BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

I am having an interesting starting issue.  My bike will not start if it is in gear even with the kickstand up.  It has to be in neutral.  I can start it in neutral with the kickstand down, then raise it and put the bike in gear.  Any ideas?

P.K.


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What bike have you got?

pkpilot wrote: I am having an interesting starting issue.  My bike will not start if it is in gear even with the kickstand up.  It has to be in neutral.  I can start it in neutral with the kickstand down, then raise it and put the bike in gear.  Any ideas?

P.K.


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So If you pull the clutch lever in - with it in gear - will it start?

Sounds like the clutch microswitch playing up - it should start in gear, sidestand up, clutch pulled in. The switch sometimes fails, but more often than not its caked in road crap and just needs a good clean. A good squirt of contact cleaner into the switch might sort it, although the problem may return. I'd take the switch out and give it a really good clean-up. Be careful - there's a plastic pin that the switch pivots on, it looks like a small drawing pin (thumb tack) - it's very easy to lose it, and it's not available on its own, you'd need to buy a complete switch. My last switch-clean took all of 2 mins....then 45 mins rooting around in the pebbles on the drive to find the bloody pin!!  :eek:
Pete

bandytales wrote:
So If you pull the clutch lever in - with it in gear - will it start?

Nope. Has to be in neutral. It will start in neutral with the clutch in or out.


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milleplod wrote: Sounds like the clutch microswitch playing up - it should start in gear, sidestand up, clutch pulled in. The switch sometimes fails, but more often than not its caked in road crap and just needs a good clean. A good squirt of contact cleaner into the switch might sort it, although the problem may return. I'd take the switch out and give it a really good clean-up. Be careful - there's a plastic pin that the switch pivots on, it looks like a small drawing pin (thumb tack) - it's very easy to lose it, and it's not available on its own, you'd need to buy a complete switch. My last switch-clean took all of 2 mins....then 45 mins rooting around in the pebbles on the drive to find the bloody pin!!  :eek:
Pete

Great idea.  Where exactly is that switch?  A photo would be appreciated!!



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Here you go, on a GS but the same -

https://advrider.com/f/threads/pictorial-r1200gs-clutch-switch-adjustment-no-start-in-gear.376181/
Pete

Had a similar problem in my 2015 R1200RT LC.


Tried just using WD40 spray on the clutch switch: Didn't work.


Removed the switch: Only one long thin tiny torks screw.


Disengaged the switch from the cable.


Thoroughly cleaned it with only WD40 spray liberally sprayed into and all over the switch.


Cleaned the housing where the switch is placed normally: It was foul. It's incredible how much grime can accumulate in such a tiny space.


Put the switch back in place.


Motorcycle now starts when in gear if the clutch is pulled fully in.


The clutch switch is actually a double switch on this motorcycle: One switch indicates the lever is fully disengaged. The second switch indicates the lever is fully engaged. Very thorough. One of the two was stuck.
Although one of the two micro-switches was actually malfunctioning, you could still hear the click from both. Don't be fooled: Even if you can hear the click for each of the two switches, one or both may not actually be operational.
Easy five minute repair.


Now I can respond fast when I end up stalling the bike in traffic. Very important.


Hope this is of help to others.


Happy riding.