K1100LT side stand switch

[dzimbric]

I just brought my new to me '96 K1100LT home and found the bike will not run on the side stand. My '04 1150 RT would run on the side stand but would kill the motor if you put it in gear with the side stand down. My K100LT will also run when placed on the side stand.

Can you disable the side stand switch on the K1100LT so it will run on the side stand but still make it kill the bike f you try to put it in gear?

[roy]

I just brought my new to me '96 K1100LT home and found the bike will not run on the side stand. My '04 1150 RT would run on the side stand but would kill the motor if you put it in gear with the side stand down. My K100LT will also run when placed on the side stand.

Can you disable the side stand switch on the K1100LT so it will run on the side stand but still make it kill the bike f you try to put it in gear?

From my feeble memory banks. I test drove a K1100LT before finally buying my K1200LT and I believe it ran fine on the side stand. I know both of my K-bikes will start and run on the side stand.

Hopefully one of the Gurus will respond with a more definite answer.

Roy

[rmarkr]

Can you disable the side stand switch on the K1100LT so it will run on the side stand but still make it kill the bike f you try to put it in gear?

When I got my bike I felt a little offended that it needed to be idiot-proofed. (I'm not always an idiot) It also cost me by trying to start it with the side stand down, or by deploying the stand when coming to a stop and forgetting to turn off the ignition. You'll learn to live with it, and remember to check it if the bike won't start. It is also a good emergency kill switch when the throttle end of the bars is stuck in the mud.
The switch can be disabled by inserting a jumper across the connector near the coolant reservoir.
:)

[jpberens43639]

Unless altered, all K1100's RS & LT will not run or start with the side stand down.
I OFTEN run my 93 RS with that down, mailing a letter, dropping off a video, ect.

I did this, takes like 5 minutes, 10 if you read slow, the dealer sold it to me no problem, no questions. I got it off another site.

Bypass the K1100 Sidestand Cutout Switch
By Bruce G. Keahey
June 2000
As one who has in the past repaired far too many butchered wiring harnesses, here's how to bypass/eliminate the K1100 sidestand engine kill switch either temporarily or permanently, without altering or damaging the wiring harness. Get BMW part P/N 61-12-1-459-998, called a "contact ring".

It's actually a jumper encased in a specially designed connector that plugs into the harness, substituting for the sidestand cutout switch. It enables the engine to run while the bike is on the sidestand for diagnosis/repair. Makes defeating the sidestand switch a one minute operation, and it's completely reversible.

I keep one on the bike, zip-tied to the regular harness wire, just in case my sidestand switch fails on the road. Just remove the right side cover, unplug the sidestand switch, plug in the jumper plug, replace the side cover, start the bike, resume your ride. At about $12,the plug may seem a little pricey, but it's worth the price in convenience and wiring harness damage avoidance.

The question has been asked whether it will fit oilheads. I haven't checked, but a simple way to find out would be to park a K-bike and an oilhead side-by-side, unplug their sidestand cutout switch connectors and compare. Since the jumper plug simply replaces the part of the connector to which the sidestand switch is wired, if the connectors are identical, then the jumper plug fits both bikes.

A word of caution: Because this plug is normally for "Dealers only", so when you order it, don't you talk too much about what its purpose is or why you want it. If you do you may set off the dealer's liability/litigation alarms and encounter resistance/refusal to sell it to you. Better just find a not-too-knowledgeable parts counter person, and simply order it by the above number.

[dzimbric]

I would like it to work when the bike is in gear, don't want to remove it from the circuit completely.

[lostboy]

You'll have to build a circuit utilising a relay to get the bike to do this. I've thought about doing this, but when my bike got an aftermarket exhaust there was room to install the old sidestand/clutch linkage from pre-'91 K-Bikes.

[handyman20]

The bike will run IF it is in Neutral with the side stand down. Not in any gear with side stand down.
:dance If yours won't start in neutral with side stand down, look for bad neutral switch.

[dzimbric]

I will have to assume the neutral switch works because the neutral light comes on. The manual says if the bike won't start, check to see if the sidestand is down.

[dzimbric]

Unless altered, all K1100's RS & LT will not run or start with the side stand down.
I OFTEN run my 93 RS with that down, mailing a letter, dropping off a video, ect.

I did this, takes like 5 minutes, 10 if you read slow, the dealer sold it to me no problem, no questions. I got it off another site.

Bypass the K1100 Sidestand Cutout Switch
By Bruce G. Keahey
June 2000
As one who has in the .....

Will this disable the kill circuit if the bike is placed in gear with the side stand down?

[lostboy]

Nope.

[Dadgarlic]

An alternative use of this system is to disconnect the side stand wiring harness located on the right side of the frame and run additional wiring to a simple weatherproof switch. On my K1 I located it just out of sight on the inside of the fairing next to the right hand locking compartment. When the switch is off (open circuit) the "Kill switch" acts as a cheap anti-theft device, and the bike runs fine on the side-stand.