stuck starter switch/kill switch

[Nutty]

I use mine regularly, and never had a problem.

The GSA demo bike I took out a couple of weeks ago had an issue with the starter switch, when I was in the middle of nowhere, stopped for a p. Brute force got it working again, and the guys at Vines were aware of the issue, and had a new switch on order.

Shouldn't happen though.

 

[Fluffmeister]

Update time I have twatted the switch to get the bike started, and with John aka Grey ones help have ridden down to Villach to Motodrom BMW where they are replacing the switch. When I "fixed" it, the slightest touch upwards would kill the motor, I may have used a little to much BFI. BMW assist really have been less than useless, and it's the help of John and the good nature of a dealer that are sorting it. It happened at just after 9:30 am and BMW had still not arranged anything by 3 this afternoon.

I'm pretty chilled by it all, I've lost a days riding, and will drop BMW a letter when I get back.

Thanks for the advice however tongue in cheek about forcing it, I got BMW on the phone while at the dealers to authorise it under warranty so all looks like it will be well.

Regardless of opinions on the use of a kill switch, you'd think that on a 15k bike, it may last longer than one operation.

As a side note, they appear to have a good supply of right switchgear on the shelf, so it must be a more regular occurance.

Sent using random stabs with bratwurst like fingers...

 

[Neil W]

A kill switch is just a switch, it should last for years, typical slag the owner off for bmw's shit build quality , always said the new switch gear looks on par with something off a chinese 125 not a prestige motorcycle.

Other than taking the switch apart to identify why it is jammed I can't think of anything else he can do other than wait for recovery.

Oh and he is a twat for using the emergency kill switch to stop the bike, that is what the ignition key is for. There is a reason it is called the "emergency" kill switch, use it only in an emergency, and now he knows why because that have been know to jam in the off position, it is basic stuff which is taught at CBT level.

 

[Lord Snooty]

Glad its sorted. Good point about a £15k bike - it just goes to show that it is only as strong as its weakest point and if the switch is low quality then as you found out it can strand you. I always use my ignition key to turn my engine off but as we have seen others have their own preferences - each to his own.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[Melch]

Oh and he is a twat for using the emergency kill switch to stop the bike, that is what the ignition key is for. There is a reason it is called the "emergency" kill switch, use it only in an emergency, and now he knows why because that have been know to jam in the off position, it is basic stuff which is taught at CBT level.

What a load of old tosh. The kill switch is just a switch. The ignition key goes into...a switch. Both kill power to the ignition. I will use either depending on which is more convenient. So by using the kill switch (as a switch), is this likely to make the bike implode? Is there some kind of detonator built into the switch? Or is it infact just...a switch.

It's just that nothing untoward has happened to me in over 30 years of doing so. Have I been incredibly lucky all this time?

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

Glad its sorted. Good point about a £15k bike - it just goes to show that it is only as strong as its weakest point and if the switch is low quality then as you found out it can strand you. I always use my ignition key to turn my engine off but as we have seen others have their own preferences - each to his own.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.

Not quite Mike. You were clear that using the "kill switch" was wrong in your opinion and it was basic CBT teaching NOT to use it. I pointed out that, according to some manufacturers. not only was it NOT wrong, but recommended.

 

[twizzle]

i've ridden a bike for 34 years...... i've never used the Kill switch.......not once.... so there...

i always turn it off with the key..

Now, on my old boat.... you had to use the Kill Switch which in fact was a lever, which cut off the fuel supply... then you could turn the key... but that was a diesel...

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

i've ridden snotters and tractors for 34 years...... i've never used the Kill switch.......not once.... so there...

i always turn it off with the key.....when I can get it running in the first place..
Now, on my old boat.... you had to use the Kill Switch which in fact was a lever, which cut off the fuel supply... then you could turn the key... but that was a diesel...

...........................

 

[The Grey One]

I thought the switch was a rocker type and is also the starter button so unless you never start the bike you must use the switch every time you ride

It's a two way rocker switch! Turn the key, push down on the bottom bit of the switch to start the bike. Turn the key to stop it, simple really

John

 

[pistole]

loads of people using GS/GSA/RT/K16 have reported issues with BMW Switchgear.

its astounding that BMW can't get something as simple as switchgear right on their bikes. For heaven's sakes.

as for the "don't use the kill switch" .... geez ..... even though I only use the key , a switch is still just a switch and should work reliably.

