Startup procedure

[Aslan]

Since I am new to owning a R1150R or a BMW for that matter (had Yamaha cruiser...I'm much happier with the BMW!!)...I have a question about startup and need some advice.

I read the manual and it gave the choke procedure and to ride off (not let the motorbike idle). On my crusier, I could just let it set and warm up then ride off. In the manual...it tells me to avoid that basically. So I start to ride with the cold start choke lever in the middle position. As I ride down the block and switch gears, the choke goes down to the normal riding position (automatically). Then, when I down shift and stop (for stop sign, etc), the engine then kicks off and I have to put the choke back in the middle position until I get going again. Any recommendations? Is this acting correctly?

Thanks!

[bransan]

The reason You don't want to let it warm up, is on account of it being, AIR COOLED. It doesn't take long for the cylinders to reach maximum allowable temperature. The choke is actually a cable holding the throttle open a little, when it's cold don't rapidly operate the throttle. Quickly opening and closing the throttle when cold will cause the results You are experiencing. The enrichment lever,(choke lever), doesn't return on it's own on My bike. I have always had to return the lever to normal position manually. When I bought My first BMW 2 wheeler, the dealer said start it, and ride off. This is normal. Good luck with Your new friend.

[towerworker]

The "choke" lever as many call it has a "first" detente position that you have to manually return to normal after the engine runs for a bit. The second position is spring loaded and you have to manually hold it there to advance the idle a bit more. I pull mine up and hold it there and thumb the starter. After the engine starts I let it run there for maybe 5 seconds and let it drop down to the first position. I let it run maybe another 5 seconds and drop it in gear and pull off. After a minute or two of riding (depending on the ambient temp) I thumb the idle lever back to normal and enjoy the ride.

Wayne

[duckdave]

My "throttle enhancement" lever also "automatically" kicks off with early throttle activity. To escape my house, I have to launch up a steep, but short driveway. I've been doing it almost daily for about 2 years, and I'm starting to get the hang of it. Sometimes (perhaps usually) the lever will escape it's detent position (first position) as I crest the driveway-street stopping point, and occasionally this will cause an awkward stall, Then, a tricky little hand game ensues to re-apply the enrichment, maintain brake and balance, and maneuver thumb over the ignition (don't forget to look both ways for traffic).

I suspect the "automatic" nature of this event is a fault, not a feature as it rarely self-cancels any other time. It seems to require a precise combination of throttle on-throttle off and load to trigger the lever off. If I could figure a way to keep this from happening, I would. But it rarely otherwise causes a problem---other than that first maneuver of the day.

[tkm]

The fast idle lever is by no means a perfect system but its what we've got on a "cold blooded" bike. On really cold days I will fire the bike up on full "choke" then ride a half mile or so with the fast idle lever in the middle position by which time the engine is up to normal operating temperature and no longer needs the help. Something to watch out for is the fast idle cable getting hung up somewhere and either not engaging the fast idle at all or staying engaged creating an overly rich running condition leading to plug fouling, I've experienced both. A little WD 40 or some such on the levers and cable once in a while seem to prevent this problem from occurring.

[Boxer]

Dave, that automatic feature has got to be actuated down in the cable junction box. Next time you change out your cables, just replace your box with one designated for an older R1150R. That should fix that automagic thing.

[Aslan]

Every time the choke is the the middle position and I change gears, it goes down. Kind of frustrating...ends up stalling if I stop. I will have to get my mechanic to look at it.

[CycleRob]

It's NOT a choke. It's only a fast idle lever. It does not change the mixture, the Motronic (computer) does that.

You can use the fast idle feature anytime you need it for as long as you need it to prevent (cold engine) stalling. For newbies, putting it on the low detent allows them to make very smooth hot engine upshifts. Then you can use the part way off throttle concept to shift smoothly without the "training wheels" function the fast idle lever served.

.