Upgraded Starter Motor Sir?

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I hear KTM are going to start (no pun intended) retro fitting 1290 starter motors to all sold 1190 Adventures along with a wiring 'enhancement' and a tune download

You heard it here first, unless you heard it somewhere else first? in which ignore the beginning of this sentence

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

That's intersting

I've read a few bit'n'bobs on starting issues on the first 1190's but can't say mine's ever done anything other than start first press of the button?

Andres

 

[corsicandreamer]

I left mine here in France mid July it started first touch of the button on the 20th Dec. no opti-mate etc. and it was bloody great to get out and just ride it.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I left mine here in France mid July it started first touch of the button on the 20th Dec. no opti-mate etc. and it was bloody great to get out and just ride it.

.......and I bet you haven't got 4" of snow either have you!
Not that I'm jealous mind.............

Andres

 

[cookie]

i think KTM are fitting 1290 starters to 1190s that are hard starters under warranty. this unit is apparently standard on 2015 1190s.

mine has always started first time except once when i had to churn it for ages. i think it flooded, it reeked of petrol anyway. certainly not a starter motor issue.

 

[gsgarth]

KTM 1190 starting issues

i think KTM are fitting 1290 starters to 1190s that are hard starters under warranty. this unit is apparently standard on 2015 1190s.

mine has always started first time except once when i had to churn it for ages. i think it flooded, it reeked of petrol anyway. certainly not a starter motor issue.

I've had issues with my 1190, the starter motor was upgraded about a month ago.

 

[stroller]

Well, mine wouldn't start this morning! Thermometer at about 4 degrees C.
Starter motor kept churning, in a somewhat laboured fashion, but the motor would not fire up. I tried it several times but no joy.
The battery charge is OK as I had it on charge a couple of days ago. The bike is a 2014 model by the way.
My dealer is collecting the bike tomorrow - needless to say they know nothing about a starter motor upgrade!

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

My dealer is collecting the bike tomorrow - needless to say they know nothing about a starter motor upgrade!

That's weird .... my dealer told me about it before Christmas then again I don't live in Bristol

 

[strod]

My dealer is collecting the bike tomorrow - needless to say they know nothing about a starter motor upgrade!

That is interesting, as my dealer proactively fitted the latest 1290 starter motor update to my 2013 1190A just before Christmas 2014, when the bike was in for a clutch issue (new slave cylinder) and new chain/sprockets.

The bike had also been fitted with a starter motor update in early 2014 for cold starting issues, so this issue is generally known about and the latest update referred to apparently relatively new.

If your dealer is ignorant of this, try calling Premier Bikes in a Didcot for info/service, they have always been very good in my personal experience.

 

[stroller]

Well, the air temperature is a little higher today and the bike started first time! I tried several times yesterday and it never came close to firing up.
Anyway, I am going to let the dealer collect it and see what feedback I get.

 

[strod]

The new starter motor update is a world of difference to the 2 previous ones on my bike - a much improved speed of turnover when firing up.

 

[Giles]

Ummmmm ....

I started mine a couple of days ago and it really laboured! (one of the really cold days we've just had). Battery lives on an optimate so would have had a fairly healthy charge but you could really hear the starter motor struggling. Fired up eventually on its fifth or sixth cycle.
That's the last thing you want on a cold morning up in the pyrenees somewhere ...

 

[strod]

Sounds like a call to your dealer is in regarding that update is in order then... What you describe is very similar to my bike last winter with the then original starter motor on cold days (very slow & laboured turnover), when regardless of how well charged the battery was, sometimes the bloody thing would just point blank refuse to burst into life.

 

[Giles]

Yes ... I might just 'log' the issue with them. It's only been once, but if I can evidence a pattern (if it happens again) it would be good if they upgrade the starter motor. (Even if it's not until a service ..).

 

[stroller]

Bike wouldn't start again today! Tried with no throttle (as per KTM handbook instructions), then with throttle open, but no joy. Called KTM recovery and they sent the RAC - RAC man eventually got it started with the help of a massive battery and jump leads. He said the engine was flooded (which I knew as you could smell the petrol) due to the varying low temperatures causing issues with the fueling.
However, it just should not happen, i have never had this sort of problem on any bike before. I love the KTM in many ways, but in terms of will it work whenever I want it to, this has got to be the most unreliable bike I have ever owned!
Anyway, it is now with the dealer for as long as they want it, to see what they can find out. I have got to say though that I am not filled with confidence.
If it isn't sorted out properly, I can see me parting company with the bike unfortunately, as unreliability is an issue I am not prepared to live with.

 

[strod]

I commute on mine year round, other than in the worst of the ice/snow perhaps, so I know where you are coming from. I haven't got an audio recording of the pre, but I can probably get one of the post new starter motor update so you can hear the difference. If your bike hasn't got it, you need the latest starter motor update for winter. Should your dealer not be forthcoming, call Premier Bikes for information if nothing more. As said earlier, I had no clue about this latest update, Premier just did it proactively for me under warranty, which therefore had to have been approved by KTM.

 

[shay]

Mine wouldn't start this morning.. turned over very labouriously but wouldn't fire up. I had a new battery fitted this time last year, battery charge is fine according to display. feckin pita.. I will get it towed to the dealer and insist on the 1290 starter being fitted.

 

[Giles]

I spoke to my dealer about this yesterday and expressed my concerns. I told him that although mine hasn't 'not started' it's come close to not starting. I told him that I know of one dealership that's done a warranty claim and has fitted a 1290 starter motor. He told me that he had three other customers that were having problems starting their bikes and that he would phone Ktm this morning ...

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I think you will find that this is a 'campaign' rather than an official recall. In other words. If the customer complains of a starting issue then their bike gets priority, where as all other bikes will be modified at point of service

 

[strod]

Assuming this works, just for comparative purposes:-

The replacement starter motor from April 2014 (fitted earlier in the preceding winter):-

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19161551/1190A New Starter Motor - April 2014.MOV

The replacement (1290) starter motor from January 2015 (fitted late December 2014):-

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19161551/1190A New 1290 Starter Motor - Jan 2015.MOV

This was first start of the day, although not particularly early/cold on 5th Jan, but helps show how much quicker the engine turns over.