Up in Smoke

Couple of weeks ago, I started my 2004 GS 1150 Adventure and went in the house to change shoes and jacket. (DON'T DO THIS) In about 12 min. a neighbor was beating on my door to inform me that my motorcycle was on fire:eek1. I found my motorcycle with fire coming out the front wiring and oil all over my garage!! Pushed it out in the yard and put the fire out and stood there wondering "Did I take out FULL coverage??". Thank GOD I did! I had just changed to Progressive insurance 2 months earlier and dreaded making the call. Well there was a good vibe from the beginning because my adjuster's name was Jesse (like the bags). While I hated it, my bike was totaled:huh. I was preparing to argue my point for the value of my bike, but I did not have to. Progressive could not have been more fair. I also had additional insurance for accessories which helped bridge the expense. All and all, while I miss my old bike a lot. (Had many adventures together), I was able to get a another bike within a couple of weeks and I am back on the rode with little interruption! Thanks Progressive!

What started the fire?

Oilhead=oilcooled=overheat=oil fire? :eek1 Or coincidence?

--Bill

Letting it run for 12 minutes just sitting. Start it, ride it.
Even a few minutes balancing throttle bodies, I use a big fan or the sucker gets hot hot.

Are you serious?

You're suggesting that a GS will catch fire if left to idle for longer than XX minutes?

Yep, older bike with a loose/weak oil sight glass. Glass pops out, oil drains onto hot exhaust, combustion ensues. Not the first time it happened, and probably won't be the last.


Gear up, get on the bike, start it, and ride away.

Mike

Good god! and thanks :) Time to move my AT away from that old Dakar GS

Yep. Since the engine is largely oil-cooled it dumps a LOT of heat into the oil, which relies on airflow through the oil cooler to remove the heat. Heat keeps building up and up and up. Also there are ignition sensors ("Hall Effect Sensors") that have a history of HES wire insulation problems when they get cooked if the bike overheats, even idling it for 3-4 minutes.

--Bill

The bike idles for less than 15 minutes, and it catches fire? Really?? In that case, there should be a system, that if the bike's not moving in, say, 5 minutes, the engine is turned off.

There is, it's rider controlled and called common sense.

We don't need anymore sensors, just use common sense. These bikes already have more than we need in that department.

How the hell would you ride through heavy traffic if the bike catches fire in 15 minutes?

Lane split?

There is, it's called design flaw.

Are you all really so spoiled as to have never owned an air cooled bike? :huh

How do you get spoiled from this? Oh you must be one of the smart ones, do me a favor give me a good stock tip while your at it.

Learn how to properly use "your", "you're", and "yore" before even contemplating getting into the stock market.

Thank you for the grammar correction, get a life while you're at it.

yeah, and it would up the cost by about 15 dollars, too.

On a BMW?

oser