R1150GS dies 20 seconds after startup

[Pedro Rocha]

Hello,

My bike is a R1150GS and has developed a weird behaviour over the last few days.

I ran it almost dry, and decided to fill up with 98 octane fuel to see if I felt any difference, out of curiosity.

Right after filling up, it died about 20 seconds after I started it, while the bike was already slightly warm and already moving on to second gear.

Since then, whenever I start the engine (already warm after a lunch break or cold) it dies about 15 to 30 seconds after. (Usually while I´m still not moving but the iddle is normal right up until it dies) After it dies and I take no action I can hear the fuel pump priming itself just like I have just switched the bike off and back on myself.
A few seconds later, it will start just fine and run as normal. While if I try to restart it immediately after it dies it will not start.
I feel no loss of power or smoothness whatsoever.

I still have only done about 150km on this tank, but the fuel is from a reputable good fuel station and brand.

I have the feeling it might be something electrical since it runs as normal. Can anyone help me figure this out?

[johnnail]

piece of plastic, or some dirt in the tank from the fill up?

[Pedro Rocha]

I didn´t consider dirt because it stops as if I turned the key off, and once it starts for the second time it starts and rides perfectly normal.

[*Touring Ted*]

You can hear the pump re-priming itself....

Do your electrics (ignition) or lights go off ??

If it's cutting out then re-priming I think you probably have a fault in your fuel pump or the fuel relay.


I would check the fuel pump relay first as it's the easiest and cheapest thing to try.

[Pedro Rocha]

I switched the relays around yesterday, and the problem continued, it didn´t start at all. This morning, without changing anything, it started normally, and rode normally to my mechanic´s shop, with me switching it off and back on 3 times in the process.

Then, after I arrived, it wouldn´t start again.

Left it there, and he just called me saying the culprit is the crankshaft sensor.

Couldn´t have been a cheap relay or a loose ground wire, obviously.

[*Touring Ted*]

That sensor is a common fault. Every 1150 rider should carry a spare. I was going to suggest that but the way you described it suggested fuel pump priming. Anyway.. Glad its diagnosed.

[Pedro Rocha]

I assume they fail more from age than mileage? Can one be pretty much confident a new one will go for 5 or 6 years without risk?

[docsherlock]

Originally Posted by Pedro Rocha

I assume they fail more from age than mileage? Can one be pretty much confident a new one will go for 5 or 6 years without risk?

Some are just duff; the CPS on my mate's 650 V-Strom failed at about 1000 miles; exact same symptoms as your bike. Suzuki sent out a field engineer to double check the shop's diagnosis as it was such a rare event on that bike. No fault showing on the dashboard fault indicator, either (although the diagnostic computer picked it).

[*Touring Ted*]

I wouldn't like to put a time on it... Just always have a spare.