BMW GS 1200 handlebar oscillation / vibration

[davidwoolfstein]

I was riding my bike today and took my hands off of the handlebars briefly to close my Velcro on my glove . I noticed a pronounced vibration / oscillation in the bars . Has anyone heard of this
Before ?



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[BiG DoM]

Wheel balance and front tyre choice and pressure will affect it. Would start with pressure and also check runout - check spokes (strangely BMW never schedules this in services?).

[genie]

Has your bike got the OE steering damper? BMW started fitting them from late 2013 models. If it does not have one I recommend that you fit a steering damper. I experienced head shake on my LC with a steering damper on 3 occasions under specific conditions e.g. corrugated gravel road at approximately 80 km/h. I never had a wheel balance problem- went as fast as 210 km/h. Tyre brand, weight distribution, top box play a role in my opinion. I can’t remember the tyre brand ( were fitted standard on LC) that BMW attributed the issue to- think it was Tourance

[davidwoolfstein]

Has your bike got the OE steering damper? BMW started fitting them from late 2013 models. If it does not have one I recommend that you fit a steering damper. I experienced head shake on my LC with a steering damper on 3 occasions under specific conditions e.g. corrugated gravel road at approximately 80 km/h. I never had a wheel balance problem- went as fast as 210 km/h. Tyre brand, weight distribution, top box play a role in my opinion. I can’t remember the tyre brand ( were fitted standard on LC) that BMW attributed the issue to- think it was Tourance

Hi thanks .. yes my bike is a 2017 model so have all the damping etc.


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[davidwoolfstein]

Has your bike got the OE steering damper? BMW started fitting them from late 2013 models. If it does not have one I recommend that you fit a steering damper. I experienced head shake on my LC with a steering damper on 3 occasions under specific conditions e.g. corrugated gravel road at approximately 80 km/h. I never had a wheel balance problem- went as fast as 210 km/h. Tyre brand, weight distribution, top box play a role in my opinion. I can’t remember the tyre brand ( were fitted standard on LC) that BMW attributed the issue to- think it was Tourance

Hi thanks .. yes my bike is a 2017 model so have all the damping etc.


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I did however put new metzeler tourance Tyres on last week !


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[Knucklhead]

Has your bike got the OE steering damper? BMW started fitting them from late 2013 models. If it does not have one I recommend that you fit a steering damper. I experienced head shake on my LC with a steering damper on 3 occasions under specific conditions e.g. corrugated gravel road at approximately 80 km/h. I never had a wheel balance problem- went as fast as 210 km/h. Tyre brand, weight distribution, top box play a role in my opinion. I can’t remember the tyre brand ( were fitted standard on LC) that BMW attributed the issue to- think it was Tourance

Hi thanks .. yes my bike is a 2017 model so have all the damping etc.


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I did however put new metzeler tourance Tyres on last week !


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I think you have answered your own question. If no shake before but there after new tyres. Always look at what has changed.

[BiG DoM]

Check they have fitted and balanced them properly - that if there are weight marking spots on the tyre for valve they are aligned and also that the direction arrow is going in the correct direction. You would be surprised how often mistakes are made and also tyres just fitted without balancing. Tyres often also like to settle and be run in a bit.

[TheBear]

Wheel balance and front tyre choice and pressure will affect it. Would start with pressure and also check runout - check spokes (strangely BMW never schedules this in services?).

Bavarian does check spokes as part of the service schedule.

[BiG DoM]

Wheel balance and front tyre choice and pressure will affect it. Would start with pressure and also check runout - check spokes (strangely BMW never schedules this in services?).

Bavarian does check spokes as part of the service schedule.

That's good to hear as it never used to be on the official schedule.

[davidwoolfstein]

Has your bike got the OE steering damper? BMW started fitting them from late 2013 models. If it does not have one I recommend that you fit a steering damper. I experienced head shake on my LC with a steering damper on 3 occasions under specific conditions e.g. corrugated gravel road at approximately 80 km/h. I never had a wheel balance problem- went as fast as 210 km/h. Tyre brand, weight distribution, top box play a role in my opinion. I can’t remember the tyre brand ( were fitted standard on LC) that BMW attributed the issue to- think it was Tourance

Hi thanks .. yes my bike is a 2017 model so have all the damping etc.


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I did however put new metzeler tourance Tyres on last week !


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I think you have answered your own question. If no shake before but there after new tyres. Always look at what has changed.

