BMW R1200GS Adventure Broken Side Stand Switch

[@GlobeRidersLLC]

It is called empowering. The more you know, the better prepared you will be. Trust me you will never know it all and some of the most adventures people that I have ever met did not know much of mechanics, Ted Simon is a good example.

[@dahveed284]

Thanks for posting this. I hope this holds true for the 2013 water boxer. While I think the side stand switch is an valuable item, its great to know how to field fix it in the event of a failure. Of course this is the real benefit of working on your own bike. If you work on it in the garage, you'll have a better chance of understanding how to fix it when in the field.

[@andybishop82]

it just happened with me few days ago, this why i am here. Motorway fast lane cut power completely, nearly made disaster. Thanks for this post!

[@Pokehvid]

Thank you man. My mate dropped my bike earlier this day - I dont know why he did, but he did. After dropping it, this is exactly what happened. Stalled every time I tryed to get it in first - while starting just fine. I'll go have a look at it tomorrow and see if I can fix it - but at least I know what's wrong with it.

[@bcuzicancuellar5478]

Thanks for the tip Helge. By the way, just bought your book 10 years…can’t wait to read it. I want to ride around the world solo in a couple of years! Ride safe…

[@imagesilike]

I'm riding from Australia to Europe, and then north to south Africa next year on one of these, so that's a very handy tip to have. Thanks a lot.

[@danielver4484]

As a new owner, this is very helpful. Thank you sharing.

[@theneverman]

Thank you for posting this Helge, very good information.

[@andrewbaker5649]

I have same bike with same problem never knew why engine turned off till seen this super advice :)

[@fabienpics]

THANK YOU 👍👍👍 I HAVE THE R1200GS 2018... AND OR IS PROBABLY THE SAME SWITCH... NOW I KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THIS SWITCH BROKE... BY PASS THE SWITCH LIKE YOU DO 👍👍👍👍

[@kissi7474]

This just saved me from being stranded, not in the desert, but at work - which is almost worse…

[@MsNevadakid]

u never know! that is a lifesaver pard. ! thanks much,, .....happy trails....

[@T.Q.]

Thank you so much for the tip. I am planning on getting one of these, still not sure if to get the R1200gs or F800gs, and ride from the UK to Kenya in Africa and back. I'll definitely get it disconnected before the trip.

[@sgtpepper1138]

Did you ever make it, if so, on what bike?

[@joemendez6113]

Great tip thanks for taking your time

[@Solorider551]

Nice video. Thanks for posting !

[@OUTDOORY]

yes thanks for putting this on s this ruined our trip to Germany got to dover and the bike just would not run now my bike is in Bmw garage stood in the rain for 7 hours waiting for recovery to come out if I only new that

[@sbuschi]

Great fix :-) and great advice :-). Keep up posting :-). All the best

[@navythomas8]

Its not just the BMW my friend. My KLR has let me down 3 times. I now own a BMW Sertao. I need to find that SOB and short it!!

[@scotthaskins9175]

Great tip, Leatherman will be out tomorrow! Cheers!

[@serviciotecnicoapc5246]

White and Red ...Thank You friend ... I have a BMW 650 whit a same problem ..

[@GlobeRidersLLC]

This has nothing to do with the bike not starting on the side stand. It starts perfectly on the side stand, just have it in neutral gear. It is a safety feature so you do not accidentally start riding down the road with the side stand out.

[@johnnytocino9313]

I think I have the same problem but no damage. When I try to click in first gear with kickstand up as it should be and I have clutch engaged bike stalls. Some told me faulty kickstand switch.

[@lindmill85]

Awesome knowledge to have, thank you

[@elingauer]

Just happened to me in st george this weekend from a stupid little tip over! I was stranded because of not knowing this trail fix

[@jezbarnes583]

Really great tip, thanks!

[@pitg1318]

GREAT INFO!!!

[@mjerse50]

Awesome thank you very much Sir ✅🌈

[@C_R_O_M________]

I would suggest a carbon fiber (+kevlar) part for protection. You can easily fabricate one for yourself as I did for my 990R (the whole bashplate). It should need just a small piece with negligible weight that could (I'm just brainstorming here) be tied up with tire ups...cheers...

[@KevMalakian]

How I can reset the ABS of a BMW R1150GS in an easy way? I'm new in this world and the bike I just bought has that problem... I hope you can help me out to resolve my problem.

[@chrismorris5531]

This is great info and will most likely save a lot of us a long walk at some point. Do you know if this fix is the same on the F800GS?

[@helgepedersen877]

#chrismorris I have no experience with the F800GS bikes in this reagard, but since it is a BMW I would expect that the wiring is the same on all of the side stand switches.

