Anyone had problems with their F650 engine cutting out?

[Gannet]

HI,

I went out today on a ride out, with friends, and had to turn for home after my bike cut out for the 5th time in two hours . It was very cold this morning but I had done about 60 miles, a lot of it doing 80+ on the M1, so the bike should have been warm enough. It didn't take me two hours to do 60 miles, we stopped at a McDonalds for an hour and a bit.

It cut out three times, while changing down at junctions, and twice it just cut out as I throttled back coming up to junctions. On one occasion, the car behind, nearly ran up the back of me at a roundabout, because he wasn't expecting me to stop: neither was I expecting to stop for that matter !

Has anyone else had problems with their 650 engine cutting out like this, or do they have a possible explaination? It has happened once before, a few months back, where it cut out twice as I set off.

Apart from feeling a pillock today , and also feeling that this bike has given me more trouble than my four previous japanese ones, I am now a bit nervous of riding it, as I don't trust what it is going to do. However, I still love it.

Any feedback would be welcome.

Gannet

 

[Micky]

Hi Gannet and welcome.

Just a stab in the dark, but has worked in the past.... don't touch the throttle, turn ignition on, then in nice smooth movements open the throttle fully, to the stop, three times. Switch ignition off and then re try...

Maybe just wants the throttle potentiometer re setting



www.adventure.gs

 

[brassmonkey001]

Happened to me a few times in the past but I never nailed it down to anything. Try Micky's ECU reset, it's worth doing every once in a while.

 

[zerocool]

Hello Gannet, I was the bloke (with pillion) on the 1150GS asking about your lid. Didnt realise you were having bike problems until we stopped later in the day and I asked what had happened and where you had gone.

Im surprised they left you like that, not usual at all, usually at least one of us will stop behind to give a hand. I hope you got home ok and werent put off by our rudeness! If you need a hand ill happily help but im no expert, good with a spanner though.

the ZC

 

[Smelly Biker]

Try checking :-

Battery connections :

These vibrate loose & the 'brain' doesnt like it when that happens, theory is the battery smooths the power supply. Check they're tight & clean.

A quick check is to look at the instrument lights (ie: neutral), mine pulses/flickers when this happens.

Battery level:

A low battery charge will cause that problem, so if its dead or not being charged properly the bike will misbehave.

'Too many toys' does the same thing if your drawing more power than the alternator can puts out. Heated grips, aux lights, heated gell seal, heated socks, jacket, pants, etc..all adds up. If memory serves its cold in England in Feb ;-)

Stick a voltmeter across the battery when the engine is running - should be around 14volts at 3000 rpm if everything is OK, less than 13.6V and its not getting charged.

Hope that helps.

 

[nick]

I was told the 650 takes note of the "closed" throttle position when you start the bike.

Start it with an open throttle and it will stall later on when you throtle off.

Happened to my 650 repeatedly on one trip. I kept restarting while still rolling on at junctions, and I was definitely opening the throttle thinking it would help keep it running.

Used the trick described above and it was perfect afterwards.

 

[bigchris]

I'd also say, check oil levels, battery terminals, coolant levels - anything easy to fix.

This happened to my wife on Friday night (7+ hour wait for AA, turns out to be a 10 minute fix).

NOT impressed with AA. I thought that they prioritise females alone on motorways at night in freezing cold these days?

 

[talltony]

I think the 'open the throttle 3 times' reset is now outdated,the current thinking is to disconnect the battery or remove the BMS connector,wait 15 mins and reconnect.Switch on and start with a closed throttle.
Also as Nick says pay particular attention to your starting procedure after the bike has stalled - it's all too easy to just push the starter button in your eagerness to get going,particularly when there's traffic behind you! If you do this,pull over as soon as possible and re-start the engine in the proper sequence .
Tony

 

[Gannet]

Hi Zerocool,

BigGrey asked if I wanted him to come back with me but a) I have a recovery service with Carole Nash and b) I thought that I would be ok if I only had myself to concentrate on and not worry about keeping up, or colliding with another bike! So, don't worry about any 'rudeness', as I didn't feel that there was any . Thank you for your concern though, it is much appreciated . I just hope that I can get out on another ride as I felt a bit of a pillock on Sunday and also, still haven't been to Bridlington!

I spoke to Sean, at Rainbow, and he thinks that I may have pressed the starter button too soon, before the temperature light had gone out . This has happened before and I couldn't get the bike to run at tickover at all. I think that I may have pressed a little soon but when it didn't cut out straight away, I thought it was ok. Sean says though, that if it happens again, I should take it in for them to check.

Also, with regard to the alternator theory; my heated grips don't appear to be getting hot at all, so I will get that looked at too. I rode the bike to work today and my fingers were frozen .

Thanks for all of the info everyone. I find that BMW riders are such nice people

Gannet

 

[kopcat]

This happened to my wife on Friday night (7+ hour wait for AA, turns out to be a 10 minute fix).

NOT impressed with AA. I thought that they prioritise females alone on motorways at night in freezing cold these days?

That's truly shocking! I hope you're sending in a written complaint!?! Is there not some kind of time guarantee with regard to getting to lone women?? You've worried me now....I've always thought I could rely on the AA......

 

[brassmonkey001]

I'm sure that the AA have a policy of prioritising lone females, but it would appear that mistakes can occur sometimes. I find a 7 1/2 hour wait unbelievable (not to say that I don't beleive it happened as you say). Heads will roll for that one.

I've been an AA member since the late 80s and I've never had any grief with them. Always reasonably prompt and always got me going again or got me where I wanted to go.

 

[karian1963]

My 2014 Sertao is back with BMW for this fault. 3rd time! Mine didnt materialize until a software update November last year. Same problem though, off the throttle coming up to junctions /traffic lights and it cuts out. Struggles to start then, scary stuff I assure you! I never start bike with any throttle at all and it doesnt seem to matter if I have just set off or been on the road for 30 miles.
If I (get to the side of the road first) switch ignition off for 15 or so seconds then start her up normally, again with no throttle, she starts straight away and runs fine.
The problem is that the software update has caused this issue and due to its intermittent nature its bloody dangerous!! BMW have had my bike 4 weeks now and they have already informed me that they have had to buy back another customers 650 for this issue, To be honest that would be a good option as I can no longer rely on the bike at the most dangerous times for a biker! We will see though.
I am also seeking advice on consumer rights as it is the manufacturer that has caused this issue for me with their update.

 

[karian1963]

I'm sure that the AA have a policy of prioritising lone females, but it would appear that mistakes can occur sometimes. I find a 7 1/2 hour wait unbelievable (not to say that I don't beleive it happened as you say). Heads will roll for that one.

I've been an AA member since the late 80s and I've never had any grief with them. Always reasonably prompt and always got me going again or got me where I wanted to go.

ALWAYS been prompt?? How many times do you breakdown?? I have had recovery for over 20 years and never used them! wont stop paying for it though, thats when I'll need it!!! Murphys law and all that! I do about 30k miles a year over both bikes I own and I am a great believer in "you look after your bike, and it will look after you"

Please dont get me wrong, I am not saying you dont look after them, how could I, but maybe a better choice in the first place??? lol

And on the outrageous wait for breakdown, I hope you have complained most vehemently and receive some damn solid guarantees should you require themm again! Would be nice to know the outcome as well for any more of us that may find ourselves in this predicament.

 

[duncan.harper]

Thanks

Thanks Micky, the TPM reset solved it for me, thank you so much.
Beers are on me if you are ever down this way.

 

[stef25]

Engine cutting out happened to me once, issue was a loose connection on the battery. Apparently this can fry the electrical system of the bike, be careful.