Yes you are correct
I went back to BMW sandton and complained . The mechanics said that it’s definitely the Tyres . I changed them to Michelin anakee and the problem has gone ! I am very pissed off at the person from
Sandton Motorrad who sold them
To me . He kept telling
How great they are and how i should buy them . They acknowledge that the Tyres causes the problem but refuse to
Compensate me . I will be lodging
A complaint with
BMW global as well as with the people who manage complaints around violation of the South African consumer protection
Act . Absolutely shocking for a company that sells so called premium
Brand products -


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[caconcepts]

Has your bike got the OE steering damper? BMW started fitting them from late 2013 models. If it does not have one I recommend that you fit a steering damper. I experienced head shake on my LC with a steering damper on 3 occasions under specific conditions e.g. corrugated gravel road at approximately 80 km/h. I never had a wheel balance problem- went as fast as 210 km/h. Tyre brand, weight distribution, top box play a role in my opinion. I can’t remember the tyre brand ( were fitted standard on LC) that BMW attributed the issue to- think it was Tourance

Hi thanks .. yes my bike is a 2017 model so have all the damping etc.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I did however put new metzeler tourance Tyres on last week !


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I had the same with new tourance, took it back to BMW and they confirmed that the tire was balanced. It gets less if you just keep riding with the tire.....

[Beemer Mike]

I have the same situation. The Anarkee3s gave the worst head shake. I now have Mitas on and they are terrible, also the rear lugs are tearing off like knobblies. The best tyres were the Dunlops... no head shake at whatever speed and lasted for 10k mileage.

[BuRP]

Bavarian does check spokes as part of the service schedule.

'Check' yes, like rattling a screwdriver past them, and if the tonal spectrum is not too different then all's deemed fine.
Which business in SA will actually lace and/or true spoked wheels?

[BiG DoM]

Bavarian does check spokes as part of the service schedule.

'Check' yes, like rattling a screwdriver past them, and if the tonal spectrum is not too different then all's deemed fine.
Which business in SA will actually lace and/or true spoked wheels?

If it is the BMW tubeless they are somewhat harder to true than conventional wheels due to spoke pattern. There are a good number of guys who do wheels - Superfoxi here on this forum, SGS Motorsport and Rim, Cytech etc.

[BuRP]

If it is the BMW tubeless they are somewhat harder to true than conventional wheels due to spoke pattern.

That's an often heard fallacy, spoke pattern has nothing to do with it. BM had (has?) locking screws on the nipples which all have to be loosened before commencing with the spokes, but that's just a bit more time/work. In addition the big rims are stiffer than smaller one's, which means one needs to distribute tension more - but you'll find this out quickly if you don't do it, and any lacer worth his salt knows this.

So, SA does not have a company specializing in laced wheels, but instead relies on a few workshops which will also do this kind of work?

[BiG DoM]

I just told you above SGS are specialists in rims and lacing. Why not try it yourself? 

[BiG DoM]

If it is the BMW tubeless they are somewhat harder to true than conventional wheels due to spoke pattern.

That's an often heard fallacy, spoke pattern has nothing to do with it. BM had (has?) locking screws on the nipples which all have to be loosened before commencing with the spokes, but that's just a bit more time/work. In addition the big rims are stiffer than smaller one's, which means one needs to distribute tension more - but you'll find this out quickly if you don't do it, and any lacer worth his salt knows this.

So, SA does not have a company specializing in laced wheels, but instead relies on a few workshops which will also do this kind of work?

The reality is yes spokes are spokes but have you tried lacing and truing a BMW cross laced wheel? You may have a different opinion to your "fallacy" if you have. I am not saying it is a black art as some like to make out but does need a different approach and concentration, not just to the lock screw nipples ... 

[BuRP]

DB,

I've laced and trued many wheels, from bicycles to large bikes, it's where my remarks come from.
I also know that it is regarded as a bit of an art and rarish to find in SA, hence my question.
Thanks for SGS's name - I did find some info but they do not seem to have a website (link dead) other than a FB page.
They seem to be the only spoked wheel specialist in SA, somehow I had expected a bit more of them - with zero offense to shops like Foxi's and others.

[BiG DoM]

DB,

I've laced and trued many wheels, from bicycles to large bikes, it's where my remarks come from.
I also know that it is regarded as a bit of an art and rarish to find in SA, hence my question.
Thanks for SGS's name - I did find some info but they do not seem to have a website (link dead) other than a FB page.
They seem to be the only spoked wheel specialist in SA, somehow I had expected a bit more of them - with zero offense to shops like Foxi's and others.

The SGS website was hacked - they are reconstructing a new one (spoke with them just yesterday about Motoz tyres and also mentioned that their site was dead|). Give them a call - speak to Steve, a straight-up guy. You will be impressed, they are on point. 

[Bravofox]

A Friend of mine took his 1200GS 2 days ago for his 1000km run-in check. Upon returning home he took it above 140 for the first time and from 160 upwards has a terrible vibration on the handlebars. Up to 200 it gets unbearable. Phoned the workshop and they reckon it is the wheel balance on the front that is out. Has the Metzeler Tourance Next tyres on it...