K11 Owners Group

[Grunter]

This is not for me but a friend who owns a K1100LT. This was bought quite recently and he has been plagued with electrical problems ever since. First the ABS demonstrated a fault

The the neutral light would not come on but all the other 'idiot lights' did. When this happened the bike would not start either.

He has been right through the bike as best he can and has not found a loose connection anywhere. There is a switch on UK bikes (I don't know if it is the same in the USA which will not allow you to start unless the prop stand is fully raised. This is OK and not the fault.

Since it first happened he has been able to start the bike on a number of occasions but has no confidence in taking it out because it has failed when away from home.

Oh yes the ABS has also failed but that is another problem.

I have passed all I know about electrical problems and so far there is no improvement. Any ideas from over the pond?
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1997 K1100LT
1994 R1100RS

[Flying Duck]

US bikes have the side stand cutout switch too.

If the N indicator isn't coming on when the gear indicator reads 0 then that the usually means that the gear indicator circuit board has an issue.

If the clutch switch is working then pulling in the clutch should allow the bike to start if the side stand is up.

If the gear indicator circuit board isn't working and the clutch switch fails then you can still start the bike by cutting the wires to the clutch switch (if the switch has gone bad anyhow then cutting the wires to it doesn't matter) and shorting them to each other. However, you need to be careful doing this because that circuit is 12V+ so it can short out to any grounded part of the bike as the entire bike is grounded though the frame.


Dealing with ABS faults can be found near the bottom of this page:
http://www.kbikeparts.com/classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/abs/abs.htm
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

[ungaas]

If it's an early 1100 there is a amplifier on the front of the battery box lhs, it can cause starting problems. Best to remove clean and apply fresh thermal paste before refit.
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92 K1100 LT 83000mls
88 K100 unfaired 96000mls

[Mike d]

I understand the K1100 in question is a 1997 model.

Mike

[N41EF]

When you say it won't start, does the started engage and crank? Or not. Hard to diagnose "won't start" without some info.
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2014 R1200RT Water Cooled
2001 R1100S Light
1993 K1100LT. Nissan Ice Blue.(Gone)

[Grunter]

As far as I know everything is dead. Nothing at all. No fuel pump sound and the engine won't crank. The lights come on but elsewhere there is no life.
This is intermittent and sometimes it will kick into life and run faultlessly, but if it is stopped deliberately such as when refueling it may or may not start.

To me it sounds like a poor earth (ground) problem but where do you start?
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1997 K1100LT
1994 R1100RS

[Mike d]

Sounds like the common problem of the ignition switch loom being held too tight by a tie wrap.

Mike

[N41EF]

To check for bad grounds:

Take a piece of wire about 3 feet long, with alligator clips on both ends.

When it acts up, leave key on, lift seat and connect one lead to battery negative, use the other end of wire and clip to check other areas of the bike; Handlebars, gas tank nubs, crash bars, trans mounts etc.

if you've got a missing ground tyou'll hear the fuel pump start up.

As mentioned about check the wiring to the ignition switch. Does turning the handlebars change anything? Try turning it lock to lock.
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2014 R1200RT Water Cooled
2001 R1100S Light
1993 K1100LT. Nissan Ice Blue.(Gone)