Low voltage message.

[Jondd21]

For the last few weeks, I have been receiving a low voltage message via my navigation unit .

Bike works as should with the exception on the heights control.

Two weeks ago I had to attend my dealer to have the oil sensor replaced, I mentioned the low voltage and was told that the suspension issue is due to the reduced battery capacity. I constantly have the bike on charge ( black Motorrad square unit ) via the socket to the side of the dash.

I was informed that I needed to connect the charger directly to the battery to avoid canbus issues and would benefit from the new type Ctek charger and battery fly lead. I purchased both and fitted on my return home.

It’s a great system but sadly, has not cured my low voltage issue.

I can now leave home, with a full battery and on return ( 120+ mile rides ) the charger is indicating that the battery level is on level 2 of 7.

The bike has the lightweight lithium battery and I am wondering is this where the problem arises from

I do have Denali D7 lights and T3 rear brake/indicators fitted ( professionally at a supplier ) .

Has anyone thoughts on the issue ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[stever1]

I’d try disconnecting the lights and T3 first and see if it makes much difference.
Or get a bigger battery.

 

[JoeBiff]

For the last few weeks, I have been receiving a low voltage message via my navigation unit .

Navigation unit message? - I thought all operating function messages came through the TFT….

Bike works as should with the exception on the heights control.

Are you talking about the ride height control?
Or, do you mean when lifting the bike on the centre stand at the end of a ride?

 

[Barnoe]

Are you sure its not the Sat Nav thats got a low battery?

What Nav unit are you using and as Joe said, do you get any warning on the TFT?

 

[Thejoybringer]

Are you sure its not the Sat Nav thats got a low battery?

What Nav unit are you using and as Joe said, do you get any warning on the TFT?

But would a low sat nav voltage give the suspension issue’s?….I know NOTHING

 

[Barnoe]

But would a low sat nav voltage give the suspension issue’s?….I know NOTHING

Well it shouldn't

Bike works as should with the exception on the heights control.

I do have Denali D7 lights and T3 rear brake/indicators fitted ( professionally at a supplier ) .

A healthy battery and generator should cope with your lights.

I have Denali lights too and charging ports in my topbox as well as on the dash.
I have done tours with lights on charging phone, comms, cameras and a power banks in the back for weeks without issue.

I put my bike on the Optimate charger through the din plug every couple of weeks for a boost.... dunno if it needs it or not, its just what ive been doing.

 

[tw99]

There have been reports on here of dealers swapping out Lithium batteries for normal ones to resolve issues like this.

 

[jefformston]

For the last few weeks, I have been receiving a low voltage message via my navigation unit .

Bike works as should with the exception on the heights control.

Two weeks ago I had to attend my dealer to have the oil sensor replaced, I mentioned the low voltage and was told that the suspension issue is due to the reduced battery capacity. I constantly have the bike on charge ( black Motorrad square unit ) via the socket to the side of the dash.

I was informed that I needed to connect the charger directly to the battery to avoid canbus issues and would benefit from the new type Ctek charger and battery fly lead. I purchased both and fitted on my return home.

It’s a great system but sadly, has not cured my low voltage issue.

I can now leave home, with a full battery and on return ( 120+ mile rides ) the charger is indicating that the battery level is on level 2 of 7.

The bike has the lightweight lithium battery and I am wondering is this where the problem arises from

I do have Denali D7 lights and T3 rear brake/indicators fitted ( professionally at a supplier ) .

Has anyone thoughts on the issue ?

Thanks in advance.

Generator/alternator?

 

[Smartbazza]

For the last few weeks, I have been receiving a low voltage message via my navigation unit .

Bike works as should with the exception on the heights control.

Two weeks ago I had to attend my dealer to have the oil sensor replaced, I mentioned the low voltage and was told that the suspension issue is due to the reduced battery capacity. I constantly have the bike on charge ( black Motorrad square unit ) via the socket to the side of the dash.

I was informed that I needed to connect the charger directly to the battery to avoid canbus issues and would benefit from the new type Ctek charger and battery fly lead. I purchased both and fitted on my return home.

It’s a great system but sadly, has not cured my low voltage issue.

I can now leave home, with a full battery and on return ( 120+ mile rides ) the charger is indicating that the battery level is on level 2 of 7.

The bike has the lightweight lithium battery and I am wondering is this where the problem arises from

I do have Denali D7 lights and T3 rear brake/indicators fitted ( professionally at a supplier ) .

Has anyone thoughts on the issue ?

Thanks in advance.

yes i had exactly the same. my first battery failed when using the ctek charger, the dealer then replaced the battery and gave me a BMW charger. on the next failure they replaced the battery when i said i wanted an AGM battery. they will give you an AGM battery as a free replacement.

the problem with the suspension is directly linked to a slight drop in voltage when you start the bike up. if you ride for two mins and switch it off and back on does the suspension work ok?

Barry

 

[theoneandonly]

having the bike on charge constantly , as you say .
is hiding a problem .

 

[JoeBiff]

yes i had exactly the same.

Were you getting the low voltage message through your navigation device?

 

[Smartbazza]

Were you getting the low voltage message through your navigation device?

my nav would loose power. (garmin xt). I have been told that when the voltage drops slightly following power up of the bike, the bike 'turns off' items that will draw voltage to ensure it starts the engine. I believe the suspension is one of the items that it stops starting up (hence if you ride for a couple of mins and do a quick off / on it starts without any issues and the suspension works).

