BMW Bikes are poo - SV650.org

Bluepete · 31-03-12, 07:55 PM

I know I'm a lucky so and so that I ride a Police bike for a living, but every now and then, I hate the feckin' thing!

There I was, happily riding along the Mancunian Way (elevated dual carriageway) on the way home from the MCFC match - overtime in case you were wondering, when the blooming' thing cuts out!

It's not uncommon, the side stand switch fails, but not so suddenly and on a nasty, enclosed fast road.

I had to freewheel about 500yards with traffic backing up behind me. Bike wouldn't restart and repeated kicking of the stand didn't fettle the feckin thing.

Came to a rest on one of the access roads with cars wizzing by and me not a happy bunny.

All I can say is I'm glad I was on a liveried Police bike and the motorists did what I told them. I hate to thnk how a member of the public would have managed.

After repeated up and downing of the side stand, it came back to life and I managed to get somewhere safe. It cut out again twice on the way back in, but more accurate kicking kept it going.

It's not the first time I've had the problem, last time was just as I started a fast U turn to go after a car. The bike stopped half way around and I was left holding up 300kg of bike at 45degrees!

Just happy to be here, glad the motorists behind me were paying attention and it restarted!

The daft thing is, GMP won't keep the switch in stock, even though they fail on a regular basis, so the bike is off the road for most of the week.

Ho hum, BMW 330 it is then for a while...

Pete

Sid Squid · 31-03-12, 08:21 PM

I don't think that's completely fair - Beemers are not alone in suffering electrical problems, and anyone that had an 80-90s Kawasaki will be familiar with a sidestand switch that causes a misfire, or worse.

Kinda surprises me that as they're known to fail your firm won't keep a spare though, are the gold plated or something? Seems a waste to have a bike useless for a week for the want of quite a minor part.

maviczap · 31-03-12, 08:22 PM

phew lucky escape pete

Not a great situation to be stuck in

As a thought as could endanger your life if it failed whilst you were lent over, can't your H&S rep do anything about it?

We list something like this as a dangerous incident or near miss.

31-03-12, 08:24 PM

I feel for you mate, I had to change the siphon in my upstairs loo today, don't make stuff like they used too

Admittedly your situation could have had more serious consequences.

31-03-12, 08:26 PM

Sounds like a nightmare! Doesn't exactly put your faith in the bike now does it?

andrewsmith · 31-03-12, 08:26 PM

Lucky escape mate caused by a ****e part

The police need to be allowed to use more than BMW boxers. A mechanic described them as regular residents.

Pete, its only R12's and FJ1300's that the police are allowed to use as liveried bikes?

Bluepete · 31-03-12, 08:28 PM

Sid,

I agree that other bikes may have suffered back in the day, but these are modern bikes and from a "premium" manufacturer. I don't expect them to fail so often.

As for the stock issue, it's all about cost. Even wiper blades are ordered when needed now.

Pete

31-03-12, 08:39 PM

Just do what I did, and bypass the bloody thing. (Nobody will notice

)

On my SV I have neither clutch or side-stand switch. Both were playing up and to be honest I've never needed them on the other bikes I've owned

Fallout · 31-03-12, 08:46 PM

Is the stand switch part of an MOT? If not, I'd be tempted to circumvent it, but I suppose you don't have that choice with a force bike.

Bluepete · 31-03-12, 09:03 PM

@ posts 8&9,

We even have to use the exact recommended tyres on all vehicles, no deviation.

Imagine the elfin safety droids finding we had bypassed a manufacturer safety feature!

Pete

31-03-12, 07:55 PM	#1
Bluepete Member Mega Poster Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex motorcyclist Posts: 1,961	BMW Bikes are poo I know I'm a lucky so and so that I ride a Police bike for a living, but every now and then, I hate the feckin' thing! There I was, happily riding along the Mancunian Way (elevated dual carriageway) on the way home from the MCFC match - overtime in case you were wondering, when the blooming' thing cuts out! It's not uncommon, the side stand switch fails, but not so suddenly and on a nasty, enclosed fast road. I had to freewheel about 500yards with traffic backing up behind me. Bike wouldn't restart and repeated kicking of the stand didn't fettle the feckin thing. Came to a rest on one of the access roads with cars wizzing by and me not a happy bunny. All I can say is I'm glad I was on a liveried Police bike and the motorists did what I told them. I hate to thnk how a member of the public would have managed. After repeated up and downing of the side stand, it came back to life and I managed to get somewhere safe. It cut out again twice on the way back in, but more accurate kicking kept it going. It's not the first time I've had the problem, last time was just as I started a fast U turn to go after a car. The bike stopped half way around and I was left holding up 300kg of bike at 45degrees! Just happy to be here, glad the motorists behind me were paying attention and it restarted! The daft thing is, GMP won't keep the switch in stock, even though they fail on a regular basis, so the bike is off the road for most of the week. Ho hum, BMW 330 it is then for a while... Pete

