Another battery issue ?

[CANINE]

Started the bike up first time, rode about 25 miles. 30 mins later came to the bike, started first time, but then cut out 10 secs later. Tried to restart but to no avail, switched completely off and tried again, hey presto! On the way home I realised my display, indicating which gear I was in flashing on & off. When I stood at junctions etc, neutral not shown on indicator.
On arriving home decided to alter my screen & check out the problem.
Bike failed to start, I couldn't even raise the dreaded click click click.
I noticed a few items on here refer to duff batteries, so perhaps a new battery may be in order? It did seem strange however that the bike had just covered 50 miles & yet the battery had gone flat?
Considering the price of a new R1200GS I must admit this bike has let me down more than any other over the last 30 years, with it's various failures EWS fault etc. It is only a low mileage, 2 year old model, but every time I'm really depending on it it lets me down. No mega european trips for me, this thing can't be trusted.
Is this the norm for the R1200GS.

 

[Funners]

check the battery terminals as they can come undone and give you the symptoms you describe....
Dead battery is more likely to give ytou the solenoid click than just dead...

 

[Hunter]

Gear light indicator failure

Have a 06 (March) 12GS had this problem in France, would not start, tried three / four times then started, parked up over night. Next morning dead, but later worked. did not show nuteral durin this period show 1st when in nuteral, 4th 5th & 6th were true the gear indicator on the dash. Rode from there (St propeze) to Santander back on ferry, then home to Yorkshire. Parked then dead, then did start.
Booked in for service,(done 7500 miles then) rode it to Pidocks Nottingham May/June time. Elecrical sensor on the back on gearbox replaced under warranty even though 2-3 months out on warrenty, The bike was bought there and had been serviced there from new.

Rode plenty in summer and just been to Lyon in Novemeber to bring back "Beaujolais Nouveau" to raise money for local Hospice (08 Yam broke down just off ferry in France never made it ) no problem in all this time, Three 1200gs's went no problem. EWS not required replacement on this bike.

Yes some bikes have problems but would buy another, CRACKING BIKE, CRACKING RIDE, SHAME ITS NOT PERFECT but what is. Will try to go to Morroco in 12-15 months

 

[Hunter]

Battery Still original

Canine
I didn't say-- thought it was my battery, had it checked and ok, its is the the original, and I didn't hear a click just dead, I'am sure its the same problem as mine.

 

[Doofus]

just a thought - if there's something playing up in the gear indicator, the computer might be refusing to start because it doesn't know you're in neutral. If it happens again, maybe try starting with clutch in and side-stand up to see if that helps.

 

[CANINE]

Thanx for replies everyone, dazlewis you are spot on mate.
There is no gear indication displaying at all now, but as you said at least the bike will start with the clutch in, so at least I can ride it back to the dealer.
Perhaps I should also mention the bike had just returned from the dealer after a service (also rear disc knackered, changed under warranty) . They also changed heated right grip (not under warranty), amazing how it worked when I took the bike in, but the next day it didn't work & needed replacing.
Technology is amazing, but sometimes it just makes things more prone to failure. This bike sure makes my old second hand Honda, Suzuki etc look good value. At the moment I'm finding great difficulty in justifying the cost of this bike & I'm regreting parting with my 1150RT, at least that bike didn't have something wrong with it every 5 mins.

 

[Doofus]

Glad you're up and moving.

At the risk of stating the obvious, if you are riding anywhere with a dicky gear indicator, then when you come to a stop you need to be triple sure you are in neutral, and not rely on anything the gear indicator / neutral light might be saying.

 

[Wapping]

amazing how it worked when I took the bike in, but the next day it didn't work & needed replacing.
Technology is amazing,

That is amazing.

You sound amazingly like the amazing chap on the fast show.

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[Pukmeister]

Were the conditions wet by any chance when the gear indicator problem occurred?

Mine did the same when wet.

I dried out the wiring connector and sprayed liberally with ACF50 and the problem is solved. Also had the oil warning light after some fording, solved the same way.

 

[CANINE]

Pukmeister, conditions were quite mild & dry for this time of year, so I don't think any damp is an issue with mine. I think Hunter's version seems very much like the problem I'm having.
It seems like the local BMW dealer has already shut up shop for Xmas, answer phone only. Mind you, perhaps I should think twice about letting get their mits on my bike again. This is the second time it's come back with more faults, than when I took it in.
A guy with an RT at work, thinks there was something in BM mag about this issue.
I think I might drop BMW a line about the AMAZING number of faults on this bike.

 

[Hunter]

Canine will be interested in final diagnosis. be sure to let us know.