Stalling - is it me?

[AJB]

Being unused to BMW twins, I would welcome a little input from the experts on 1100S.

I have managed to stall the bike five times today. Two of them were when the front wheel was stuck in a pot hole, so that was understandable, but the last three were in my own level drive just getting the bike into the garage out of the rain. It is very prone to stalling at tickover - even with a warm engine. In this case I was just trickling it between some parked cars and was surprised that it stopped. It happens when I apply a few revs and gently let the clutch out. I have never had this on multi-cylinder bikes in the past, so I am wondering if I am just being inept.

What should the idle speed be? It is set below 1000 and seems very low to me.

Thanks.

[_IT_]

Idle speed should be around 1100rpm if i remember correctly. Also check that the covers are on the vacuum take of ports on the bottom of the throttle bodies as mine was prone to stalling until i noticed they were missing.

Idle speed is adjusted using the air bypass screw on the throttle body but its important to keep both sides "balanced" by using a vacuum gauge when twiddling the big brass screws.

[AJB]

Thanks. I don't really know what I am looking for but will have a poke around for the covers when it stops raining.

There is no way I can fiddle with the air by pass screw then, because I don't have a vacuum gauge to achieve balance. And I don't know how to do it anyway. There is obviously more to this motorcycling lark than I had realised....

[doghouse]

First off is bike cold or warmed up. Check your choke function, it may be sticking or incorrectly set. Check tickover as mentioned, should be 1000rpm give or take. Next balance the throttle bodies, it makes a huge difference to low speed fueling. If your stiuck on the balancing give me a shout as i'm fairly close and have the kit.

[AJB]

Thanks guys, and especially doghouse for your kind offer. I may well take you up on that.

I will check the idle speed again tomorrow, as I am loathe to start the bike again after three stalls, unless I am going to ride it. (Trickle charger on order, yet to arrive).

The bike was warm when it stalled three times in my drive, having been ridden for quite a while about an hour earlier and then sat outside in the sun. Choke was fully off - which I assume was correct as I understand the choke is only used for starting from cold?

I should add at this point that I have never had a choke before. Previous bikes I have ridden have all had automatic chokes. I don't know if the choke is operating correctly, but for cold starting I pull it upwards to the on position. It can be pulled further upwards, and achieve faster idle, but will not stay there, it has to be held up by hand - so I don't know what the point of that is. There is a fair bit of engine vibration on cold starting, which quickly settles down.