Starting issues

[Mattwprice]

im hoping that someone may know of or be able to suggest a solution to a problem I am experiencing with my 20191250GS Te. Since I had it (second hand) at about 2.5k miles coming up to a year ago I have experienced a very occasional issue with starting.

The bike essentially felt like there wasn't much in the battery to turn it over and a couple of times it failed before then starting up straight away. I informed the main dealer I bought from but they didn't record it. Then in Nov /Dec I decided to ride the bike to a meeting. Stopped and filled up at a garage about a mile away and went back out and the bike wouldn't start. It turned over a little but didn't catch. Tried repeatedly but had the same thing happen. Phoned BMW who said someone would be with me in a couple of hours. An hour and a half later I tried again and it started. I rode home and booked the bike in with the dealer. They out it on test and confirmed there were no unusual drains or draws but the battery had a cell or two down and needed replacing at my cost. Being a consumable BMW didn't make any contribution to the cost but the dealer I think fitted for free. Not too impressed.

On Saturday I was out for a ride and again was going to stop off at a client for a meeting. I took the bike out for about 45 mins locally as I hadn't ridden it for about three weeks and stopped off to put the client's postcode in the satnav. Tried restarting. Same problem. Called BMW and someone was with me after about an hour and a quarter. I had tried a few times to start the bike whilst waiting and had the same problem. Lights on but no real turn over beyond maybe a second. When the rescue guy came over before he did anything I said let me give it one more try and sure enough it sprung to life. Took it back to the dealer again who was telling me that the bike needs to be on an optimate even if its not being used for just a couple of weeks.

I'm peed off and the missed meetings are costing me money and wasting my time. I am rapidly losing confidence in the bike. I don't want to ride it as I never know where and when it will strand me somewhere. Rescue guy suspects a sticky starter. Im not sure what my options are for the bike/returning it etc. And what point should I call it a day and reject the bike. Can I do so at all? Its been almost a year. Ive put probably 4k ish on it and quite a few farkles. Im sort of invested in it as far as kit goes and do enjoy the bike. Im just beginning to feel I have a bit of a Friday afternoon job.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem maybe and also where I stand in regard to rejecting it? If it sorted this time around I think fair enough...but beyond that...

 

[leasky]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GB_fhls1ws

I was watching the above link last week and it appears to have been a similar issue which put paid to his trip around the UK. The dealer makes a scant comment about the battery dropping a couple of cells (circa 34 mins in) and this causes the ECU to shut down.

Don’t know how similar this may have been to your challenges.

Hope you get it sorted.

 

[pbbanks]

Put in on an Optimate when you leave it in the garage. Just to rule that out. If you have a tracker, or anything with a small drain. the battery will soon go flat without a battery conditioner attached to bike.

 

[Mattwprice]

Thanks for the try. U fortunately that appears to be different to the problems I'm experiencing. Strangely enough I have already seen that video as I'm a Patreon subscriber to Bruce!

 

[Mattwprice]

No tracker on it or anything beyond a Hex ezcan, and lights and horn. I suspect that the fact that it doesn't start and then an hour later does would suggest that it isn't a battery drain. Might still get an optimate though. Does anyone know if it is possible to reject the bike even at this stage if it does become necessary? Im hoping it wont, but if this is ongoing it will destroy the enjoyment I derive from riding.

 

[spoonz]

What sort of batt did the dealer fit ? There has been issues with the oem lithium batts giving similar problems and dealers have been fitting agm versions which seem to fix it. in particular hot start issues where it seems like you have a flat battery.

 

[Santa-2512]

No tracker on it or anything beyond a Hex ezcan, and lights and horn. I suspect that the fact that it doesn't start and then an hour later does would suggest that it isn't a battery drain. Might still get an optimate though. Does anyone know if it is possible to reject the bike even at this stage if it does become necessary? Im hoping it wont, but if this is ongoing it will destroy the enjoyment I derive from riding.

Sounds normal for a failing battery & other items

Battery wont start bike - leave 1hr it warms up, and the battery has enough charge to kick it over

I had similar on my hexhead would start from cold fine. but not enough to kick it into life once warm -- leave 20 mins & alls well

1 new battery didnt cure it

Additional leads to starter direct to battery helped

New starter and a Motobatt battery - Fixed hot and cold start not a problem

might be a precursor ?? me just get a decent battery in it motobatt or odyssey

 

[Fullchat]

Mirrors my problem on a 2019 GSA last spring. However you seem to have been hit twice. How long is the battery warranty??

