no knock sensor on the C14 but...

[martin_14]

I was driving back from Italy on Saturday, going up a notoriously long and steep hill (notorious because of the caravanners doing 10 mph) and not really paying attention to my driving, so I left the bike in 6th gear and it eventually dropped below 2000 rpm and kept loosing speed. Idiotic me, instead of shifting down I twisted the throttle and the bike started stuttering ever so slightly. So I shifted to 4th and still under 2000 rpm, and still on a very steep uphill, tried to accelerate but the engine stalled. I coasted to the side of the road, found neutral and hit the ignition, and the bike started immediately and I had no issues for the 200 miles drive home 
My first assumption was that I run out of gas, despite what the gauge said, but I had about half a tank. Then, that the PC5 lost it, or it lost ground, but it's as solid as it ever was. Then I elaborated the following theory: although these bikes feature no knock sensor, I think that when the rpms are low and the load (read throttle input) high, if the bike doesn't gain speed, the ECU might kill the engine in order to protect it. I never, ever in 60 000 miles drove my bike that kind of circumstance, and I didn't try again (yet), but I think I will.
What you guys think?

[VirginiaJim]

Use a lower gear next time..

[jwh20]

Doesn't sound like knock or "ping" to me.  The "stuttering" you mention is simply overloading the engine at low RPM.  I assume you're using the required premium octane fuel here.

[maxtog]

Lugging!!

[lather]

I was driving back from Italy on Saturday, going up a notoriously long and steep hill (notorious because of the caravanners doing 10 mph) and not really paying attention to my driving, so I left the bike in 6th gear and it eventually dropped below 2000 rpm and kept loosing speed. Idiotic me, instead of shifting down I twisted the throttle and the bike started stuttering ever so slightly. So I shifted to 4th and still under 2000 rpm, and still on a very steep uphill, tried to accelerate but the engine stalled. I coasted to the side of the road, found neutral and hit the ignition, and the bike started immediately and I had no issues for the 200 miles drive home 
My first assumption was that I run out of gas, despite what the gauge said, but I had about half a tank. Then, that the PC5 lost it, or it lost ground, but it's as solid as it ever was. Then I elaborated the following theory: although these bikes feature no knock sensor, I think that when the rpms are low and the load (read throttle input) high, if the bike doesn't gain speed, the ECU might kill the engine in order to protect it. I never, ever in 60 000 miles drove my bike that kind of circumstance, and I didn't try again (yet), but I think I will.
What you guys think?

Generally speaking I think if an ECU gets really bad numbers it will shut the engine off to protect it or go into limp mode but if that happens you would get a red FI light and an error message and code.

[texrider]

Or, you simply stalled it.

[Steve in Sunny Fla]

lugging, stalled, and very bad for the connecting rod bearings running that much load with little available oil pressure. DON'T DO IT! Steve

[tomp]

I agree with Steve.  Simply too high a gear, and too low an RPM.  Had a KTM Duke 690 that acted just like that under 3000 RPM.  I learned quickly to keep myself in the right gear and RPM range.  Just sayin'... tp

[Shoe]

I don't think there is a knock sensor on the C14.

[VirginiaJim]

There isn't.

[elp_jc]

BMW uses the spark plug as the knock sensor, so even though there's no physical knock sensor, the engine is protected from knocking... and each piston individually (the best case scenario). Most vehicles have one per bank, if at all. Anyway, I doubt the old Connie has such a modern (spark plug) system, but just wanted to throw that as an FYI. All vehicles should have knock sensing, but many cars still don't either, so not surprised at all. That's why it's very important to use the right fuel, especially if pushing the engine hard. No way most riders would ever hear knocking on a motorcycle, especially if wearing a helmet and earplugs. Therefore, it's more important to have protection on bikes than cars IMO.