Bike started kicking like a mule.....

[essjay]

On the way home today the bike started kicking like a mule. First time it did it I nearly went down as I was leaned over on a bend.

Any ideas what it could be (see video)? Whats strange is that the RID seems to go blank around about the time that the engine looses revs.

I did put petrol in yesterday put that could hardly be it since I rode about 15 miles since then. The bike was fine this morning and the problems pretty much started once I took off this morning. I did 300 miles over the weekend and it was fine.

Bike seems ok up to around 3000 revs, starts getting odd from there on and at 4500 revs I'm holding on for dear life. Currently my only means of transport so I'll have to keep under 3000 revs going to work tomorrow.

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[sockpuppet]

I'd say check battery or ignition wiring at headstock. Also battery terminals for tightness.

The RID goes blank for a split second when the engine dies so looks like its losing electrical power.

 

[Timolgra]

Also check the fuse connections, my bike had been doing this.

 

[essjay]

Really? Could the fuses be doing this? The bike is fine at 3k revs and under. Surely if it was electrical through the complete range.

Thanks for the replys guys

 

[chad]

Really? Could the fuses be doing this? The bike is fine at 3k revs and under. Surely if it was electrical through the complete range.

Thanks for the replys guys

yup fuses can and do cause this problem pull them all one at a time and give a good clean

fingers crossed its this and nothing else

 

[John Armstrong]

Really? Could the fuses be doing this? The bike is fine at 3k revs and under. Surely if it was electrical through the complete range.

Thanks for the replys guys

Extra vibration above that engine speed is enough to make / break the connection.

I'd suspect the battery connections too IF the leads going to the ignition head where you put the key isn't breaking down, which is a quite well known defect caused by tie wraps braking the cables

 

[essjay]

yup fuses can and do cause this problem pull them all one at a time and give a good clean

fingers crossed its this and nothing else

Anything special to clean with?

 

[Timolgra]

Anything special to clean with?

wire wool

 

[essjay]

Could be onto something here guys. I fitted a set of bar risers on Saturday. I've ridden around 50 miles since then and this evening was the first time it gave trouble.

 

[chad]

wire wool

wont hurt to spray a bit of contact cleaner or wd40 on the fuse terminal too

 

[John Armstrong]

The cable I'm and others have mentioned is shown here:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2035686&postcount=6

£61.92 here: http://www.motorworks.co.uk/bmw/products/large_image.php?p=ELA06103&desc=

 

[MattW]

Could be onto something here guys. I fitted a set of bar risers on Saturday. I've ridden around 50 miles since then and this evening was the first time it gave trouble.

Hmm is the switchgear wiring pulling at all? Have you snipped the cable ties which restrain each switchgear loom where it joins the headstock - they are forced into a tight bend which apparently can fatigue the cable causing intermittent breaks. Steppers recommends snipping these cable ties - so I did

I'd give the handlebar looms a wiggle with it running.

 

[essjay]

Hmm is the switchgear wiring pulling at all? Have you snipped the cable ties which restrain each switchgear loom where it joins the headstock - they are forced into a tight bend which apparently can fatigue the cable causing intermittent breaks. Steppers recommends snipping these cable ties - so I did

I'd give the handlebar looms a wiggle with it running.

The bars are fine - cables don't seem tight at all. The owner before me had a set of risers fitted also.

 

[MattW]

The bars are fine - cables don't seem tight at all. The owner before me had a set of risers fitted also.

I'd still give every cable around the headstock / bars a good wiggle with it running. You fitting bar risers and the fault 50 miles after seems to be too much of a coincidence to ignore - Occams Razor and all that...

 

[essjay]

Just went out and started it up. Left it ticking over on idle while I wiggled the wires around the ignition. Seemed fine. Then gave it a rev up to 4500 revs and it cut out big time but still ran. Ticked over for another 5 seconds and then died completely. Now the RID is blank even though the side stand is up, kill switch not on and in neutral.

 

[MattW]

Sidestand switch?

 

[John Armstrong]

Sidestand switch?

No expert, but why would that blank the RID?

 

[MattW]

No expert, but why would that blank the RID?

I'm certainly no expert either (as is painfully obvious) - just clutching at straws. My best guess is still fuses as others mentioned or handlebar wiring.

 

[essjay]

Sidestand switch?

mmmmm no but getting stranger.....

Just went out to short the sidestand switch. Turned on the ignition and the RID was still out. I pulled in the clutch, released it quickly and hey presto, on comes the RID......

 

[essjay]

No expert, but why would that blank the RID?

On the 1100GS's if the sidestand is down it won't let you start the bike - RID goes out etc. Regardless of whether the bike is in gear or not, if the sidestand is down the bike won't start.

I thought I had the whole sidestand switch issue a few weeks ago but it could have been the start of this. Also thought I had the sidestand switch earlier but had flicked the kill switch by accident (I think).