Starting difficulty

[Anibal]

For whatever it is worth ... I have never used the 'Kill' aka 'Emergency' switch, only the black on/off button ... I also have never ever used a trickle charger ... I do plug the bike into a good ol' fashioned charger when I use my GS-911 and had no starting problems because of this ... not that I can tell ... I seem to have to push the starter button multiple times once a year, usually when the weather changes and then I reset the 'Learned Values' and the problem goes away until (at least to my observation) the weather changes again (major season change, not short term change) ... but maybe that is just me

Same. I never leave the bike plugged to the charger but then again, I use my bike daily. I will only top her up if I spent more than 2 weeks without using her, which may happen during winter or when I am away on holidays.
Then again, it is all down to personal preferences.

 

[Mac]

I had a good conversation with a BMW tech a few years ago on this subject. He described the red kill switch is the same as using the mains plug switch to turn off your computer. Without the correct shut down sequence you take pot luck next time you start. The Power button uses the pre programmed ECU shut down procedure to quote. I have taken it this is why BMW state the red kill switch is for emergencies. I have only had my R18 for a few days but I remember on a previous KTM 1290 this same subject coming up and KTM were telling people that their starting issues were because they were using the kill switch. On that bike you would hear things reset after using the power button but not when using the red kill button. As most of these systems are all manufactured by the same company and computer control is now a core part of the bike I will use the Power button, especially as ecu’s can log so much these days and I do not want any excuse from a manufacturer saying I didn’t follow the manual.

 

[Anibal]

Thank you for sharing.

 

[Ct Ed]

thats interesting.
Mine has done the same since Ive had it, I mentioned it to the dealer mechanic when in for the reverse recall, and he said he could not find the issue.
Ill pay attention to how I shut it off tomorrow on my ride to work.

 

[Jgraf0107]

I have found that even right off the charger, if my lights are on because I forgot to turn them off, (and I ride with high beam on during daylight), then it will be sluggish. Turn all the lights off and she roars to life.

I have all my light on including hi beam, an no problem. I have always used the red kill switch then wait a little while ie get off the bike remove my helmet then turn the bike off. Only time I had any problem is right before my battery died.

 

[Ct Ed]

it worked.
After work I turned power on, hit the start switch and it fired right up. Twice more then, after gassing up, and then when I got home, turned power off to open the garage ('21 FE), thanks for solving this!

 

[Anibal]

Amazing, thank you for sharing your feedback.

 

[MN246]

I thought I'd provide an update on my experience with this issue. Obviously this is not scientific, but since I posted this and read the first few replies, I've started shutting off my bike with the red kill button and then powering down everything with the black power button.

Anyways, the bike was failing to start on the first crank about 75% of the time before I started killing the motor this way. I've ridden it about 20 times this past week and using the new process it starts immediately on the first crank every time. The problem hasn't reoccurred at all.

I don't know if the ECU has an ordered shutdown process, but I know BMW does do that with their cars. My 3 series sedan would stop the motor with a cylinder at TDC under compression when the auto start feature was used. When it restarted, instead of using the starter it would just fire that cylinder to turn the motor over. We'll see if the issue comes back, but I'll go with what's working for the time being.

 

[kate_brett]

Hopefully this approach continues to rectify your issues. I utilise both options and have had no issues starting on first crank 100% of time. Since purchasing a LiFePO4 battery over 12 months ago , no starting issues. Bike is ridden once a week and have not used Optimate lithium charger once.

 

[vwjedi]

Just to add my own experience.

I was having this problem too but only after long periods of traffic and the bike was hot. I'd park shut the bike off for an errand and when I got back on it would be super hard starting. I did some research and swapped to a lithium battery so there wouldn't be any internal plates to be affected by heat and now the thing fires up like a beast every time.

Could have been a number of reasons for me but it was like night and day.

 

[Star-Lord]

I will most likely look into going with a Li battery, when it comes time to swap out my original AGM battery...

The reduction in weight alone seems like a good idea; I just need to check whether or not the extreme cold temperatures during the Winter months will be a problem for the Li battery

 

[kate_brett]

I will most likely look into going with a Li battery, when it comes time to swap out my original AGM battery...

The reduction in weight alone seems like a good idea; I just need to check whether or not the extreme cold temperatures during the Winter months will be a problem for the Li battery

Minus 7kg.

 

[MN246]

I just replaced the battery about two months ago. I thought about going with a lithium battery, but didn't want to have the additional fire risk. I will say, the starting issues began before I replaced the battery and continued after. The times that it wouldn't start were never from the battery being weak. The bike cranked fine, it just wouldn't fire on the first attempt no matter how long I cranked it. On the second try, it would fire up immediately. It always seemed like the ignition system was disabled.

 

[Rider0974]

Have you checked the condition of the fuses, the few electrical gremlins I've had
have been down to the fuse contacts becoming dirty due to being exposed to
the elements.

 

[Star-Lord]

How about fresh fuel...?

I haven't deviated from my normal routine as described earlier:

1. Shut the engine down with the "Emergency Red" switch
2. Power down the bike & stereo with the small Black Power button
3. Put the bike on the KERN-STABI stand
4. Check the Oil Level
5. Connect the trickle charger after each ride

Tinker on the bike, in preparation for my next ride

 

[rrm]

Lately, my bike (2022 bagger) will crank but not start occasionally. It so far has always started immediately on the second attempt. I've never had any issues with the bike except for recently having to replace the battery. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Hello, try pushing kill switch to start making sure its not in the kill position, then turn on power button bike starts up fine ,kill switch is probably the cause of harder starting .

 

[rrm]

Lately, my bike (2022 bagger) will crank but not start occasionally. It so far has always started immediately on the second attempt. I've never had any issues with the bike except for recently having to replace the battery. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Petrus]

There is a third way to cut out the engine by using a geriatric fail safe and kick out the side stand when still in gear... Don´t ask because I forgot how I know

 

[rrm]

Lately, my bike (2022 bagger) will crank but not start occasionally. It so far has always started immediately on the second attempt. I've never had any issues with the bike except for recently having to replace the battery. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Lately, my bike (2022 bagger) will crank but not start occasionally. It so far has always started immediately on the second attempt. I've never had any issues with the bike except for recently having to replace the battery. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[AV8OR]

The BMW brain trust in Spandau probably has some esoteric electrical engineering reason for using the power button to stop the engine, but to me this is utterly fricking stupid. I have been a professional military and civilian airline pilot instructor for most of my career. Instructional pedagogy stresses a learning principal ("law of learning" according to the behaviorists) of first learned best learned. Automobiles I have driven (VW, Chevrolet, Lexus, BMW, Porsche, Audi, Dodge and Jeep) and myriad aircraft I have flown, (Cessna, Piper, Beech, Canadair, Boeing, Pilatus, Airbus, Lockheed, and Dehavilland), all TURN OFF EXACTLY THE WAY THEY TURN ON. If one never uses the emergency shut-off button, it is, in my opinion, highly unlikely any person will be able to remember to use it in an emergency as this has never been practiced. This pertains to another "law of learning", the law of exercise which invokes the concept of regular practice of an action, or series of actions, to achieve a fluency which will eventually become second nature. One commits the action without having to think about it. In addition, the law of recency overlaps, in that when one has performed actions recently, they are more likely to be performed correctly. Thus, practice makes perfect. Two buttons, one to be used all the time, the other in an "emergency" is not consistent with any solid modern design or ergonomic principles. So endeth the rant.