Advice would be appreciated!

[kuei]

Hi Peeps,

I'm a new R1100GS owner, and although I never really considered a Beemer before (never thought I could afford one!) after a mate egged me on to reply to the ad, and a short test ride later I was smitten!

However, a few days ago I had a small 'off' at about walking pace on gravel . After getting help to pick the bike back upright (Jeez these things are heavy!) I found that all the electrics had stopped working (apart from the clock, so I know how long it is that I've not been able to ride the thing - bleedin' Germans!)

The bike has an aftermarket alarm/immobiliser, which is still working, so I assume it's still getting power from the battery, and when the alarm is turned on the indicators flash so I know the bulbs are okay. When the ignition is turned on I get nothing. Nada. Zip. No spark, no starter (Yes I've checked the killswitch!), no idiot lights, no horn, no indicators or running lights, nothing.

I've checked the fuses, which all seem ok, and as I said earlier, the alarm still works so I assume the battery is ok too - the bike was running sweetly until the spill.

I've been reading the ubiquitous Haynes manual, and it seems to suggest that possibly one of the earth wires may have come loose?

It was only a very minor spill, and I've had worse 'offs' on Jap bikes in the past, been able to pick them up, straighten them out and ride away - I was expecting something slightly more from the reknowned 'German Engineering'!

I'm hoping with the undoubted font of wisdom here, that someone can point me to a simple solution, preferably inexpensive (I spent all my money getting the bike!) and suitable for a simple chap with all the mechanical knowhow of a fish.

Thanks in advance peeps,

fingers crossed and breath being baited as I type,

Kuei

 

[boxer]

Did you switch the engine off using the killswitch when the bike went over?

Could be, and it happened to me, that the switch was operated too violently in the post drop panic and the contacts within the switch have been damaged.

 

[dazco]

Hiya Kuei,
that sounds like a hell of a lot of sh--- from a small spill.
my first sugestion would be to disconnect the battery then reconnect making sure everying is tight.
when yo dropped it, did you notice if it Yanked the bars to the side(i know its not easy to notice this sort of thing when you drop such a heavy monster)
if so it might have broken a connection in the ignition barrel.
To check this it would probably be easiest to remove the tank then trace the wiring loom from under the barrel to the connector which should be towards the front of the tank area on top of the frame.
Use a multimeter and check the wires for continuity.
I cant remember off hand what should be what but once you start checking it should become clear. hope that might give you an idea, I hate electrics as nothings what it seams
good luck

 

[boxer]

Hiya Kuei,
that sounds like a hell of a lot of sh--- from a small spill.

You ain't seen nothin'yet. This was at less than walking pace.

 

[kuei]

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys - keep 'em coming!

I forgot to mention in my first rambling post - the right hand switchgear and mirror/throttle body also got slightly twisted round the bars - being a mostly Jap rider I just twisted them back - is this my cock up?

And looking at the piccies above perhaps I got off lightly - after all, I'll heal for free!

 

[blues n twos]

Without stating the obvious.... have you checked all the fuses.

Indicators are probably different to ignition etc

Just a thought.

Jon

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

connection below tank that connects tank fuel pump to bike (right hand side)... it killed mine with a bad connection... a wiggle and the fuel display came back on

 

[dazco]

jesus, you managed to crack the foot hangers at walking pace and on gravel?
Are we talking normal walking pace? or like extra fast, i want to get to the pub before closing time pace?
if you had to twist the handgrips etc abck into position id start there with checking the connections, but check the wires to the ignition barrel aswell,
i had an interitant fault thAt killed the lights etc and was a bad connection, worth a try,
exuse the typing errors, blame it on cheap cider

 

[Tarka]

A common wiring failure is in the short piece of wiring (which is often folded over itself) from the bottom of the ignition switch on the left hand side of the headstock and which goes under the front of the petrol tank to a connector .

Try waggling this wiring a bit with the ignition on to see if anything comes on.

Double check the killswitch and also the sidestand cutout switch.

Test all blade fuses with a mutimeter or by substitution,a fuse that 'seems okay' by looking at it may not actually be so.

 

[kuei]

Thanks for the responses guys,

Had a fiddle with the ignition loom wiring, no result unfortunately, although by searching through past posts I found one that mentioned the chap had broken three of the wires! Hope that's not the problem...

Any suggestions as to the best way to test the loom, apart from wiggling the wires with the key turned on and hoping? I do have a multimeter, and I'll probably be finding out how to use it tonight

I'll also be checking all the fuses, and testing the battery, on the off chance that something devastating happened in the tumble and all the fuses blew at once and the battery decided life wasn't worth living without them...

Keep the answers coming peeps - all guidance is useful, and I'm pleased to be a (small) part of such a friendly community

 

[Tarka]

Any suggestions as to the best way to test the loom, apart from wiggling the wires with the key turned on and hoping? I do have a multimeter, and I'll probably be finding out how to use it tonight

Assuming that you own a Haynes Manual,look in the circuit diagram for the ignition switch and use your multimeter to check for continuity across the relevent pins at the connector block.

Ditto for the sidestand switch.

Also use the meter across the blades of the fuses.

To check for continuity with the power off,set the multimeter to Ohms x 1 (put the test leads together to see what continuity looks like on the meter) or to 'Diode Test' which gives an audible output.

Pity you`re not a Site Sponsor,because if you`re totally bolloxed and at your wits end,you could have PM`d me and depending on whereabouts in the North West you are I may have been able to get out to you and have a looksee.

 

[northengit]

The bike has an aftermarket alarm/immobiliser, which is still working, so I assume it's still getting power from the battery, and when the alarm is turned on the indicators flash so I know the bulbs are okay. When the ignition is turned on I get nothing. Nada. Zip. No spark, no starter (Yes I've checked the killswitch!), no idiot lights, no horn, no indicators or running lights, nothing.


One of my bikes has an alarm /imobilser... when it kicked in before.. after a small tumble it gave similair systoms to yours , I traced it back to the tilt switch not re-setting took it out put a washer behind it reconnected all ok.Might be worth having a look see.
Also when you switch the ignition "on" can you hear the fuel pump as it switch's on..?
and do check the obvious is it still in gear. ?

 

[kuei]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I'll probably check them in order of expense

And Tarka, ta for the heads up - I had to wait 'til payday to become a sponsor, so if I get stumped you may get a pm in your mailbox!

 

[roddy]

here's some suggestions, my aplogies if there obvious

If the bikes in gear and the sidestand switch is knackered you wold get the simptoms you suggest.

ensure the bikes in neutral and disconnect the sidestand switch see waht happens.

or disconnect the alarm incase this has immobilised something and it's the alarm that needs reset, not juse activated/deactivated

cheers

 

[Steptoe]

I forgot to mention in my first rambling post - the right hand switchgear and mirror/throttle body also got slightly twisted round the bars - being a mostly Jap rider I just twisted them back - is this my cock up?

!

Has the R/H switchgear connection been pulled out of it's socket ??

 

[davegs]

dear 1100

Check out that immobiliser switch, or just the alarm / immoboliser bet that's
the problem. When it's going agian get rid of the immobilser and alarm, you
can fit an immobilising switch your self and you will then know how and what it does.
dave GS. (no one takes any notice of alarms anyway). Good Luck.