Push Starting a 12GS

[Joyseeker]

has anyone succeeded in push starting the 12GS?

i tried it a few times rolling down a slight incline..... we just came to a hault!

 

[JayGee]

I doubt it's possible to push start if the batttery is flat as there won't be enough juice to power up the ECU and go through the diagnostics. This seems to be the case with most fuel injected bikes, they need a reasonable voltage to power up the ECU and fuel pump and you just can't get that for long enough with a push start.
On the other hand it could be just me getting more feeble as the years zip by.

 

[Schtum]

As long as there's enough charge in the battery to power up the ECU then it should be possible. Which gear did you have it in when you dropped the clutch?

Funnily enough, I started mine up last weekend after it had sat for three weeks. It started ok but I didn't notice that I had the heated grips on full blast. I switched it off and went to start it again a few minutes later and it really didn't want to know. It would just turn the pots over compression and that was it. I wheeled it bacwards a few feet off the path where it was parked and got my wife to come out to give me a push....the seat's just too high for me to do the old run and bump routine. Before we set off down a slight incline, I thumbed the starter and it fired up first go.....

 

[Jimb]

Why would you want to push start it ??

Does it not have a starter ??

 

[Joyseeker]

Which gear did you have it in when you dropped the clutch?

1st

 

[Schtum]

1st

Ahh well, there you go....wrong gear. Try 2nd or 3rd next time.

 

[JayGee]

Was there enough life in the battery to complete the diagnostics and fire-up the fuel pump? If not, it'll never work (IMHO).

 

[Justin Tyme]

Kick Start works for me If I kick it hard enough.................

 

[RobC]

Don't forget that bump starting an engine dumps unburned fuel into the exhaust. If you have the standard BMW exhaust then bump starting will instantly destroy the catalytic converter!

 

[Mouse]

I don't think many people here care about their cats, given the enthusiasm for removing them

You'd never know it wasn't working either, unless emissions tests are introduced for bikes at some time in the future.

 

[Joyseeker]

Don't forget that bump starting an engine dumps unburned fuel into the exhaust. If you have the standard BMW exhaust then bump starting will instantly destroy the catalytic converter!

really? really? hmmmmmm

won't be bumping every day..... just want to know i can do it should i have to.