Coincidence or Stuff Up

New rear tyre on the BMW K1200R yesterday and rode it straight home (
looking back I think it sounded funny when it started ). Today ready to
scrub the tyre in and the bike really sounded funny when started so turned
it off and then it wouldnt turn back on. Dead as a doornail or whatever .
Anyway being too lazy to walk back into my flat and get the riders manual I
took a cover on the petrol tank off and there was the battery ( thought
fuses might have being there ) and the right terminal was very loose so
tightened that up and no problems ( well for a little while ). Bike started
and went ok .

Now would they disconnect the battery terminal when changing a tyre ?

Anyway after a 100k quick trip went to the local shops and when about half
way home noticed the general warning light on and a strange symbol appeared
in the multifunction display which turned out to be the engine electronics
symbol and it means it has diagnosed a fault which one would assume would
have being caused by the battery terminal coming loose.

Anyway the afternoon ride is now cancelled and come Monday its the bike back
to the bikeshop.

Will_S ( $318 worse off and unable to ride the fucker )

 

I find it odd they would disconnect the battery to change a tyre.
they'd have to almost remove the petrol tank just to get to my battery.
I've seen them replace the reat of my tyre takes all of 20 minutes to
remove and replace.
undo the brake caliper, 4 wheel nuts, remove wheel, remove tyre, put
on new tyre, balance, put wheel back on tighten up the 4 bolts then bolt
on the brak caliper again.
Nope can't see where the battery removal would come into it.

 

Sounds like the computer has been fried and it is running on default limp
home mode, should only cost $3-4,000 for a new computer

Boxer

 

The more likely scenario is that the terminal vibrated loose over time.

Shaun

 

thankfully its under warranty

 

Cant see it myself but no problems up to then....maybe just a coincidence
but in over 30 years ok bikes and cars have never seen a terminal come loose
by itself

also took over a hour to do and think they unbolted the exhaust system from
the rear

 

That is good news.

Boxer

 

why not ?

Its not something you would expect to check daily especially as it is under
a cover that you need to remove 3 screws that have a different head then
normal. I would assume that it wasnt put on correctly in the 1st place .
Like I have said elsewhere I have never seen a terminal cable come loose in
30 years.

 

If the bike is fitted with an alarm and/or immobiliser that would be the
easiest way of isolating it. So they might do that as a matter of
course, whether an alarm is really fitted or not.

I've had something similar appear in the Volvo a couple of times.
Turning the ignition off, waiting, then turning it back on again got rid
of it. Is this fault light of yours persistent?

 

has an alarm but they had the keys

well took it out a hour later and it came on so its leave it alone until
Monday.

 

Best you do that because if you disconnect the battery and get rid of
the memory all fault codes will reset themselves.
Although if you do ride it the faults may become more apparent.
Have you checked the wires that connect to your oxygen sensor are on
properly since you said they removed the exhaust?
Also check any other wires that connect to sensors near the shaft.
Whatever you do don't disconnect the battery or the fault codes will be
purged.

 

If you google for the fault codes and how to retrieve them you might be
able to find exactly what it's trying to tell you. Might be something
completely unrelated. What does the owner's manual say about the light?

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

Had a similar experience when my 3mth old 'bird stopped dead in it's tracks.
Loose battery terminal wasn't allowing enough charge through to keep battery
from going flat. Lucky no damage done to electrics in this case tho.
(bloody hard to push any distance...)
S.

 

Wont even be going near the bloody thing. Had a quick look at the oxygen
sensor on the exhaust and it appeared ok but who knows.........

I notice in the manual it says after connecting the battery to fully open
the throttle once or twice and the engine management system registers the
throttle valve postion

In a bit over 2 weeks its off to the Gold Coast bike week with a group of
mostly Harley's so I just hope its a minor hiccup

 

electronics symbol and it means it has diagnosed a fault and you can
continue to ride but the usual engine power might not be there and to have
the fault rectified ASAP

since the loose terminal had the same result as disconnecting the battery it
says short circuit can happen if connected in the wrong sequence and I
notice in the manual it says after connecting the battery to fully open the
throttle once or twice and the engine management system registers the
throttle valve postion


btw: I did about 100k's before the fault happened

 

shit yes.... how embarrassing if a Beemer crapped itself while a bunch of
Harleys kept going..... how would you ever live THAT down!

betty <evil grin>

 

so why cancel the ride ?

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

oh you evil bitch

what makes it worse is that I rubbish the shit out of them, every ride I
enquire who is driving the breakdown vehicle

 

you can continue to ride but bear in mind that the usual engine power might
not be available

look I am not sure on what damage may happen or may not happen

 

If they system is smart enough to know that there is a problem, and it
will continue to operate, but may drop power, then surely if would shut
down the system entirely if it detected a problem which may cause damage.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX