Anyone else had this one.

[Sparky2010]

Over the last few weeks when turning the key nothing at all, no neutral no info or checks. Turn off and back on and it's ok, but yesterday on my way home from work in the outside lane of the A1 it stopped dead no engine no power no nothing, couldnt even put hazards on. Got it to the inside lane and had to turn the key off and on a few times to get the power back on. Took it to Cooper BMW where I bought it and the service guy saw the key start fail several times. They gave me a bike to get home and are investigating. By the way it's an 07 R1200GS.
Ian.

 

[rodders]

Had this happen on G650GS I tried at BMW OFS... Did it quite a few times.. Last time had to walk out of range of bike with key and return before it would restart.
No idea what the problem was though ..

 

[richtel]

My bet is the ignition switch

 

[littleredrooster]

Wiring loom around the headstock where it's cable tied in place.

 

[Boxerboy55]

. . . in the outside lane of the A1 it stopped dead no engine no power no nothing . . .

Mine has cut out dead without warning on 2 occasions. Barrelling along then the dash just blacked out. First time I coasted to a halt on a country road. Second time (recently) on a quiet road, but going faster, I was smarter and simply flicked the ignition key off and on a few times and it lit up, fired up before I slowed very much and I carried on.

Very disconcerting and more so with servo brakes that now "aren't".

Builds character

 

[trainman]

not sure if its relevant to this post, but when you lock the steering the wiring seems to pull quite tight, especially if you have bar risers
i think a disc lock or chain is a better idea and so i dont use the ignition lock

 

[TLSgazza]

Mine started doing last weekend at the GS rally in holland. Sometimes I had to turn the ignition on and off numerous times to get it to engage.
It has not turned itself off yet when riding but after reading this I guess I'll have good look at it soon.
How easy is it to remove the ignition to check it over. Just wondered if it has any security bolts like my Suzuki TLS?
I'm thinking it's something further down failing to engage rather than the actual part the key goes into as it feels like it moves freely enough.

 

[R17GSR]

Had it acoupkle of times over thelast 6 months, only on start up. Samething no lights, on/off a couple of times and then ok. Some one did mention the key antenna ring which goes around the barrel. Keep any additional keys away from this area. There was a recall for this problem but my 07 vin was not included.
Ride safe
Gary

 

[Ropey]

Happened to mine as well about a year ago on 2007 GS, very annoying and worrying and went through sorta home fixes like changing keys. And no carrying spare key in my jacket to lubing up ignition barrel.... Nothing appeared to work.... Till I ignored it and being quite honest rode it more!!!

Hasn't reoccurred in about 10 months.... Having done nothing!!!!

Just my twopence worth

 

[noelirwin]

I have just had the same thing this past week. Initial key in and turn with nothing. On off a few times and ignition lights all come up and wont do it again so far until I leave the bike overnight and come back then same again. 07 R1200GS, seems a common machine year on this thread. I don't think it is the antenna as the symptom is reported as the ESW light coming up without being able to start. This is a blank, nothing at all until retry.

Sparky, has your dealer sorted you yet?

 

[Lord Tak]

Blackouts

My 2006 GSA does same thing and it appears due to a slight twist in the key, from use in the poxy stiff fuel cap. Key works fine in ignition one way around, but otherway, it has caused ignition to "switchoff" on 4 occassions, once in fast lane of M25 leaving Reigate in rush hour in dark, I had to coast over 5 lanes without lights and without brake servo, and switch it off and on again. BMW refuse it has an issue!!

 

[noelirwin]

This problem is covered elsewhere on this site. The ignition switch needs replaced. It is a small black box at the bottom of ignition switch assembly with the smaller wiring loom connector held in by two small torx screws. Inside is a plastic cam and a pair of sealed burgess microswitches. A bit of silicone lube inside the black box may fix the sticking on problem where the bike won't switch off, but the sluggish switching on requires a new switch. £65 from your dealer or £30 used from BMW motor works. 30 minute job for those confident doing their own work (eg never have bits left over or break stuff when doing jobs on their bike!)

 

[Doofus]

Hi

Mine never cut out in use, but I sometimes had troble when turning the key. A squirt of electrical contact cleaner (available from Maplin) down the key hole fixed mne. It started playing up again around a year later, and another quick squirt fixed it. Mine's probably due another squirt about now.

Darren

 

[TLSgazza]

I fitted a new switch on the bottom of the ignition barrel and all seams to be ok now theold switch does seen to be worn inside as it doesn't seen to have positive on off when turning it as the new has.
As said above it cost about £67 and all is well again