Bike doesn't start after refueling

[ejones]

Hello new guy here.
I have an R1250RT 2021 option 719 in blue.
Three times in the past year I have fueled up the bike only to have it not start after that.
The first time I over filled the tank past where the filler tube ends in the tank. Thought I put too much fuel in but by then I had done it before with no issues.
The second time I accidentally did the same the think but it wasn't that much higher just a quick squirt but the same result.
This last time was a week ago and I carefully topped off with room to spare.
Each time I followed the tip found on youtube after the first time and suggested by riding buddies. Disconnect the battery and wait 20 to 30 minutes.
Both previous times it worked but this time nope.
I reconnected the battery and this time no TFT display and no starting.
The dealer has it and so far they have reported that the starter switch was defective.
They will recreate the steps of refueling and let me know what they find out.
Anyone else have a similar tale of woe?

ej

[Randyjaco]

That is really strange. I have modified the filler tube to take more gas and have overfilled my tank numerous times and never had any issues. (Although there are potential issues with the carbon filter, if one is not careful.) I will be interested in what you find out.

[ejones]

So far they have discovered a starter / ignition issue which they are replacing. They will then attempt to recreate the steps. I agree that it is odd. Wouldn’t think that filling the tank would cause a no start issue.

[simbo]

I've known this problem on couple of RT friends bikes, they ride to the meeting point for the day out and refuel their bikes only to find they won't start after refuelling. Both times it was due to a bad cell in the battery.

[Capt Sisko]

I had exactly this same problem not long after I got my '18 R1250RT in early '22. The bike would start at home just fine but sometimes, more often than not after I'd refuelled on the way out (but not always) the bike would act like it had a flat battery. Leave it for a bit and it'd start like there'd never been anything wrong, (you could bump start it, but It never happened anywhere where I had the option to jump start), however afterwards there were always a couple of tell tale signs something had gone wrong. The centre logo (on the dials model) reverted to 'RT' instead of the speed and the gear shift indicator had to be switched back on.

I read up on the net and it's a known but not really that common a fault. The general consensus of opinion was that the OEM battery wasn't that good in the first place and was probably on the way out. This made sense for my bike as it had stood unused for at least 6 (winter) months which had probably weakened the battery. I put in a new (and slightly larger capacity battery) and the problem has never happened again!

The battery I installed was Yuasa YTX20CH-BS which as well as having a higher amp hour rating has a higher CCA rating 270A. I figure a large capacity, high compression twin needs all the help it can get when turning over and the higher the CCA rating the better. I'll admit it's a tight fit, but it does fit and I've haven’t had the problem happen since, (now 2 1/2yrs). Again please note my is the earlier dial RT not the later TFT model so the batteries my be different, but the principle of having more oomph at start up still isn't a bad one.

EDIT:- I was also told the starter relay could be the problem, even bought a new one, but the new battery fixed it and I have a genuine BMW R1250RT Starter Relay in the 'I'll keep that just in case' box should I or someone in the forums I'm on ever need one (going cheap).

[ejones]

Thanks for the information. So I got the bike back last Monday the 11th. Comedy of errors or annoyances if you will. I have the option 719 and this model has the button above the starter and mode select switches so you can lock/unlock your side cases and dash cubbies. When I got the bike back, they brought it to the house on a flatbed, I kept wondering what was wrong with the handlebars. I found out when I went to open the pannier and I couldn't. Oh let me unlock it but that didn't work. Then "AH HA!, hey why is this button missing? Oh we put on the wrong cover. The guy said let me go back and get it it will take XX minutes. I said no I'll meet you at the shop because I wanted to ride anyway. So for those with this option beware if you have your started switch changed and you can't open the case.
So that leads into the fix, they put in a new starter switch because it had some issue, they put in a new fuse because the original one was blown, no doubt probably due to me reconnecting the battery and I got some sparks. They swapped the battery because it was considered weak. The bike starts like a champ. With this new battery and starter it appears the bike starts quicker, similar to when I first got it. Or maybe it's just the suggestion in my head but they did the annual maintenance.
1. Oil/oil filter
2. transmission fluid
3. coolant
4. brake and clutch replacing brake pads etc.
5. New battery ( they said the old one was weak but the tow truck measured it to 12.4V)
6. New tires, (damn expensive for the first set quoted so I went with the same OEMs I had on there)
It rides so nice now I rode to work every day except Friday and went on a loop ride to Tokyo.
About 2 hours and the tank is now just below half.
Having read your posts maybe it is/was the battery.
I planned to take the bike to a gas station near the shop so if it doesn't start I can walk the 500m and tell them come fix it, hahaha.
So I'm feeling better going forward but we shall see what happens over the next couple of months.
Trying to get more riding in while the weather is nice.

[Mart UK]

I had the same problem on a 2019 GS. A new battery didn't solve it. In the end, I just carried a mid sized 'NOCO' jump start / booster pack around with me, which I used a couple of times.

It would only happen the first re-start of the day, up to 20 miles from home, usually in cooler temps. It felt like the motor had too much compression for the starter system and it would shut down until boosted.

I will carry the booster pack with me on my RT, just in case.