Gah, bike wont start.

[Tengiz99]

Hmmm, haven't been on the bike in about 6 weeks, but this is not unusual and it normally fires up after each lay up.
Today, put the key in the ignition, I get the normal pre start display with the flashing lights etc, but when I press the start button all I get is click click click. At one point I got an EWS error, but that cleared.
I 'think' the battery is ok, the horn works well and sounds strong. Any thoughts? Should I invest in an optimate before calling the dealer?

 

[divelandy]

The click-click sound is usually not enough power in the battery to drive the starter motor. If your able to either jump start, or charge the battery to confirm this is the case.

Steve

 

[ILMV]

+1, sounds like the battery. Just to add to what Steve said, will probably be able to sound the horn + light up the instruments, but it still might not have enough juice to get the starter motor going.

I'm not sure if it effects this bike but when you start the bike do the lights dim?

I'm sure you can jump it from a car battery, perhaps (if this was confirmed) that would be an easy way to see if it was the battery.

 

[lapin]

Yup, need a new battery; the click, click is the starter relay - not enough juice in the battery to drive the starter motor.

 

[Tengiz99]

Bugger. Hmmm, anyone think if I jump started it and then went for a spin to charge it, would that suffice or are we talking about a new battery?
Sounds like I need a battery charger either way, it's not getting out much at the minute.

 

[samuelsnow]

I had exactly the same thing happen to me after not using the bike for a couple of months. Jumped it, drove round for a couple of hours to give it a good charge the next day it was flat again. I think once these batteries go they go...

 

[stolzy]

Battery.
If its gone flat its probably stuffed - modern batteries don't seem to like going flat.

 

[EmmettC]

I didn't use mine for a few months over winter and the battery died, though the batteries were fine on the 2 yamahas! I jump started it, and rode it for a while, but it didn't take enough of a charge, I charged it using a borrowed bmw charger for a night and the battery has been fine since, so I'd try charging it before you waste money on a new battery.

 

[Tengiz99]

Bugger, well will have to get an optimate and try and charge it overnight and see how it goes. It's going in on wednesday anyway for the chain recall, might be a bigger bill than planned. Doh! With it regularly laid up I should probably put it on the trickle charger.
Thanks for the replies!

 

[Dean]

Bugger, well will have to get an optimate and try and charge it overnight and see how it goes. It's going in on wednesday anyway for the chain recall, might be a bigger bill than planned. Doh! With it regularly laid up I should probably put it on the trickle charger.
Thanks for the replies!

I had a dead as a DOH DOH battery a few months back........

I have the bmw trickle charger (that was not conected previous to the flatness)

anyhow my point is My trickle charger which plugs in the power socket did not put any life into the battery when it was dead even over a few days so I put it on my big boy Halfords charger for some CPR which did the trick and once charged then the trickle charger did and still does its job (as my bike unfortunately is not ridden regularly most times)

 

[Tengiz99]

Interesting, am getting similar comments from the father in law on a issues with a golf trolley battery he once had.

 

[mcbikerider]

I had the same problem. The battery was changed by bmw free of charge as it was defect.

 

[Tengiz99]

Have the battery out and charging it, mind you the charge indicator on the charger does not seem to be indicating much of a charge to the battery. Either way, the charger is also a jump starter so at least I'll manage to get it going to the dealer for tomorrow.

 

[m0ng00se]

Same here ... engine died while riding .. does not want to start again. No sitting in the sun at BMW Battersea hoping they would take it a little more serious and look at it tomorrow. A few weeks ago, I had "they all sound like this" ... well now it's completely dead, now what ?

Also, weird thing, when I tried to start it the morning after, both the rev and speed needles tried to go counter clockwise ... below the zero while cranking the engine ... gone completely nuts now. Not sure if it will even make Italy nevermind all the way to Cape Town

Video and some more info here: http://uk2za.wordpress.com/2010/07/11/more-f800gs-problems-a-bit-concerned/

 

[Tengiz99]

Yeah new battery required, it wouldn't hold the charge. And at just 2 months out of warranty there was no word of it being covered under warranty either.

 

[m0ng00se]

BMW also mentioned something about a battery for my bike ... it is still under warranty, but said my battery is not covered by warranty .. not so sure ???

 

[Wookie]

Battery is a consumable im afraid. If you leave your bike for 3 months without starting and no charger its gonna start screwing the battery (if not kill it). Just be thankful that BMWs are not heavy on batteries, my old falco with datatool alarm would kill a battery within 2 weeks.

steve