 

[The Grey One]

What a load of old tosh. The kill switch is just a switch. The ignition key goes into...a switch. Both kill power to the ignition. I will use either depending on which is more convenient. So by using the kill switch (as a switch), is this likely to make the bike implode? Is there some kind of detonator built into the switch? Or is it infact just...a switch.

It's just that nothing untoward has happened to me in over 30 years of doing so. Have I been incredibly lucky all this time?

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

On older bikes the kill switch did do the same as the ignition switch. That is not the case on many modern bikes including the GS. The kill switch on these bikes does not shut down all circuits in the same way as the ignition switch. It is the equivalent of turning your PC off by pulling the plug out of the wall socket.

So before you rubbish what is being said maybe you could consider a little research.

John

 

[Melch]

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

On older bikes the kill switch did do the same as the ignition switch. That is not the case on many modern bikes including the GS. The kill switch on these bikes does not shut down all circuits in the same way as the ignition switch. It is the equivalent of turning your PC off by pulling the plug out of the wall socket.

So before you rubbish what is being said maybe you could consider a little research.

John

Can't be that dangerous as I'm still here! I stand corrected though if on the latest and greatest overcomplicated absurdity passing as a motorcycle, you now shouldn't do something as innocuous as using a switch for fear of crashing the system.

 

[Nutty]

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

On older bikes the kill switch did do the same as the ignition switch. That is not the case on many modern bikes including the GS. The kill switch on these bikes does not shut down all circuits in the same way as the ignition switch. It is the equivalent of turning your PC off by pulling the plug out of the wall socket.

So before you rubbish what is being said maybe you could consider a little research.

John

If you turn the bike off with the kill switch, and leave the ignition on, I can see your point, but as they then turn the ignition off, shutting down all circuits, there shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Tricky]

I stand corrected

Said the man in the Orthopedic shoes.

Have checked the action of the kill switch on my GS today and it does feel a little stiff. Funnily enough the (identical) switch on my 11 reg K16 appears of better quality and moves more freely.

Am just about to order a Chinese takeaway.

 

[Neil W]

Always said the 1100/1150's had switch gear that looked like it could survive a nuclear blast , well above the quality of an equivalent Japanese bike, the 1200's looked like a backward step and never looked to be the quality of say a higher spec Honda , when I first saw the switch gear on the new LC models my first thought was this looks well below Japanese quality stuff and more on par with a cheap Chinese bike (no doubt the switches were sourced from there), lets hope that this is not a portent of things to come

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

?....lets hope that this is not a portent of things to come

I suspect a lot more than just the switches are sourced from China. I work in an (safety critical) industry where there is a blanket ban on Chinese sourced components......for a bloody good reason.

 

[Melch]

Said the man in the Orthopedic shoes.

Have checked the action of the kill switch on my GS today and it does feel a little stiff. Funnily enough the (identical) switch on my 11 reg K16 appears of better quality and moves more freely.

Am just about to order a Chinese takeaway.

Are you some kind of crazy man? You can't just go fiddling with switches willy nilly nowadays you know (apparently). Not unless there is an imminent emergency occurring. For God's sake Tricky even CBTers know this.

 

[Fluffmeister]

The dealer in Villach made a statement in his best Genglish "officially, is multifunction switch, but is cheap Chinese crap to give me many problems "

New switch is nice and positive in its action and a slightly darker colour red. One of the service guys was saying that a lot of their 2013"s have had the problem and they have had to swap the switch out.

All sorted now, without an attempt to reject the bike and even though I tried BMW assist, they.declined to show

I can now pootlle off to Switzerland and Italy.tomorrow as planned, just missed out on a day in Austria.

Sent using random stabs with bratwurst like fingers...

 

[buncobooth]

And there was me thinking you were supposed to switch off the bike with the side stand

 

[Fluffmeister]

Bollocks, I.do.that all the time to.....I'm doomed

Sent using random stabs with bratwurst like fingers...