Freaky_Friday
05-09-2007, 09:34 PM
Hello everyone, I have a bit of a problem with my new baby. I installed some new 55w Hella Optilux lights on my 1999 R1100GS last week and when I rode it to work today it was backfiring and surging.
When I installed the lights, I noticed that the wiring harness for a pair of PIAA lights was still connected. I figured that since the bike was performing normally I would just tape them up and keep everything the way that it was. I did not disconnect the fuel tank, but I did lift it up a bit so that I could get access to the battery and attach the 12v cable for the Hellas directly to the terminal.
I tried starting the bike today and it was very sputtery, even with the choke on full and then on 1/2. If I would twist the throttle even a little it would sputter, maybe backfire, and then rev pretty high for a second before returning to normal.
It continued to do this on the way to work (about 15 minutes) and although it was fine in 4th/5th gear, it would reappear when coming to a stop. Stopped at a light it was well under 500rpms and was not running smoothly so I put it back on 1/2 choke so that it would not die on me.
Is this an electrical issue, possibly the draw on the alternator?
I experienced a little bettter performance if I would turn off all my lights, and the motor would "bog down" if I would turn on my new Hella lights, the highbeam, and the 50w motolights all at once. I installed these lights figuring that the PIAAs that were previously installed would not provide an issue because they are drawing roughly the same number of watts.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
When I installed the lights, I noticed that the wiring harness for a pair of PIAA lights was still connected. I figured that since the bike was performing normally I would just tape them up and keep everything the way that it was. I did not disconnect the fuel tank, but I did lift it up a bit so that I could get access to the battery and attach the 12v cable for the Hellas directly to the terminal.
I tried starting the bike today and it was very sputtery, even with the choke on full and then on 1/2. If I would twist the throttle even a little it would sputter, maybe backfire, and then rev pretty high for a second before returning to normal.
It continued to do this on the way to work (about 15 minutes) and although it was fine in 4th/5th gear, it would reappear when coming to a stop. Stopped at a light it was well under 500rpms and was not running smoothly so I put it back on 1/2 choke so that it would not die on me.
Is this an electrical issue, possibly the draw on the alternator?
I experienced a little bettter performance if I would turn off all my lights, and the motor would "bog down" if I would turn on my new Hella lights, the highbeam, and the 50w motolights all at once. I installed these lights figuring that the PIAAs that were previously installed would not provide an issue because they are drawing roughly the same number of watts.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!