I’ve been riding a BMW R1150GS, almost every single day, for these last 7 – 8 months and am pleased to say that it’s a hell of a bike, and like some people say …… it rocks :P! I was always crazy about the R1200GS, and still am, but I’m still enjoying every single ride of the 1150!
Having said that, I’m experiencing a couple fo issues which I would like to share with you and which, I hope, some of you out there would be willing to share their views and/or experiences too ……. some of you might have some kind of idea what it could be, some might have the same problems and others might have had them but found what was causing them!
So, there’s practically 3 issues that is making me somehow concerned, the ABS sensor, engine start failure and a certain feel on the wheel. To start with, let us talk about the engine failure problem! This problem occurred 3 times so far and what happens is that, when I try to start the engine, the starter tries to turn the engine on but could feel some kind of disconnection. Sometimes it then starts during that same turn and some other times it doesn’t. The next try is usually successful than. However, the clock dial would be resetted to0, thus making it clear that there has been some complete disconnection of the voltage. The feeling of it is that of a battery failure but, if it is, then it should be felt over and over while, in this case, once it starts, then all it’s back to normal and doesn’t do it again regularly. I’ve asked a professional person about this but he’s still not sure what it could be. Battery is ok and there’s no corrosion with the fuses …….. it’s quite strange!
2nd issue …… ABS! I’m experiencing the same issue day after day recently. As you all know, when the bike is switched on, the ABS lights comes on and only goes off only when we begin to drive. Based on what I was explained, as soon as the wheel begins turning, the ABS sensor senses the ABS unit and, as soon as it does, then the lights goes off, meaning that the ABS is now in function. However, what’s happening is that, after starting the engine and begin moving, the ABS lights are still on, and I could hear that the sensor and the ABS unit weren’t somehow connected. Consequently, the ABS remains off. I will then have to switch off the engine again, come to a complete stop and start again. It then works!
3rd issue ….. front wheel. This issue is based on the feeling of some kind of unbalance on the front wheel, when turning the handlebar and at low speeds. Say for example I’m turning the handlebar 30 degrees , it feels like there’s some kind of an external pressure on the turn which makes the handlebar turn bit more. As soon as I took over the bike, I changed its tyres as they have been on it for a number of years …… they were extremely hard! I’ve mounted the Conti Trail Attack. Again, based on what I have been told, this kind of feeling is usually felt when there is an incorrect tyre pressure. I’ve tried 2 different ones so far, 2.2 / 32 and 2.5 / 36, but still not happy with either one of these. When I changed the tyres, our local Continental dealer installed the Conti Trail Attack “Z” model, on the front, as he said that Continental manufactured the Z model specifically for the GS.
Any help in any/all of the above mentioned issues would be greatly appreciated!
*** Updated 06.12.11
Managed to solve issue 1 and 2 by simply changing the battery. I’ve had this new battery on for some time now and, until today, it didn’t let me down! ABS is constantly being detected and never had that disconnection problem again.
Still trying to figure out the issue of the feeling on the front wheel though. Will soon try to check out what our friend Pat Thompson mentioned in his comment!
Problem 1 and 2 (startprobs and ABS) will be solved when you buy a GEL battery. I had the same probs and were solved that way.
Hi, thanks for your reply but I already have a Gel battery. Will try to put it on charge today and see if something changes!
Hi,
Pat here, from Cork in Ireland. I have had too many bikes to mention all, mainly “Kawasaki”s” but 3 years ago i bought my 2001 R1150GS, 2nd hand and never looked back since. I still own and ride a 1994 ZZR1100d3 or ZX1100 as its known in the united states.
Anyway, I have recently come across the exact same “3” issues as you have. Two I have solved, the other “1” I need more private time to look at. Before i go on please take note that i am an ex auto Electric service Technician.
Now the first issues I have solved so far are the steering unbalance and abs issue you mentioned. There is a “wish bone” connected to a front Shock that makes up the front end ok. Out at the front, if the “wish bone” there is whats like a ball and socket joint with a nut on the top of it. Well these wear out over time causing a strange and uneven pressure feeling as you turn the handle bars. This is because it is not worn evenly so you feel this more to one side as you do the other. Now BMW have their own discription of this part. But Changing this cured the problem on my one. Also check that you have even fork pressure on both sides of your forks before you do any of the work i just mentioned to you as this will cause it also. I do all my own bike maintanance, its just something my father thought me growing up. So there is your first one from me.
I have seen the same problem on starting up where the bike sounds wrong and the clock resets.
This is my next fix. The ABS issue on mine usualy stops if you try the following; it may work for you also. Before you press the start button leave the abs lights flash twice and “PULL THE CHOKE LEVER AND HOLD IT THERE WHILE PRESSNG THE START BUTTON”. When the engine starts leave the lever down “slowly”. This creates more air for the engine to fire faster and stronger thus releveing any surge on Voltage to your battery. A low Voltage will cause “ABS” faults. So now “2” issues solved.
One left and Il’l be back some day soon with the answer for that. For now enjoy your GS. One of the best bikes i have ever owned, 13,000 miles clocked up on mine without any problems to make it stop or break down. Log onto www(dot)QRZ(dot)com, punch in “EI2GHB” in search bar. You will see my ham radio profile and my bikes well pics of the same. Best wishes from Mr Pat Thompson.
