Was out riding today and made a rookie mistake. Went through what looked like a shallow puddle and it ended up being about four feet. Took on water and the bike died. Got it out and home drained the oil twice, pulled the plug and cranked it, pulled the header off and drained the water out. The problem is it still won't start. Anybody got any ideas before I break down and take it to the dealer?
Thanks, HOSS

Is the air filter soaked with water and crud?
That probably needs a service.

Kill Switch? It has happened before.

I took mine swimming once but not that bad. If you've tried to the extent of your own expertice, you may have to take her to get checked out.

I recommend a rubber duckie wrap-around floatie and a few more times in the drink. That'll keep you from jumping into four-feet deep water and having to follow recommendations....

On that note: Everything that can hold water needs to be inspected, removed/emptied/replaced (Gas tank, all orifices etc).

Replacing the oil once was probably enough unless.... If you tried to start it with water in the cylinder you have likely blown seals/gaskets (water doesn't compress very well).

Battery good ? Check Spark ? Clean gas ? Lines blead ? No start ? Wallet time....

P.S. I've been there. "Submarined" that many times. ..at least you didn't go downstream in RAPIDS over your head ! I needed the Bell Moto III floatie adaptor ! Water ? What water ?

THe bike was on at the time... the comp may be waterlogged.

I don't have any advice other then.....well really got nothin.

*PlZ keep us informed. I have been VERY curious about these bikes in water. I've only read two other bikes going into the drink. I seem to remember (maybe?) one of them blew up a short while later and the other went to the dealer and seems to be running fine so far.

**edit....I don't think that was a rookie mistake. That's what I do too to find out how deep it is.

Well it's at the dealer now and getting fixed. I guess when the cold water hit the piston rings they contracted in the piston. This caused low compression, down to 50 psi when the dealer tested it, should be 150. This may have saved me from bending a rod or valve. No scoring on the cylinder or piston. New rings going in and should be back on the road this weekend. All of the electrics survived. Watch out for those water hazards.

It would have made it as the Forum Header picture!

Yeah I had my Go Pro with but had yet to turn it on. I was too pissed off to think about snapping one. I would say next time but I really hope there isn't a next time for something like this.

I've had my R2 underwater twice. The first time, it hydrolocked. I drained the air box, wrung out the air filter, pulled the spark plug & cranked it to empty cylinder to get the water out. Drained the oil once. The engine lit right off. However since the oil was milky, decided not to ride the rest of the day. Later changed the oil 2x more with new filter until the oil showed clear. This was 4000 miles ago and no issues. Last week during our foray to North Carolina we took a day to play at Brown Mtn ORV area. Sweet trails! Partner and I had been skirting the large waterholes. Came to a section with three large holes soe I detoured through the woods for the 1st one. However the 2nd for some reason looked sooo easy, I just went for it. Front wheel dropped off, bike summer saulted over me. My partner looked over only to see the rear wheel, but no me. He thought surely I was under the bike & would drown. Somehow I wriggled free & killed the engine. Got lucky to kill it before hydrolocking. No problems from that swim except a sticky throttle that was cured by cleaning out with WD40.

Kayaking we always carry a set of dry clothes to don after a dunking. Never thought I would need these from riding offroad. The dry clothes sure were a life saver that day since temps were in the 40s and we had a 40 mile ride back to the mote.

bill