erratic idle & left pipe glows in the dark

[Nye]

Erratic idling somewhere between 1500 and 3000 rpm and the left exhaust pipe glows red in the dark. And this is just 150 miles after it’s 12k service. Another (3rd) recovery back to the dealer, after (another) five hour wait for BMW recovery to collect it. If this were a car I’d have traded it in a while ago! Any ideas as to why the pipe glows and it won’t idle?

 

[themadprofessor]

Just possible that someone dislodged the left hand throttle cable so that it was holding the butterfly open and revving the engine on the left hand cylinder.

Otherwise no idea unless engine management has had a heart attack.

Chris

 

[JJ Crafford]

Interesting to hear about your waiting. My 12GS started running irregularly on the A3 toward Guildford yesterday, cut out on at 50 m/h. restarted reluctantly and sputtered all the way to Vines. Did not want to idle.
I got to Vines very close to closing time. As they had no loan bike for me I was advised to call BMW roadside assistance and wait in the road as Vines closed up for the night. :
How about they keep the bike and give me a lift home since the recovery vehicle just dropped the bike with them again this morning!!!!!!!
My call was placed just before 7pm. The contracted recovery vehicle from Macallister arrived after 9pm, more than an hour late. Their depot is no more than 5 miles away.
The driver did not greet me or offer an apology only mumbled some idiotic shifting-the-blame-excuse when I confronted him about having to sit in 5'C for much longer than needed.
I phoned BMW RA twice to enquire about ETA. They were unaware that the recovery vehicle had not arrived as arranged. No doubt this kind of service from contracted companies tarnishes BMW's reputation

 

[MikeO]

I've no idea if this happens on the 1200, but your symptoms, as Chris rightly pointed out, would, on an 1150, point directly to an unseated throttle cable on one side. Here's what it looks like on an 1150:

Good:

Bad:

Mike

 

[birdseye]

Tarnishes reputation? Not half as much as actually needing a recovery company. My other bikes have never broken down (old Harley excepted and that comes with the territory) and its decades since a car broke down on me. Its unacceptable that you get any other than minor problems with a new and expensive bike.

 

[John Armstrong]

If both exhausts are glowing the same it's normal, they all do that sir. For a real treat, rev at about 4-5000 rpm for a few minutes in the dark, usually get to a nice cherry red, and seeing this reminds you to never get near the exhausts when the engine is / was running!

 

[Nye]

well its now been 8 days (yes, thats eight) at Motorrad Central (Glasgow) and they identified the fault as electronic - one of the sensors. They tell me the part is on order and it will be AT LEAST another 5 days before the part arrives.
This is the third recovery on a bike less than 12 months old. hmmm.
Do you kow anyone who wants to buy a 12GS or exchange for a KTM perhaps?

 

[laughingBob]

You have my deepest sympathy. I had loads of problems with a beemer I bought and eventually got my money back. I swore I'd never have another but, time passes and I thought I must have been unlucky. Since then I've had several bikes and had prob's with all the BM's but, only minor stuff. My 12 was fine up until a few weeks ago then spent two weeks at the dealer. Any more problems though and I'll be looking elswhere. I use mine everyday so it needs to be reliable.