Vibration??

Baz

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I am suffering with tingling predominantly in my left hand everytime i seem too go out on the bike which lasts for a day or two. Its my second 1200 and it wasnt a problem with the first. However the first bike I bought 2nd hand with 6000 miles on the clock whereas the new one has just covered 1100 miles.

So the question is has anyone else suffered with this and does it become smoother after X miles or do the throttles require adjustment. The bike runs fine and doesnt appear to be over vibey.

Baz
 
Yes, they smooth out over the first few thousand miles.

Try wrapping some squash racquet grip stuff (Karakal make it - lots of sports shops sell it) around the grips. This will make the grips a bit bigger & more comfy - the 1200 ones are too skinny for me - and hopefully lessen the vibes. Cheap & easy.
 
I thought this was caused by incorrectly balanced throttle bodies? That is what I remember from posts a year or more ago.
 
Well, incorrectly balanced throttles will certainly cause more vibration. But there will always be a certain amount on even a perfectly set up bike.

However I wonder if Baz's problem is caused by vibes, or maybe it's caused by the handlebars being in a slightly different position, or something like that?
 
Mouse said:
Well, incorrectly balanced throttles will certainly cause more vibration. But there will always be a certain amount on even a perfectly set up bike.

However I wonder if Baz's problem is caused by vibes, or maybe it's caused by the handlebars being in a slightly different position, or something like that?

I agree, I find the bike feels more vibey with summer gloves on, fiddle with the bar position also helps keep the pressure off the hands, also a good service nearly always reduces the shakes a bit :thumb

Different software editions also alter the feel of the vibes

Shep :bounce1
 
It doesnt actually feel more vibey than the last 1200, but there must be something as my hands never used to tingle like they do at the moment.
Thats why my thoughts were maybe its because its new and not quite run in yet??

Shep -It had a service at 600 miles.

Mutley- Are there any alternate bar end weights out there??

I'll have a chat with SPC & see what they suggest.

Baz
 
Baz said:
It doesnt actually feel more vibey than the last 1200, but there must be something as my hands never used to tingle like they do at the moment.
Thats why my thoughts were maybe its because its new and not quite run in yet??

Shep -It had a service at 600 miles.

Mutley- Are there any alternate bar end weights out there??

I'll have a chat with SPC & see what they suggest.

Baz

I used to notice this when the bike was fairly new, but now it's done 16000miles i don't notice it at all. Of course the miles have smoothed out the engine which was appallingly rough up to around 6000 miles but also it's been serviced and had a few s/w uploads so it's impossible to tell what has changed it. I'd give it a few miles as at that mileage it must still be quite tight.
 
Spoke to SPC earlier, they told me to do some miles and give it a hard time :D

Should feel better as the engine & gearbox loosens up.

Baz
 
No decent alternate bar weights out there at all, and believe me I've looked. You can get some naff ones which wont work with the hand guards, and will be much lighter so will make the vibes worse.

One thing you could try - nick some lead sheet off a church roof and cut into two strips. Roll them up and stick one in each bar. Actually, this wont work as the bar ends fill the space and screw into inserts in the bars. Stupid idea anyway- you'd only have fallen off the church roof.
 
Yes, they do smooth out over time, but checking the TB synch isn't a bad idea, as out of balance TBs will cause vibration.

A pair of "gel" palm gloves will help you.

Another consideration is if the type of work you do may be causing you repetitive stress injury or carpal tunnel syndrome. Having your hands and wrists examined by a doctor is not a bad idea. Catching that sort of thing early is recommended.
 
Emoto said:
Yes, they do smooth out over time, but checking the TB synch isn't a bad idea, as out of balance TBs will cause vibration.

A pair of "gel" palm gloves will help you.

Another consideration is if the type of work you do may be causing you repetitive stress injury or carpal tunnel syndrome. Having your hands and wrists examined by a doctor is not a bad idea. Catching that sort of thing early is recommended.

Work as a safety advisor so dont do any work, do know about Hand arm vibration syndrome though. Would be interesting to measure the actual vibration levels at the handle bars. I would bet it exceeds the maximum daily exposure for UK workers.

baz
 
Baz said:
I am suffering with tingling predominantly in my left hand everytime i seem too go out on the bike which lasts for a day or two. Its my second 1200 and it wasnt a problem with the first. However the first bike I bought 2nd hand with 6000 miles on the clock whereas the new one has just covered 1100 miles.

So the question is has anyone else suffered with this and does it become smoother after X miles or do the throttles require adjustment. The bike runs fine and doesnt appear to be over vibey.

Baz

I would be concerned at the "lasts for a day or two" bit. There are all sorts of hand operated machines that can cause this sort of tingling / numbness, and they eventually lead to white finger when the nerves in the fingers go dead to varying extents. A bit of tingling whilst riding is not uncommon on all sorts of bikes but the "day or 2" bit is. And unless there is something badly wrong with the bike there might be something wrong with you, like some wear in the neck vertebrae etc. Might be sense to see your doc. In the meantime, try varying your riding posture - I get numb fingers if I slouch, but if I sit very erect, no probs. Trapped nerves, worn joints. But mine goes away the moment I stop.

If the vibration is really bad, then a visit to the dealer is called for. It could simply be something loose that is viobrating in sympathy with the engine, or it could be a tuning issue or even some component out of spec. I wouldnt suggest messing with the bar weights since they will have been chosen after careful tests with equipment to measure vibration on an in spec bike. No point in second guessing BMW - if it needs other bar weightsa its because the bike isnt right.
 
Ok that's an interesting subject. A few things I noticed when I was having the problem :
- I did not have the tingling when I was riding with a pilion
- I had less tingling when my seat was high position
- When I was tensed (like driving on the Parisian périphérique) I tended to squeeze hard the handlebar and get the tingling.

But truth is, my bike is a little bit more than 20k kms and I don't have the problem any longer. I don't think it is due to some miraculous software effect on my bike.

It is just the way I handle it now. I am a lot more relaxed and the issue simply disappeared.
 
I get the numb / tingly hand thing when riding the GS or mountain bike. Had it for years. But recently it got much worse after a few days biking including the level 1 off road course in Wales. So much so that my hand was 'going to sleep' when shaving etc. :eek: It took several days to calm down, but the end of my right thumb is still numb.

I finally decided to do something about it. Some web research and the trusty family health encylopedia suggested Reynauds Syndrome. But that seems to have cold hands as a symptom. Something that doesn't really affect me.

Anyway, I finally saw the doc this morning and he is pretty sure it is carpal tunnel syndrome. I'm going to see a specialist but the doc reckons that my right hand more than likely needs an operation to sort this out.

If that is the case, I may leave it to the autumn as it'll no doubt mean no biking for a while.

At least I now know what the problem is. Funnily enough, over the years it has been responsible for me seeking ways in which to find a more up right and less 'wristy' riding position and ultimately a change to the GS.

Kai
 
....I'm having the same problem but I have also vibrations on the foot pegs, espcially on the right peg.

> It feels if its just below the seat - I think its the shaft?
> It 7mnth old and down 13k miles
> Been tweaked several times by the dealer, still not sorted

Suggestion on a post card
 


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