Headlight bulb

[oldjoe]

2 questions from a newbie.  My headlight low beam is out - I saw warning on dash after starting out on a ride, so I stopped to identify the problem.  Low beam out.   Then the  bike would not start.   After shifting to neutral and starting to to walk back home, it started.   A big foot on side stand caused me to shift with stand down, then it would not start again...then did.

So first question is, is this normal for bulb outage to prevent starting?  (Battery is 6 years old - 2018 RS - but always on tender, ad no other signs of problems)

2nd question - after reading all posts, I am not going to try LED (I already have extra Denali lights), but I see significant difference in price between Hella H7 and Hella H7TB.   I cannot find info on TB.  Anyone know what that stands for?  what the difference is?  Any problem using H&TB (about half price of regular H7

[Grumpy Goat]

The bulb being out is unrelated to the bike not starting. You did not mention if the bike is cranking but would not start, or whether the not starting is totally dead and not cranking. The former would be due to a worn out battery, while the latter could be due to a faulty sidestand switch.

Not sure what you meant by "A big foot on side stand caused me to shift with stand down ..."

I looked at various Hella bulbs on Amazon (one of the first links to come up in a search) and price varies based on wattage (power output) and other features, but as far as I could tell "TB" means twin blister, as in a blister pack with 2 bulbs.

[Lee]

  Then the  bike would not start.   After shifting to neutral and starting to to walk back home, it started.   A big foot on side stand caused me to shift with stand down, then it would not start again...then did.

Not sure exactly what you did when trying to restart.
If you tries to start with the stand down and the bike in gear it will not start.
Here's what the manual states.

You cannot start the motorcycle
with the side stand extended and
a gear engaged. The engine will
switch itself off if it is started with
the transmission in neutral and
then a gear is engaged before
retracting the side stand.

If your battery is 6 years old, you got your money's worth out of it. I would consider buying a new battery this spring.

[Ray]

  Then the  bike would not start.   After shifting to neutral and starting to to walk back home, it started.   A big foot on side stand caused me to shift with stand down, then it would not start again...then did.

If your battery is 6 years old, you got your money's worth out of it. I would consider buying a new battery this spring.

Seems I've noticed a lot of reports of bizarre electrical phenomena that resolve with a fresh battery.

[oldjoe]

Thanks for the replies.  Sorry I was to cryptic.   The bike started normally, but I wasn't sure what the warning light meant, so I stopped to see, letting the side stand kill the engine when I got off.  Then with stand up, it would not crank...just dead switch, no sound.  After waiting about a minute, it started as normal.   Then I decided to turn around and go back home and a car stopped to ask if I needed help.  I shifted to neutral and dismounted to talk, but my foot inadvertently hit the shift lever as I was putting the side stand down, killing the engine.  (Yes, I do know how the safety switch works).   Then again it would not crank.   I started walking it home - 2 blocks - and the last is downhill, so I rode it - tried starter and it started up as normal (again, after about a minute wait from when it wouldn't crank).  Since I'm new to BMW, I wondered if there was something in their circuit that intentionally blocked starting off and on for light failure (I've seen stranger things).

I also recently installed new Denali D3 driving lights plus brake light and air horn - with their CanSmart controller.  No problems for several day trips after that.
 
In any case, I will replace bulb with H7 and plan on replacing the battery before next trip.  It has been on Tender since new, and has given no signs of trouble before, but it is 6 years old.

[Grumpy Goat]

Thanks for the replies.  Sorry I was to cryptic.  
....
  
In any case, I will replace bulb with H7 and plan on replacing the battery before next trip.  It has been on Tender since new, and has given no signs of trouble before, but it is 6 years old.

Thanks for the explanation - clear now. I have often switched off my bike using the sidestand when the bike is in gear. Saves time. No issues restarting either. If there is nothing when trying to restart then I suspect the sidestand switch is sending the wrong message and maybe it is sticking. I'd fix that first and then consider replacing the battery if it is weak.

[Lee]

Thanks for more details oldjoe.