[@chrismorris5531]

@@helgepedersen877 Well I have a feeling this bit knowledge will save me a long walk someday...Thanks again!

[@davids4795]

Excellent. Thank you!

[@lsi624]

How did you do that fancy ink effect at the beginning of your video?

[@70epictetus]

Great tip indeed, thank you.

[@shakey2634]

Rode for 40 years before I had a bike with a side stand safety switch.

[@shakey2634]

So… bike dies, won’t crank….how do you diagnose it’s the side stand safety switch vs say the starter/cutout switch?

[@helgepedersen877]

@shakey2634 If you have a broken side stand switch the bike will start as long as you have the clutch lever inn. While bike is running, letting out the clutch lever and bike is in neutral it will die if the side stand switch is broken. Another good thing to know is that the clutch lever has two micro switches. If you listen carefully without having the engine running, you will hear a little click as you start to pull on the clutch lever and a second click almost at the end of the pull of the clutch lever. The second micro switch tells the starter that it is OK to start the engine confirming that you have the clutch lever all the way inn. Hope this helps and happy riding to you.

[@shakey2634]

@@helgepedersen877 Thanks for the reply. I understand your explanation if the bike will start. If it doesn’t crank at all is the question. How to differentiate between the clutch lever switch you mentioned, the side stand switch, bad starter switch etc.?

[@leonardhawkins6047]

Thanks for the tip

[@rei67momo]

Thank you so much!!

[@warinthierry4578]

thank you very much good!!!!!

[@abrahamabisambra3236]

Thanks good tip

[@JEH-1020]

This happened to me yesterday on my 2007 GSA.

[@deangelohatten9987]

i have 3 wires 2 green 1 yellow idk what to do

[@RBBarry]

Couldn't really see which wires to get hold of. Assume they must be the only ones in the area.

[@sgtpepper1138]

They had this problem on The Long Way Down (iirc), and I think all the wires were in one sheath, and they twisted them all together and taped them.

[@plaid13]

These things seem like bad ideas on bikes ment to go off road. Anything that is ment to go off road should be kept as simple as possible and stuff that can break should be designed to break in a way that dosnt stop progress. For example if this thing gets smashed it should be like its not even there.

[@450hp202turbo]

i thought Germans were smarter then this , lol Adventure bike with a exposed switch subject to rock damage ,with no cover plate , GOOD ONE BMW !

[@kss6594]

You should make a deal before you buy the bike that for every technical loopholes all the BMW engineers should be given 50 Whiplash on thier ass.

[@martinfretwell]

shit idea this ruined our trip bmw over the top electrionics no good if over the top

[@GlobeRidersLLC]

I think a BMW dealer is your only help. they have the computer to reset the ABS.

[@reellosersfishing2.02]

Would this work on a 2002 R1150gs Adventure? I was stuck at a light wishing I wouldn't get rearended!

[@helgepedersen877]

Yes

[@reellosersfishing2.02]

Helge Pedersen thanks for the reply, ride safe!

[@reneweisz9157]

Hmm I just watch a video (also 1200 GS) where the red and white splice didn't work and she then spliced the white and tan and it worked. This is kind of confusing :) But definitely great information. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6vIo3l6j9arj80

[@GlobeRidersLLC]

#reneweisz For the record my bike was a BMW R1200GSA 2009 model USA. What she is using in the video is R1200GS and I assume that he is from UK listening to her voice. I do see your point as she is shorting the white and brown wire, while I shorten red and brown. That is confusing, but I also notice that her bike has a very different hideout for this switch compared to US models. When I have some time I will test this on my water-cooled BMW R1200GSA also US model and see what I learn from that. Regardless if one of the combinations do not work go for the other and you will succeed. Thanks for the question and let me know if you find out what works for you.

[@reneweisz9157]

@@GlobeRidersLLC Thank you for your time and safe riding :)

[@thurstonhowelliii9501]

@@GlobeRidersLLCFYI... In your video you stated that you shorted the red and the white wires. In your reply to #reneweisz you stated that you shorted red and brown wires.

[@helgepedersen877]

@@thurstonhowelliii9501 You are correct, my bad. Since then I have now learned that you can just shortcut all of them and you are good to go. Wish i had known that at the time as this makes it very easy. I also like to say that these days I always have the Touratech protector plate specially made to protect the side stand switch and since that time I have never again broken a side stand switch. thanks again for your observation.

[@thurstonhowelliii9501]

@@helgepedersen877Thank you for your response. Good to know you can just short all three wires together. Im glad to hear you have added the extra protection. Safe travels my man.

[@MuresanVladvlady]

buying a honda

[@tamagochiguanatos]

There is nothing better than a honda !!last forever they aren't sisy in the road!