New Bike - 2004 R1150RT

Message
Author
jaskc78
Site Supporter - Platinum
Site Supporter - Platinum
Posts: 703
Joined: Sun May 24, 2009 6:39 am
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 6
My Motorcycle: N/A
Location: Iola, KS

New Bike - 2004 R1150RT

#1 Unread post by jaskc78 »

Bought a 2004 R1150RT this past weekend in LA, rode it back to Tucson last night. So nice having a long distance bike with saddlebags again.

Weird problem, though--low beam headlights and instrument back lighting don't work. Hi beam works just fine, so do the other lights right next to the headlight. The warning lights still work, turn signals, and the gauges themselves work fine, but not the low beam or back lighting for the speedo and tach. Do they share a common ground that might be bad or are they on the same relay, possibly? Thanks for any help you can offer, will be ordering a Hayne's or Clymer later this week, I think.
"Dude, women are like Vol-Tron. The more you can hook up the better it gets!" --RvB
Currently waiting on a new hip before I can get a new bike.

rider55
Rookie
Rookie
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:11 pm
Real Name: bart
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 5
My Motorcycle: 2003 yamaha 125

Re: New Bike

#2 Unread post by rider55 »

it could be a bad fuse

User avatar
totalmotorcycle
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 29679
Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2003 1:00 pm
Real Name: Mike
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 32
My Motorcycle: 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Re: New Bike

#3 Unread post by totalmotorcycle »

:specialannouncement:

:happybikeday:

Congratulations on the new bike! Now we just need photos of it (if you put them up in the gallery then you can link them here to your message).

Could be as simple as a dead bulbs.

Mike
NEW 2024 Motorcycle Model Guides
2023 Motorcycle Model Guides

Total Motorcycle is official Media/Press for Aprilia, Benelli, Beta, Bimota, BMW, Brammo, Buell, Can-Am, CCW, Ducati, EBR, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Husqvarna, Husaberg, Hyosung, Indian, Kawasaki, KTM, KYMCO, LiveWire, Moto Guzzi, Moto Morini, MV Agusta, Norton, Phantom, Piaggio, Polaris, Ridley, Roehr, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph, Ural, Vespa, Victory, Yamaha and Zero.

User avatar
Grey Thumper
Legendary 1000
Legendary 1000
Posts: 1434
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:21 pm
Real Name: Dino
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 9
My Motorcycle: 2004 BMW R1150Rockster, 2015 BMW R1200GS
Location: Manila, Philippines

Re: New Bike

#4 Unread post by Grey Thumper »

Congrats on the new (to you) bike!

Our bikes are pretty similar (similar enough to have the same Haynes manual at least). While the Haynes or Clymer is on its way, maybe this'll help:

Image

Instrument backlighting uses the same fuse as your brake light, and that works, right?
"If you ride like there's no tomorrow, there won't be."

User avatar
HYPERR
Legendary 3000
Legendary 3000
Posts: 3159
Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 11:13 am
Sex: Male
My Motorcycle: Year/Make/Model
Location: CT, USA

Re: New Bike

#5 Unread post by HYPERR »

jaskc78 wrote: Weird problem, though--low beam headlights and instrument back lighting don't work. Hi beam works just fine, so do the other lights right next to the headlight. The warning lights still work, turn signals, and the gauges themselves work fine, but not the low beam or back lighting for the speedo and tach. Do they share a common ground that might be bad or are they on the same relay, possibly? Thanks for any help you can offer, will be ordering a Hayne's or Clymer later this week, I think.
Doesn't sound weird at all. The headlight bulb is probably burnt out, perfectly normal for the low beam to wear out before the high beam if it is used more often. The little bulbs for the back lighting for the speedo and the tach are probably burnt out as well. The headlight bulb you can get anywhere. The speedo and tach bulb if I remember correctly is a strange size and hard to find other than a BMW dealer.
2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100
2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
2004 Honda CBR600RR
2002 BMW R1150R
1996 Ducati 900SS

User avatar
sapaul
Legendary 2000
Legendary 2000
Posts: 2386
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:45 am
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 90
My Motorcycle: 2011 R1200R 07 BMW GS, Kymco 250 little
Location: South Africa

Re: New Bike

#6 Unread post by sapaul »

Congrats on the new ride, I am sure you will enjoy.

I know of a similar problem on an RT, turned out as you though to be a bad earth
I spent my therapy money an a K1200S
The therapy worked, I got a GS now
A touch of insanity crept back in the shape of an R1200R

jaskc78
Site Supporter - Platinum
Site Supporter - Platinum
Posts: 703
Joined: Sun May 24, 2009 6:39 am
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 6
My Motorcycle: N/A
Location: Iola, KS

Re: New Bike

#7 Unread post by jaskc78 »

Checked all the fuses, looked up online how to get to and remove the headlight assembly if needed, will be calling the local BMW shop to see if there's any common issue they can think of that could cause it.

All the fuses are good, pulled them out and checked them. The headlight doesn't look burnt out, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't. Brake light works just fine, could see it reflecting off all the jackhole California drivers that were tailgating the crap out of me on the ride back.
"Dude, women are like Vol-Tron. The more you can hook up the better it gets!" --RvB
Currently waiting on a new hip before I can get a new bike.

User avatar
sapaul
Legendary 2000
Legendary 2000
Posts: 2386
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:45 am
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 90
My Motorcycle: 2011 R1200R 07 BMW GS, Kymco 250 little
Location: South Africa

Re: New Bike

#8 Unread post by sapaul »

Sounds to me like a bad earth, the RT lights are not bad to get at. Rig a direct earth onto the terminal and see if that works then you know you have to trace the bad earth.
I spent my therapy money an a K1200S
The therapy worked, I got a GS now
A touch of insanity crept back in the shape of an R1200R

jaskc78
Site Supporter - Platinum
Site Supporter - Platinum
Posts: 703
Joined: Sun May 24, 2009 6:39 am
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 6
My Motorcycle: N/A
Location: Iola, KS

Re: New Bike

#9 Unread post by jaskc78 »

Have a general inspection scheduled at the local BMW shop for Saturday morning and asked them to take a look at the headlight/backlight issue and do a little troubleshooting. Hopefully it turns out to be something easy, would be nice to at least know what I'll have to do or how much it'll cost to fix it.
"Dude, women are like Vol-Tron. The more you can hook up the better it gets!" --RvB
Currently waiting on a new hip before I can get a new bike.

jaskc78
Site Supporter - Platinum
Site Supporter - Platinum
Posts: 703
Joined: Sun May 24, 2009 6:39 am
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 6
My Motorcycle: N/A
Location: Iola, KS

Re: New Bike

#10 Unread post by jaskc78 »

Turned out to be a bad earth on the headlight, burned out bulbs on the instrument panel. Rear brakes and rotor need replacing, front tire needs replacing before too much longer. Will order the brake pads and rotor today and get them done as soon as they come in, the front tire I'll replace after our weekend trip to Vegas on the 22d.

The tech also mentioned that it's running a little rough and sounds like it needs a valve service, so hopefully my Clymer arrives soon so I can start practicing that 6k valve adjustment. Will let you all know how it goes with racking up the miles.
"Dude, women are like Vol-Tron. The more you can hook up the better it gets!" --RvB
Currently waiting on a new hip before I can get a new bike.

Post Reply