BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

I picked up a brand new 05 r1150r this weekend. I absolutely love it! I can't wait for my 600 mile break-in to be over. I can just tell she wants to be ridden hard and put away wet.

I'm new to BMW's and I've never had a new ride (all my other bikes were used). A couple of things have taken me by surprise and I'd like to run them by you because I'm not sure if they are normal.

1. I have just over 100 miles on the bike and the pipes are bluing already. My CB750 has 8000 miles and hasn't even started to turn. I hate blue pipes.
2. Regardless of the gear or RPM I hear the grrrrrrrunt of the engine and a very distinct, rapid tick. Is this just the way they sound?
3. When standing still I've noticed a burning smell. Is this normal for new bikes?
4. It has to work at starting. I really expected to pull up the choke, hold down the starter for a few seconds and she would shutter to life. It's not working out that way. I let go after 3 seconds because I don't want to kill the starter. After a few attempts (5 this morning at 62*f) she starts and runs fine. Am I being overly cautious with the starter? Should I just keep it depressed even if it takes 5 - 10 seconds?

Thanks

Everything you mentioned is normal. To start it a little faster, pull up on the fast idle lever past where it usually stops or twist the throttle a wee little bit (they accomplish the same task). I noticed that since I removed my muffler it fires up a lot faster.

Congrats on the new bike and welcome to BMW. You will have a blast on your R. I dont know all of the answers to your questions, but I can help on a few. There are a ton of very knowing people on these sites and I am sure they can help and/or clear me up on some of the answers.

As for the blue pipes-welcome to BMW. When I first got mine, all of my buddies on sport bikes saw my pipes and said I should get the motor checked, that it must not be running right. Called the shop and they said nope, motor is just fine, that is what pipes do. From other discussions on various forums, yep, that's what they do.
Check out some photos on the sites and you will see blue pipes.

The slight burning smell, I cant say I have smelled that, but after a rain or if I havent watched the bike in a while, I can smell what I always have equated to road grim burning on the heads.

The ticking sound I dont know about. At idle after warmed up I know it tends to sound like a sewing machine. Nice and quiet with a gentle humm.

As for the starting, mine usually starts after a second or two when cold, almost immediate when warm. I have notice though that when the bike is cold, but it is warm outside, the garage, that I do not need to pull and hold the enrichner to the top position to start. When I do, it cranks a long time and wont want to start. I have found when it is warmer outside to just click the enrichner up and start it that way. I only hold it in the full up position when it is truly cold outside.

Hope this helped. Have fun with her!

sloopy_farklehump wrote:4. It has to work at starting. I really expected to pull up the choke, hold down the starter for a few seconds and she would shutter to life. It's not working out that way. I let go after 3 seconds because I don't want to kill the starter. After a few attempts (5 this morning at 62*f) she starts and runs fine. Am I being overly cautious with the starter? Should I just keep it depressed even if it takes 5 - 10 seconds?

Thanks

You need to pull up on the choke when you start. Its on a spring. Once you start you can let go and it will run in choke position until you click the choke Switch down. make Sense?

picked up a brand new 05 r1150r this weekend. I absolutely love it!

Yup, me too! Well, about a month ago now, but still...its new.

I can't wait for my 600 mile break-in to be over. I can just tell she wants to be ridden hard and put away wet.

She does, but as you are already aware, be gentle for the first 1000K (600 Miles)

1. I have just over 100 miles on the bike and the pipes are bluing already.

Yup, my dealer advised me it would happen right quick, and it did. I kind of like the blue, looks..dignified..

2. Regardless of the gear or RPM I hear the grrrrrrrunt of the engine and a very distinct, rapid tick. Is this just the way they sound?

This is normal, and keep in mind your bike has a lighter 'break in' oil then what she will normally use, which is the 20 W 50. Right now you have 10 W 40 in there, the sound will change to a more dull sound.

3. When standing still I
've noticed a burning smell. Is this normal for new bikes?

Mine did this the first couple of days, hasn't happened since.

4. It has to work at starting. I really expected to pull up the choke, hold down the starter for a few seconds and she would shutter to life. It's not working out that way. I let go after 3 seconds because I don't want to kill the starter. After a few attempts (5 this morning at 62*f) she starts and runs fine. Am I being overly cautious with the starter? Should I just keep it depressed even if it takes 5 - 10 seconds?

When starting, pull the 'choke' all the way up past its first stop, its spring loaded and will return to the on position once you release it...after you get the motor to start of course.

Hope that helps.

I think it is all normal except for the hard starting. It does take a couple seconds to start, but I have never had to try a second time (unless I left the kickstand down!!). You should ask your shop about that when you go in for the break-in service if it hasn't improved by then.

I also just scored a sweet deal on a new 2004 Rockster. Love it!

Everything you are saying sounds nornal to me, except for the difficult start up. Try giving it a little throttle with the enricher in the middle position while starting. I don't need this on mine. Usually fires up easily but sometimes wants to idle a little low at first. I'll give her a little throttle for a few seconds and then all is well.

The funny smell is probably just the pipes burning in and dust from sitting in the show room for so long etc. My Rockster smelled this way at first too.

Boxers tick, women nag, babies poop, they are all unpleasant facts of life. You'll get used to it.

Now, I'm off to the Rockster board to introduce myself properly. Been lurking here for some time. Absolutely great bunch from what I can tell.

Enjoy the ride,
Chris

The way that it was explained to me:

The reason why the pipes blue so fast is because they are single walled. Your other bikes, with nice shiny pipes have double walls.

So although our pipes may be blue, they are half (aprox) the weight of the others!

-Xaque-

true about the pipes being single walled. bring the bike in after a night ride and turn the lights out - they glow in the dark!

the ticking is probably the fuel injectors. they're right beneath you, right and left. unique sounds for this bike due to boxer engine design.

if it's running - it's fine.

The further back your pipes blue, the faster you ride. At least that is what they used to say! Wear it with pride!

Thanks for the info. I filled her up last (first fuel stop - should have taken pictures for her scrapbook) and she started fine this morning. Hmmmm

I kind of like the blue, looks..dignified...

Dignified.... What a lovely way to look at it.

Sloopy, everything described is normal. My R1100R has 25k miles and I still get the burning smell once in a while.

Sloopy
All is well with your ride but I would caution against being too gentle during the run-in period. I made that mistake and am dealing with heavier than normal oil consumption and lots of carbon that I tend to spray on my Harley buddies (who always seem to be behind me). Then they say 'your bike smokes'. Filthy habit, smoking.
Use premium gas, 89 octane will knock, especially if the carbon builds up.
Don't be afraid to zip it to 5-6K for short bursts while breaking in.

I love the blue of my pipes because it means I have a real bike and not some double tubed parade bike.

The burning smell is prolly the wax-like cosmoline coating the factory uses to protect metal surfaces for shipping or storage. I remember that wonderful new "hot new machine" smell the first week or so - - - until I detergent washed the engine.

The "choke" lever is nothing more than a fast idle lever. All it does is gradually open the throttle for cold engine starting, just like the twistgrip does. There is NO fuel ratio change from using that lever!!! The Motronic handles the correct fuel ratio according to ambient air and engine crankcase/oil temps. I frequently use the start lever for warm starts providing a few seconds of idle stabilizing sparkplug warm-up while I put my other glove on.

these days I just move the choke to the fast Idel position to start from cold. My bike does not seem to start well with the choke all the way on. That ticking noise could be that your valve adjustments are a little loose, and will be taken care of at the 600.