BeninSC
New member
2023 BMW R18B here. I was out riding last weekend when I had a strange issue come up. I'd been riding straight for about 2 hrs when I pulled over to run into a store to pick up some items. I put the bike in 1st gear (on a slight incline) and turned off the bike. When I returned to the bike, I powered up, put the bike in neutral, lifted the kickstand, and started the bike. It acted normal and gave no sign of trouble. However, when I would put in gear, it immediately turned off. I tried it 3 times before I put back down the kickstand and got off the bike and started looking for any issue that could create the problem. Nothing appeared to be out of order. I got back on the bike raised and lowered the kickstand a few times thinking there could be an issue with the sensor that tells the bike the kickstand is down. I powered back up and this time I got a warning on the screen. "Fault in the engine control. Onward journey possible. Ride carefully to next specialist workshop." Unfortunately, that wasn't exactly true, as I wasn't able to get into gear without the engine turning back off.
I called the Dealer where I purchased the bike and told them what was going on and asked if there was a "limp mode" that would bypass the sensor and allow me to get the bike home. There's not as the kickstand issue is a safety feature and can't be disabled. I called roadside assistance but they couldn't locate an acceptable towing company as it was a Saturday, and apparently their approved vendors only work Monday through Friday. Long story shorter, after multiple conversations with the mgr of the business I was broken down at, I was told it would be ok to leave the bike overnight, but would need to have it removed by the end of day the next day or they would have it towed. Ended up having it towed 90 miles to the dealer on my own. Hopefully, BMW will reimburse me as they couldn't locate a towing service but I could.
As of this past Tuesday, (Dealer is only open Tuesday through Saturday) it's been at my dealership with no word as to what the issue could be. I was hoping to have it back sooner than later as I had planned to go to Bike Week in Myrtle Beach for the first time this upcoming week. Here's to it being a simple issue and unlikely to happen again, at least that's my prayer.
Just wondering if anyone has come across this issue before. Unfortunately, this has made me think twice about all the electronics and cool features of this bike. When something goes sideways, there may not be an easy solution. It also makes me wish I kept my Honda as a secondary bike, it was bare bones, but never gave me a single issue in 4 years.
I called the Dealer where I purchased the bike and told them what was going on and asked if there was a "limp mode" that would bypass the sensor and allow me to get the bike home. There's not as the kickstand issue is a safety feature and can't be disabled. I called roadside assistance but they couldn't locate an acceptable towing company as it was a Saturday, and apparently their approved vendors only work Monday through Friday. Long story shorter, after multiple conversations with the mgr of the business I was broken down at, I was told it would be ok to leave the bike overnight, but would need to have it removed by the end of day the next day or they would have it towed. Ended up having it towed 90 miles to the dealer on my own. Hopefully, BMW will reimburse me as they couldn't locate a towing service but I could.
As of this past Tuesday, (Dealer is only open Tuesday through Saturday) it's been at my dealership with no word as to what the issue could be. I was hoping to have it back sooner than later as I had planned to go to Bike Week in Myrtle Beach for the first time this upcoming week. Here's to it being a simple issue and unlikely to happen again, at least that's my prayer.
Just wondering if anyone has come across this issue before. Unfortunately, this has made me think twice about all the electronics and cool features of this bike. When something goes sideways, there may not be an easy solution. It also makes me wish I kept my Honda as a secondary bike, it was bare bones, but never gave me a single issue in 4 years.