error messages when the voltage drops too low, so your error message coukd just be because of that. The cold weather's not helping either, putting maximum strain on it in such conditions is asking a lot IMO.

 

[richardbd]

I know bugger all about bike electrickery. What I do know for sure though is that any bike I've ever owned that had some kind of permanent power draw, like a tracker for example, was always fine left on an Optimate. Indeed, it needed to be left on an Optimate if I wanted it to work after a couple of weeks left alone. Any bike I've ever owned with no permanent power draw could not be safely left connected to an Optimate for any length of time, without said Optimate frying the battery.

Since I learned to obey this seeming law of physics, I have never had a battery problem or a non-starting bike...

 

[Baumy]

I know bugger all about bike electrickery. What I do know for sure though is that any bike I've ever owned that had some kind of permanent power draw, like a tracker for example, was always fine left on an Optimate. Indeed, it needed to be left on an Optimate if I wanted it to work after a couple of weeks left alone. Any bike I've ever owned with no permanent power draw could not be safely left connected to an Optimate for any length of time, without said Optimate frying the battery.

Since I learned to obey this seeming law of physics, I have never had a battery problem or a non-starting bike...

Thanks. It does have a tracker fitted to it so it should be okay on an optimate in that case? At 4 years old it shouldn’t need a new battery should it?

 

[MrC99]

Start by putting a new battery in it.

Likely to be the correct answer. If it were me I might first connect a jump starter or another battery via jump leads leave it for a few mins and then attempt to start it (with the jump starter or additional battery still connected!). If it starts OK then that sort of confirms that your old battery is knackered. TBH a battery that's been on a charger with little other use for 4 years is quite possibly shot.

 

[littleade]

I know bugger all about bike electrickery. What I do know for sure though is that any bike I've ever owned that had some kind of permanent power draw, like a tracker for example, was always fine left on an Optimate. Indeed, it needed to be left on an Optimate if I wanted it to work after a couple of weeks left alone. Any bike I've ever owned with no permanent power draw could not be safely left connected to an Optimate for any length of time, without said Optimate frying the battery.

Since I learned to obey this seeming law of physics, I have never had a battery problem or a non-starting bike...

Strange as that's not my experience. I've had 6 bikes on an optimate, the last 4 being BMW LC boxers with only 1 fitted with a tracker (which I took off). My bikes are always left on permanently when in the garage and I've never had any problems (though the optimate was far more active on the GS with the tracker fitted) so it'd be interesting to know how others have got on with Optimates.

 

[Boxerboy55]

My trusty steed is a 10 year old R1200RS with 56K miles on clock.

On original battery. Never removed.

Lives on an Optimate all the time it lives in garage.
Unused in winter - November to end of February.

Never had any problem with frying the battery (see above).

In October I suffered a non-start moment far from home.
The rescue mechanic used a battery testing tool and said the battery is OK. Good news.

My winter challenge is to check all starter wiring connections from button to motor.

I may just change out the starter motor - reasonably easy job.

I will seek out the starter solenoid and look for a reliable Click.

Maybe the starter button is worn out - it’s been used a lot.

A challenge. But doesn’t justify £20K on an R1300RS ASA, but I’m tempted

 

[richh]

Another here that doesn't trust optimate / ctek tenders.

Just leave the battery alone and if flat, give it a proper charge for an hour before riding.

Many batteries killed on tenders before I learned this.

 

[theoneandonly]

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[Wierpig]

The drop sensor turns the fuel pump off in the event of a drop or fall. Start with checking that. You will need some sort of diagnostic tool and the fault code will need to be erased after repair.

 

[siddo]

Pretty sure I saw that warning when I stalled my bike. It disappeared after riding and restarting numerous times.
Take your bike for a long ride and see what messages you have when you get home.
Most likely you need a new battery as others have said.
I'm still on the original 3 year old battery and mine is always on the charger when not in use. Never had any issues or replaced any batteries on my last 3 bikes.

 

[Steve398]

My 2018 RT sits on a battery tender as did all my previous machines, but I generally expect to change the batteries every 5 years or so anyway.
The BM’s with all their gizmos do eat their batteries don’t they?

 

[steve hughes]

Thanks. It does have a tracker fitted to it so it should be okay on an optimate in that case? At 4 years old it shouldn’t need a new battery should it?

I have had F650/700 twins since 2011, my batteries rarely last more than three years and I have no tracker fitted and use an optimate in the winter. Ive tried motobatt and other quality batteries. Now im on a budget Enduroline from Tayna and its doing really well

 

[Pukmeister]

I'm no fan of battery tenders. They can mask the steady decline of a battery IMHO.

I charge my bike back up every few weeks to keep it full(1250GSA with a tracker and a Hybrid battery) using a Noco Genius 10 charger.

 

[Engineer]

Thanks. It does have a tracker fitted to it so it should be okay on an optimate in that case? At 4 years old it shouldn’t need a new battery should it?

The Stelath trackers can flatten the battery within a few days - remove it.
Batteries can easily die within 4 years, I have the same age 1250GS and had to replace mine after 2.5 years.
Random error messages at starting are caused by low battery voltage.
These problems tend to be exaggerated when the temperature is low.
The 1250s tends to give the battery a really hard time when starting compared to earlier 1200 bikes. I have had 6 1200/1250s since 2005. The 1250 was the first to show these issues.

 

[Hartley]

Interesting to see all the negative (sorry ) feeling towards battery tenders. Ive used the same optimate 3 for what must be over 20 years. My 2002 XJR its on its 3rd battery. My 6 year old Himalayan is in its second, replaced last year. Im pretty happy with that.
From what ive read and seen it looks like a failing battery can throw up all sorts of weird, seemingly unrelated faults. At 4 1/2 years old it would be where id start.

 

[Larry Langford]

The optimate chargers I have only charge when the batter goes down slightly. The rest of the time they are just on standby. It's the older style trickle charger that charges all the time .... And some of the cheaper auto parts store chargers can be wonky for sure, not being able to see the battery if it is bellow, say 9Vs .... That is the charger I had on one of my pickups, and it caused some problems. Then I just put an optimate 7 on it and it is fine, still.
And there are some other brands that are good quality too though ....

 

[the woodster]

Granted my bike (21-reg) doesn’t get a lot of use hence it sits on a BMW optimate thing in my garage but wouldn’t start today. Eventually got a message on the screen saying FAULTY DROP SENSOR

Has anyone else had this and is it something I can do myself or is it a dealer job?

Thanks in advance

If you have a voltmeter, some very basic cranking and running readings can save you a lot of frustration and potentially, money.

 

[glenn2926]

All my bikes for the past 20 years or so have been kept on battery tenders. My current optimate is around 17-18 years old and has maintained the battery’s on my old GS, S10, RP900 and my current R1250GSA. So far so good. The bike does sometimes sit for a few weeks at once and until now has always started. I hope this continues. Vehicles not just bikes do seem more susceptible to battery problems these days so if it does start playing up I would start by fitting a new battery.