 

[Mattwprice]

I think it was the standard BMW one. I did ask him about fitting an upgraded one at the time but i think he said it wouldn't be covered by warranty....which thinking about it, seeing as batteries aren't covered anyway I should have just gone ahead and done it anyway! I thought the OEM weren't Lithium?

 

[Mattwprice]

So what was the cure for your gsa?

 

[spoonz]

I thought the OEM weren't Lithium?

I’ve met owners at the dealer and know another personally that have had hot start problems. all of which had oem lithium batteries and were fixed by dealers fitting agm versions. The dealer it seemed was well aware of the issue. Whether it’s all bikes that got lithium I don’t know but have a look at your battery, it will say on it somewhere if lithium or agm etc.

 

[knutk]

I think the solution is quite simple, and it has already been suggested. The description by OP points in the direction of a shot battery. Pure and simple.

No reason to procrastinate. Change the battery...

Even if the bike is not very old. One sloppy winter storage might be enough to damage the battery.
Happens all the time...

 

[hawkeye]

Sounds like a battery issue to me as well. I've read a few times that the 'cure' from dealers for the 1250 battery issues is to fit an uprated battery from the 1200? Anyone know what the uprated battery (code) is by any chance? Reason I ask is that I too have a 2019 R1250GS Exclusive TE which I bought second hand last July - normally on my bikes, I fit a new battery as soon as I get it, but thought I'd wait until we have a reasonable chance of getting back out again, so have deferred. What I don't know (being that the bike is second hand) is whether its still on its original battery or has had it changed in the past, so if I'm going to change it, I'd like to change it to the one that dealers (apparently) are fitting. Currently it has an original BMW battery fitted (on top of the battery reads "BMW S: 61 21 8 394 179"

 

[spoonz]

Sounds like a battery issue to me as well. I've read a few times that the 'cure' from dealers for the 1250 battery issues is to fit an uprated battery from the 1200? Anyone know what the uprated battery (code) is by any chance? Reason I ask is that I too have a 2019 R1250GS Exclusive TE which I bought second hand last July - normally on my bikes, I fit a new battery as soon as I get it, but thought I'd wait until we have a reasonable chance of getting back out again, so have deferred. What I don't know (being that the bike is second hand) is whether its still on its original battery or has had it changed in the past, so if I'm going to change it, I'd like to change it to the one that dealers (apparently) are fitting. Currently it has an original BMW battery fitted (on top of the battery reads "BMW S: 61 21 8 394 179"

That part number is for the exide agm. Probably the one dealers are retro fitting.

 

[Fullchat]

So what was the cure for your gsa?


It let me down the day before Lockdown 1 and a mate came out with jumpleads. Have you ever tried to jump start a BMW boxer? . I put it down to the winter lay up and 2 starts in fairly short succession, distance wise. Got it home and put it on the Optimate.
Next time i was on way to 1st year service. Road 30 miles and stopped for a coffee as I was early. Same thing. Dealers (Marshalls) came out and gave me a jump start. They replaced under warranty no issues. I don't know what with but I'm presuming the upgraded battery as it is a known issue.

 

[Santa-2512]

Fit a Motobatt or Odyssey

for the price better battery & way more oompfh

 

[Bem]

I think the solution is quite simple, and it has already been suggested. The description by OP points in the direction of a shot battery. Pure and simple.

No reason to procrastinate. Change the battery...

Even if the bike is not very old. One sloppy winter storage might be enough to damage the battery.
Happens all the time...

I got a replacement for my 1200 from my local bike shop rather than "BMW approved" - turns out its badged as a Honda ! I quite like the irony of Honda reliability powering up a BMW !
My reason for change was the combination of a couple of sluggish starts and static volts of 12.1V - and yes I know that volts are not everything but the falling number over a period of time when not used is a clear indicator.

And if you leave your Nav in place this will be a drain too.

 

[hawkeye]

Interesting - can I ask which battery type you bought?

I've always had a pretty high regard for Yuasa batteries, so whilst there is the YTX14-BS as a replacement for my 1250, I see also there is high performance version (YTX14H-BS) - is that worth fitting instead? And as mentioned before MotoBatt seems to get good reviews (although I've never actually used one, but happy if regarded as good).

Anyone any recommendations? YTX14-BS? YTX14H-BS? Motobatt (if so which)? Odyssey I've never come across, so happy for any recommendations

 

[Bem]

It was only £50 odd quid so I think the standard YTX14

 

[Tyzer]

https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/515364-My-new-1250-rallye-BROKEDOWN


See my post, new battery fitted been fine ever since