Can R1150R sidestand switch keep bike from starting?

[Donster]

Yesterday, my still-somewhat-new-to-me 2004 R1150R (9,200 miles) did something strange. I rode it to a store and stayed for about half an hour. When I got on the bike to leave, I turned on the ignition switch and got all the usual lights and ABS whirring sounds. But when I pressed the start button, absolutely nothing happened. Complete silence. I had a neutral light. While pondering the situation, I operated the side stand a couple of times. I then turned the switch off and on a couple of times. The bike then started normally. I rode it to the dealer, where naturally I could not duplicate the condition so they declined to try to fix it.

This morning, the bike started normally. I went for a half-hour ride then returned to my home. I turned off the engine. About five minutes later, I tried to start it. Nothing. Got all the lights including a neutral light. I wiggled the connection to the sidestand switch. The bike then started normally.

Was this just coincidental, or is it possible that a bad or intermittent connection to the sidestand switch could cause the behavior I described? FWIW, there is a fair amount of oily road grime all over the switch and connection. The only other thing I associated with the initial failure-to-turn-over event was when I first raised the sidestand before trying to start it at the store, it slipped past my boot and popped up hard against the stop.

Needless to say, not knowing if your bike will ever start again after you turn it off takes a lot of the fun out of motorcycling. Any suggestions of a course of action would be very much appreciated.

[BubbaZanetti]

get a new switch, or hotwire it at the plug so the bike "thinks" the stand is alway in the up position.

at least you were able to pinpoint the cause of the problem, thats usually the hardest part with electrical systems.

[Andy VH]

Back in 98 I crashed my 94 R1100RS which actually fell on me in a ditch and snalled my left leg. The bike sustained very little cosmetic damage. While in the hospital my brother went to the yard where my bike was towed. While on the cell phone with him I talked him through a check and start of the bike. But it wouldn't start.

Then I told him, "look near the side stand pivot and tell me if you see any wires." Sure enough, the sidestand switch was busted. I told him, "bare some of the wire and twist the ends together. Ignition on, I could hear the fuel pump energize, and it started right up. Later, I soldered the wires together and sealed it in heat shrink tubing. Its been like that since 98 and I'm riding it to this day.

If you feel you don't need the safety switch aspect of the sidestand, then you could do the same thing. Or, replace the switch. Your call.

[davidh8462]

I have a similar situation...by 1150 R will start with a neutral light but won't start in gear with the side stand up with the clutch in...I put in neutral and it starts up?
Is this a safety issue BMW or do have something else going on??

-Dave

[Donster]

Back in 98 I crashed my 94 R1100RS which actually fell on me in a ditch and snalled my left leg. The bike sustained very little cosmetic damage. While in the hospital my brother went to the yard where my bike was towed. While on the cell phone with him I talked him through a check and start of the bike. But it wouldn't start.

Then I told him, "look near the side stand pivot and tell me if you see any wires." Sure enough, the sidestand switch was busted. I told him, "bare some of the wire and twist the ends together. Ignition on, I could hear the fuel pump energize, and it started right up. Later, I soldered the wires together and sealed it in heat shrink tubing. Its been like that since 98 and I'm riding it to this day.

If you feel you don't need the safety switch aspect of the sidestand, then you could do the same thing. Or, replace the switch. Your call.

Would it turn over or did it behave like mine -- a completely dead starting circuit? If it wouldn't turn over, then problem solved. I can go to the dealer with this infomation in hand. The bike is still under warranty (for another 45 days), so they'll replace the switch. If it ever happens again out of warranty, I'll probably bypass the switch as you described. It has cost me a lot more in aggravation in the failure mode than it has done me good when it was working properly.

[Andy VH]

As I recall, the bike would not turn over, so it couldn't even be cranked.

Oh, and one time after I had done a clutch replacement, I accidently installed the neutral safety switch 180 degrees out of position. So I could only start the bike if I held the clutch lever in. I was able to remount the switch without removing the swingarm (I have small hands). After that I could start the bike without holding in the clutch.

[beeryboats]

get a new switch, or hotwire it at the plug so the bike "thinks" the stand is alway in the up position.

at least you were able to pinpoint the cause of the problem, thats usually the hardest part with electrical systems.


I have thought of bypassing the side stand switch more than once. I stop at the end of my very long driveway(1/5 mile?) to get the newspaper and have to shut down the bike. My Sportser would be happy to idle and wait for me to come back with the paper. Once in a while, I still come home and throw the side stand down and kill the engine:doh I may never learn.
Jay

[bikerfish1100]

I think some bikes vary as to how the sidestand safety switch operates. My '01 R1100S will start in gear with sidestand up, clutch pulled in. Will also start with sidestand down, in neutral only, clutch pulled in. If i try to pull away with sidestand down, the instant the clutch is partially released, the bike shuts down.
on my K11RS, the bike would not start or even run at all with the sidestand down. Yeah, that safety switch got bypassed.

[awagnon]

On my 2004 R1150R, the fuel pump won't go on and pressurize the system with the side stand down when you turn on the key, but will with the stand up. That might help tell if it's the side stand switch.

[BubbaZanetti]

As I recall, the bike would not turn over, so it couldn't even be cranked.

Oh, and one time after I had done a clutch replacement, I accidently installed the neutral safety switch 180 degrees out of position. So I could only start the bike if I held the clutch lever in. I was able to remount the switch without removing the swingarm (I have small hands). After that I could start the bike without holding in the clutch.

want to come do that to mine? i did exactly the same thing, haven't had a neutral light or the ability of clutchless starts all year.

[Andy VH]

Well, do like I did for a long time. Just get tused to starting the bike with the clutch lever pulled in. As for a neutral light, well I just learned to "feel" when I was in neutral.

Now that I think of it, I think I DID have to pull the swingarm to get at the neutral switch. I do know that I can change out the clutch throwout rod without pulling the swingarm, or the rear tire for that matter, but it wasn't easy.

[Donster]

On my 2004 R1150R, the fuel pump won't go on and pressurize the system with the side stand down when you turn on the key, but will with the stand up. That might help tell if it's the side stand switch.

Hmmm... Before this problem started, my 2004 R1150R would start with the sidestand down, in neutral, without touching the clutch lever. When I put it in gear with the sidestand still down, the engine stops. I think that's normal.

I have a service appointment this Saturday at the dealer. I described the bike's behavior per my OP. At least they didn't say, "that's impossible." I'll report the results.

[BubbaZanetti]

Well, do like I did for a long time. Just get tused to starting the bike with the clutch lever pulled in. As for a neutral light, well I just learned to "feel" when I was in neutral.

Now that I think of it, I think I DID have to pull the swingarm to get at the neutral switch. I do know that I can change out the clutch throwout rod without pulling the swingarm, or the rear tire for that matter, but it wasn't easy.

the S is a bit different than the others, i doubt even the tiniest of hands could change the neutral switch without yanking the swingarm (or the whole main frame, sub frame and rear driveline in one piece, as that is kind of easier on the S).

http://bubbazanetti.smugmug.com/photos/143439615-M.jpg

hahaha

[Donster]

A followup: I picked up the bike today, and the dealer's service technician said it was the combo switch, which he replaced. I guess wiggling the kickstand switch wire was coincidental. Anyway, problem solved, or so it seems...