I also have a 2004 R1150GS and love this bike. Bought it a year ago. Although I have not had the 2nd and 3rd issues you address fortunately, but I have been battling your engine failure issue for a while now. It is very frustrating, as I have lost the confidence in the bike of not leaving me stranded somewhere. I have had to have fellow riders push start me once and thankfully they were there for me. Sometimes I ride alone, and that concerns me.
So once you have replaced the battery, it SOLVED this for you? I have had this bike in the shop now for three weeks and they can’t figure it out. They think it is a bad side stand sensor or ignition switch…
Hi, don’t let these things influence the pleasure this bike can give us! Yes, after changing the battery I never had any issue with both the ABS and the starting. I bought a Gel battery, they’re expensive but think they’re the best for our kind of bikes! Will be looking forward to hear from you, hoping that next time you comment would be to say that you’ve sorted this out and you’re again enjoying this bike like you used to!
Picking the bike up this Friday from Service. Had some work done AND have replaced the battery with a new Gel battery. Hope this does it! Will let you know once I get some miles on it. Thanks.
Great! Looking forward to hear from you!
Picked up the bike. Rode it for two hours back home. Still having starting issues! Very frustrating! Testing at the service center discovered engine had no spark at either primary or secondary coils, but injectors would spray. This would eliminate the crank sensor and probably all voltage supplies from suspicion, but not sure. Substituted another Motronic unit and the bike started, but now also starts with original motronic unit. New Gel battery. But intermittent starting issue persists…any ideas?
Sorry to hear that! Another reader, Pat, who also commented on this post, once suggested I change the battery cables. Apparently the original ones aren’t that heavy duty and, on starting, it looses a lot of Voltage. MotorWorks do have these HICAP Starting Upgrade Kits (High Capacity Oxygen Free Copper DC Distribution Circuit). I haven’t bought them as yet, since it looks like I’ve solved my issue, but I think I’ll still get them one day.
Check it out with your mechanic and see what they think about it!
I have a 2000 1150GS and I have the same starting problem, even after replacing the battery with a hot new gel one. Here’s how my bike acts: first thing in the morning it will act as if the battery is low or almost dead, the clock will reset to zero, and the bike won’t start. I’ll try it again and pretty much the same thing. Third time, it almost always starts. Later on in the day it will start up with no problem.
Funny thing, the bike had a similar-seeming though much less serious problem almost from new: the clock would periodically reset to zero. They replaced the clock and instrument unit, thinking it must be defective, but that was obviously not the problem. Any further suggestions about what the problem might be and how to fix it, if a new battery doesn’t do the trick?
Sorry to hear that, understand how frustrating this can be. I would try upgrading the battery cables now. Check out some details another reader, Pat, once wrote in the comments of this same article. You can find these through MotorWorks website, known as HICAP Starting Upgrade Kits. Hope this helps! Would be great if you can keep us informed.
Interesting thread and glad to see it is current, as I am having the same exact starting issue with my 2004 1150GSA. Brand new Odyssey battery, brand new starter motor, upgraded Hi-Cap cabling … guess what? No improvement … still gives the “weak” and occasionally failing attempt at starting. This is even after a full night on the trickle charger. I was (sorry) shocked! Really, though I had the problem nailed, was super disappointed this morning when I got the “slow-mo” treatment and the beast barely turned over. Yes, the clock resets to 00:00 every time. Any solutions, additional tests, or insights would be greatly appreciated! THX!
Looks like that the issue is far beyond just a new battery or an upgraded HI-Cap cable than. Until now, it seems that i’ve sorted my problem or, at least, postponed it. For me, a new GEL battery did the job! In a comment left by another reader, just last week, he said that, by changing the battery it still didn’t solve his problem and is now considering the option to upgrade the cables. To be honest, I don’t know what else could it be, at this stage. However, I’ll try to feature this article more as to, hopefully, one day, we’ll find someone who managed to find the real cause for this issue.
Thanks, I’d be very interested if anyone else has seen this and managed to resolve it. She’s going in the shop this weekend and hope to get to the bottom of the issue. Cheers!
Hi,
Have had 1st 2 problems in the past but now experiencing number 3. I was thinking of getting an electronics boff to see if they can fit an external battery to the clock to solve the issue. Magnets in the starter had unglued and caused flat battery symptoms. Bike was in shed for a few months now when I slow down the bike feels like it wants to weave. Tyres and pressures are fine.
Hi,
Luckily enough, my starting and ABS issues were solved with just a change of battery. Somehow, the battery wasn’t sending enough current and this made the electronics go bit nuts 😛
As for the front wheel, even though I can’t say I’ve solved the problem completely, I minimized it by increasing bit more the pressure, to 2.6/2.65 and putting less force on the handle bar during turns. Not really sure that this was what helped but for me it’s working 🙂 I’ve only had the bike for bit more than a year now and, at first, I was a bit rigid on it …. weight was somehow of a concern. Now that I got used to it, I tend to be more at ease with it and felt that this did make a lot of difference!