31-03-12, 08:21 PM	#2
Sid Squid No, I don't lend tools. Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Skunk Works, Nth London Posts: 8,680	Re: BMW Bikes are poo I don't think that's completely fair - Beemers are not alone in suffering electrical problems, and anyone that had an 80-90s Kawasaki will be familiar with a sidestand switch that causes a misfire, or worse. Kinda surprises me that as they're known to fail your firm won't keep a spare though, are the gold plated or something? Seems a waste to have a bike useless for a week for the want of quite a minor part. __________________ If an SV650 has a flat tyre in the forest and no-one is there to blow it up, how long will it be 'til someone posts that the reg/rec is duff and the world will end unless a CBR unit is fitted? A little bit of knowledge = a dangerous thing. "a deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst"

31-03-12, 08:22 PM	#3
maviczap Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 9,097	Re: BMW Bikes are poo phew lucky escape pete Not a great situation to be stuck in As a thought as could endanger your life if it failed whilst you were lent over, can't your H&S rep do anything about it? We list something like this as a dangerous incident or near miss. __________________ We're riding out tonight to case the promised land Make everyday count RIP Reeder - Jolly Green Giant and comedy genius

31-03-12, 08:24 PM	#4
Bluefish Guest Posts: n/a	Re: BMW Bikes are poo I feel for you mate, I had to change the siphon in my upstairs loo today, don't make stuff like they used too Admittedly your situation could have had more serious consequences.

31-03-12, 08:26 PM	#5
missyburd Guest Posts: n/a	Re: BMW Bikes are poo Sounds like a nightmare! Doesn't exactly put your faith in the bike now does it?

31-03-12, 08:26 PM	#6
andrewsmith Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Just south of salad dodging country Posts: 7,750	Re: BMW Bikes are poo Lucky escape mate caused by a ***e part The police need to be allowed to use more than BMW boxers. A mechanic described them as regular residents. Pete, its only R12's and FJ1300's that the police are allowed to use as liveried bikes? __________________ RIP Reeder 20/07/1988 - 21/03/2012. Always missed squire!!! Every year we meet old friends, gain some new ones, lose old ones and you always remember them all. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”* Mahatma Gandhi

31-03-12, 08:28 PM	#7
Bluepete Member Mega Poster Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex motorcyclist Posts: 1,961	Re: BMW Bikes are poo Sid, I agree that other bikes may have suffered back in the day, but these are modern bikes and from a "premium" manufacturer. I don't expect them to fail so often. As for the stock issue, it's all about cost. Even wiper blades are ordered when needed now. Pete

31-03-12, 08:39 PM	#8
Destruktor77 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: BMW Bikes are poo Just do what I did, and bypass the bloody thing. (Nobody will notice ) On my SV I have neither clutch or side-stand switch. Both were playing up and to be honest I've never needed them on the other bikes I've owned

31-03-12, 08:46 PM	#9
Fallout Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Basingstoke Posts: 2,983	Re: BMW Bikes are poo Is the stand switch part of an MOT? If not, I'd be tempted to circumvent it, but I suppose you don't have that choice with a force bike. __________________ MotoGoLoco - You knows it The Shed - Suzuki GSX-R 750 K1 \| Triumph Tiger 1050 K6 Fallout Bikes (VLogs, Tutorials, Bike Vids) Fallout Breakbeat (My Music)

31-03-12, 09:03 PM	#10
Bluepete Member Mega Poster Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex motorcyclist Posts: 1,961	Re: BMW Bikes are poo @ posts 8&9, We even have to use the exact recommended tyres on all vehicles, no deviation. Imagine the elfin safety droids finding we had bypassed a manufacturer safety feature! Pete Last edited by Bluepete; 31-03-12 at 09:04 PM.

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