1200 Starts On Its Own

Think yourself very lucky, there are countless blokes on here who dream of the Multi's starting, let alone starting on their own.

 

I think that the button is always pressed... take the block apart or change it completely to be sure.

 

Mine (a 2013 GT) did exactly the same yesterday for the first time. The push button was getting stuck, and just needed a little coaxing to come all the way out. I hadn't used the bike for a few weeks, so I don't know if that might have influenced it. Once underway, I had no problem adjusting the heated grips and restating. Anyway, she is due a service soon, so I will get it sorted then.

 

The starter button may be stuck or have a short circuit if it's got wet or damp. The waterproof quality of the switchgear isn't very good.
Take it apart, and give it a clean with some electrical cleaner, and rebuild, with some silicon grease.

Should be fine then!

 

On a serious note, there was a thread on here some time ago about this, search ' starter button' theres three straight up.

 

Mine did that and I have just has a new switch assembly fitted under warranty

 

Flick the button out, as the actress said to the bishop, and ot'll start and stop just fine. Clean or get replaced if under warranty

 

Mine is doing this as well now. I thought it was low battery voltage crapping the electronics out. When it happen I can't operate the heated grips and it freezes the rider modes etc. As some have said earlier, if you tease the button out it's OK. Sigh

 

Hey, Niall … partly my fault you're here, I guess.

Mine did this once after a night left outside in sleet, and both sets of switchgear were replaced under warranty.


It did it again recently: I just gave the starter button a good squirt of silicone spray, then plenty of prodding and easing out, and it's been fine since.

 

Thanks Eddie,

Mine's been doing it a while - I just hadn't realised it as it comes back part of the way on its own. Tried WD40 and no improvement. It still under warranty so I'll get it changed.
On a different subject, do you have any tyre recommendations? Michelin pilot road 4s seem to be favourite. I'm frankly not happy with the low speed handling on mine - feels like you are riding along barrel shaped road and it's trying to fall over. Weird I know. I tried a mate's 2011 base model with PR4s and it's fine. I even made sure we had the same suspension setting. I just begrudge paying out to change tyres when they are not remotely worn, Worse still, I test rode a new water cooled R1200GS and was mightily impressed - handled much better and almost as quick. Much smoother too. Shaft drive. Could be tempted...

 

Mine came with the PR4 and I can't wait to get it RR tuned, this will torture the rear tyre and probably mean it needs changing soon after... Metzelers will be going on.

The front tyre has cupped and at low speeds has that falling off a cliff feel to the cornering, it's the only tyre that I have ever had which has done this and they do seem quite prone to it.


As for the starter button, mine did it once but I saw that it was not fully out so I hit it with ACF-50 and worked it a bit, it's not happened again but I have silicone spray 'in stock' which should also work.
Just be sure to clean it off the surface, you don't want it on your gloves and grips.

 

I think silicone spray is a much better lubricant for this kind of application, but if it's under warranty then you might as well get it changed.

I haven't had any problems with any of the three sets of tyres I've had. The Scorpions that it came with were pretty good. Put some Dunlops on after that, which I was never quite as happy with, but nothing specifically wrong with them, and they lasted for ages. On Bridgestones now, which seem good so far but I haven't had a proper chance to play on warm dry roads yet.

I'm not in any position to dissuade you from changing. The warranty's expired on mine, and despite it still being a hoot when it's working well, all the little niggles leave me lacking in confidence for keeping it. I'll be picking up a new beast in May ...

 

Mine went like this and was due to be changed under warranty however when jet washing bike I gave the starter button area a blast of water by accident but it is now working fine, don't know if dust or anything may have caused it to stick in but all good now.

 

Don't use wd40. Use a silicone based lubricant designed for electronics. Wd40 makes it worse.