My terminology may not be correct but i suffered this on two bikes and got a lot of feedback from the dealer.

Barry

 

[JoeBiff]

my nav would loose power. (garmin xt). I have been told that when the voltage drops slightly following power up of the bike, the bike 'turns off' items that will draw voltage to ensure it starts the engine. I believe the suspension is one of the items that it stops starting up (hence if you ride for a couple of mins and do a quick off / on it starts without any issues and the suspension works).

My terminology may not be correct but i suffered this on two bikes and got a lot of feedback from the dealer.

Barry

The OP doesn’t seem to make clear which element of the ride height is not working, or at least that’s how I read the post but of course I could be wrong.

Similarly, trying to lift the bike on to the centrestand using the battery (no engine running) will tear the arse out of it, understandably. I’m sure the manual says to avoid doing this; along with a million other things that you’d probably get away with on a conventional machine. Dealers don’t help here when delivering machines, with little to no explanation of the new bikes and their operation.

I’m sure there’s more to this story which isn’t apparent from one post. Beyond that, we’re all guessing a bit.

 

[Smartbazza]

The OP doesn’t seem to make clear which element of the ride height is not working, or at least that’s how I read the post but of course I could be wrong.

Similarly, trying to lift the bike on to the centrestand using the battery (no engine running) will tear the arse out of it, understandably. I’m sure the manual says to avoid doing this; along with a million other things that you’d probably get away with on a conventional machine. Dealers don’t help here when delivering machines, with little to no explanation of the new bikes and their operation.

I’m sure there’s more to this story which isn’t apparent from one post. Beyond that, we’re all guessing a bit.

he says ' height issue'. - I'm only aiming to be helpful which may be through telling him the issue i had which sounds very similar to his.

to be clear I would start my bike and ride it down the road, when i got to the speed at which the suspension should rise it didnt and i got the yellow box messages noting the ride height wasnt working / avoid leaning etc. pull over and switch off / on and everyone worked dandy. the only time it didnt happen on the first start of the day was when i was in France for two weeks, i got the warning on the day I left my house and didnt see it again the whole holiday. this also led me to believe that the heat in europe was helping my lithium battery as the issue returned when i came back home. this is further backed up in the riders manual where it mentions in colder climates BMW fit AGM batteries into these bikes (Northern Ireland could never be described as tropical).

Barry

 

[Jondd21]

Are you sure its not the Sat Nav thats got a low battery?

What Nav unit are you using and as Joe said, do you get any warning on the TFT?

Carpuride W702BS unit.

No warning on TFT, but when charger reconnected it is low.

 

[Jondd21]

But would a low sat nav voltage give the suspension issue’s?….I know NOTHING

The service team at the Dealership says the bike shuts off adaptive height control to power other facilities.

 

[Jondd21]

yes i had exactly the same. my first battery failed when using the ctek charger, the dealer then replaced the battery and gave me a BMW charger. on the next failure they replaced the battery when i said i wanted an AGM battery. they will give you an AGM battery as a free replacement.

the problem with the suspension is directly linked to a slight drop in voltage when you start the bike up. if you ride for two mins and switch it off and back on does the suspension work ok?

Barry

Hi Barry, I’ve tried the off then on, alas no difference sadly.

 

[Jondd21]

having the bike on charge constantly , as you say .
is hiding a problem .

They tell me it an intelligent charger , but ….. if I didn’t charge the battery to full and went out on another rider when it’s low charge, what would the consequences be then

 

[Jondd21]

The OP doesn’t seem to make clear which element of the ride height is not working, or at least that’s how I read the post but of course I could be wrong.

Similarly, trying to lift the bike on to the centrestand using the battery (no engine running) will tear the arse out of it, understandably. I’m sure the manual says to avoid doing this; along with a million other things that you’d probably get away with on a conventional machine. Dealers don’t help here when delivering machines, with little to no explanation of the new bikes and their operation.

I’m sure there’s more to this story which isn’t apparent from one post. Beyond that, we’re all guessing a bit.

For clarity…. And firstly my apologies for not being clear.

The issue is the adaptive height control, it lowering the ride height when coming to a stop or the speed is less than 10 mph, then raising agin when 10pm has been exceeded.

The assisted lift onto the centre stand works fine as do other electrically assisted functions.

Majority of the time the bike is on the side stand as my storage is no as expansive and area as I wished.

Thanks once again all

 

[Jondd21]

he says ' height issue'. - I'm only aiming to be helpful which may be through telling him the issue i had which sounds very similar to his.

to be clear I would start my bike and ride it down the road, when i got to the speed at which the suspension should rise it didnt and i got the yellow box messages noting the ride height wasnt working / avoid leaning etc. pull over and switch off / on and everyone worked dandy. the only time it didnt happen on the first start of the day was when i was in France for two weeks, i got the warning on the day I left my house and didnt see it again the whole holiday. this also led me to believe that the heat in europe was helping my lithium battery as the issue returned when i came back home. this is further backed up in the riders manual where it mentions in colder climates BMW fit AGM batteries into these bikes (Northern Ireland could never be described as tropical).

Barry

Nor the mountains of Wales