Jump Start

[Denis]

Help? Can anybody tell me if jump starting my GS1150 from my car is ok or is it possible to damage the bike's electrics by jump starting it?

 

[littleredrooster]

Both 12 volt, so this would work................however, as with any jump start, if the recipient vehicle has a flat battery, the initial charge coming from the donor vehicle can be in the order of 150+ amps which can sh4g the cells of both batteries in seconds, particularly bike batteries which are less able to resist this because of their small size.

 

[Frank Warner]

When jump starting a car from another car it is possible to damage either (or both) electrical systems.
Here is one description Consider your motorcycle to just be a small car...

I prefer to have the good vehicle running before and during the procedure - ensures that the good vehicles battery is not discharged totally into the bad battery. If the good vehicle stalls you may have a problem, quickly but safely dissconect the earthy jumper cable. Restat the good vehicle. Check your operation and if OK continue.

Where you find the earth on the R11 bikes ... well I don't know .. I don't have one. On the K series I use the exhaust pipe clamp. On the air head the bottom back engine mount.

Also once the connection is made wait a few moments for the bad battery to charge... a few minutes if you can. The longer you wait the better the charge in the bad battery and the easirer it will be to start.

 

[Iain Hogg]

DON'T use the auxiliary power socket!!!!

 

[Panzer Patrol]

One tip worth thinking about, trying to get to the battery can be a pain. What I do is pop off the starter motor cover and put the jump lead on to the main lead on the back of the starter. Saves a lot of faff on trying to get at the battery under the tank, and its only one screw to remove.

As I am typing this I can see LittleRedRooters eyes rolling skywards. I have always been a bit gung ho with electrics. Check with him to see if this is good advice or not.

 

[littleredrooster]

As I am typing this I can see LittleRedRoosters eyes rolling skywards. I have always been a bit gung ho with electrics. Check with him to see if this is good advice or not.

Oh my good grief!! After all that training I gave you............!

 

[Paul Young]

Panzer && LRR,

I noticed two weird looking bolts on the new 1150's at the bike show & asked Simon Pavey what they were. They had oversized heads, one of which stood proud of the rear of the L/H cylinder head and the other is mounted next to the aux power socket. On checking, it turned out that they are jump start points and the one next to the power socket is connected directly to the back of the starter motor solenoid (+ve) and the one on the C/H is the negative. It turns out that they use the trick described by Panzer at the Off Road Centre & HO picked up on the suggestion of a set of proper contact points.

Bloody clever, I think.

 

[littleredrooster]

Bloody clever, I think.

...and bloody damaging under the wrong circumstances!!

 

[Mick Fagan]

The Earth lead for the 1100GS is directly under the air box and is connected to it via a largish bolt.

If one stands on the Left Hand side of the bike and shines a torch in, then between the frame bars and cables you'll see the aforementioned bolt, holding the cable to the box.

Mick.

 

[Panzer Patrol]

Listen short arse (littleredrooster) this man is saying I'm clever (I think) so shut the ffff up. Let me bask in a once in a lifetime moment.

 

[Chris G]

Panzer && LRR,

I noticed two weird looking bolts on the new 1150's at the bike show & asked Simon Pavey what they were. They had oversized heads, one of which stood proud of the rear of the L/H cylinder head and the other is mounted next to the aux power socket. On checking, it turned out that they are jump start points and the one next to the power socket is connected directly to the back of the starter motor solenoid (+ve) and the one on the C/H is the negative. It turns out that they use the trick described by Panzer at the Off Road Centre & HO picked up on the suggestion of a set of proper contact points.

Bloody clever, I think.

Cheers Paul, I saw that, but none of the suits could tell me what it was, Spout said it was a 12V pick up point, looks like he was right, does this mean that bmw are admitting the bike are prone to needing jump starts then??

 

[Denis]

Thanks

Thanks to all the contributors for their advice! I'd forgotten about BMW twins appetite for batteries. Next question...anybody got an opinion on the benefits ot otherwise of an an Optimate battery charger and, if worthwhile, where is the best place to buy? Denis.

 

[roadrider]

Optimate

Thanks to all the contributors for their advice! I'd forgotten about BMW twins appetite for batteries. Next question...anybody got an opinion on the benefits ot otherwise of an an Optimate battery charger and, if worthwhile, where is the best place to buy? Denis.

Denis, I've been using an optimate for 3 years on two bikes, one gel type battery the other lead acid, with no probs at all. Recommended, I paid £25, but the've gone up to around the £30 to £35 mark
John

 

[emjay]

Cheers Paul, I saw that, but none of the suits could tell me what it was

I also spotted them, the guy I asked didn't know but being press day we get a more helpful suits and he went and got the BMW bumf showing them as jump start connectors. I have pic's if anybody really want's them.

 

[Paul Young]

.....does this mean that bmw are admitting the bike are prone to needing jump starts then??

I think you could say something similar about most modifications made to the original model. ie: 800 -> 1000 -> 1100 -> 1150. So they're admitting the original was underpowered.......etc.

I think, really, that they want to have the bike seen as capable of going anywhere (RTW) and that there will be times where it is used at low speed, in rough terrain, going slow, not charging, possibly needing a jump start. Let's learn from the people who use them. "Hey Simon (Pavey), any suggestions for improvement?" He's hardly going to say "Yeah, how about a dodgy new colour scheme like metalflake purple."