12000 mile service

[Ollie GBR]

My bike's about 16 months old, (2008 model), and in today for it's 12k service, (current milage 11987 - well timed after nearly 3k miles in Southern Europe last week).

I'm a pretty careful driver, even through the mountain passes of Europe and 80mph on the motorways with two panniers I averaged 51.3mpg over 3k miles.

However, I'm not impressed with how my bike has faired.
There is lots of transmission slack - I have to be very careful with my clutch on gear changes otherwise I get a nice 'clunk' from the transmission. I have to decelerate gently for the same reason.

On the way down to France, I noticed the front disc's had warped once again, (already replaced at 7k miles).
The bike seams to be lacking in power, running rough - I'm assuming this will be rectified with a good service

There's lots of movement in the front handle bars - too much.

Engaging first gear is a real pain, I have to keep moving the bike or trying second to get it to engage.

Is this 'normal' for a top class German product?

I expected to have this bike for many more years/miles/mountain passes, now I'm not so sure I made the right decision

Ollie
[worried]

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

A lot of the above is hard to comment on without riding your bike - see if you can blag a go on another 1200 in order to compare.

Fuel injection and shaft drive is alway going to require smooth gear changes up and down and there is a knack to doing it smoothly so it could be that.

Re engaging first gear, try just letting the clutch out a tad before engaging first; works for me.

Handlebar movement - they do move a bit as the forks are not fixed to the top clamp, is that what you are refering to? I'd never describe it as excesive though.

Discs, mmmmmmmmm............. 40,000 miles and I have a shiny new set waiting to be fitted to mine, these will be my 4th set of front discs (I'm on my 2nd rear as well). Some people seem to have ongoing problems and some nothing at all

However, despite it's foibles, it's still the best bike I have ever owned so I ain't complaining (too much )

Andres

 

[Slowdown]

I found my bike to be smoother all round after I serviced it myself

The gearbox isn't nearly as clunky, it's much smoother than its ever been and fuel economy is up a noticable amount.

FWIW - I'm one of those whose disks and pads just don't seem to wear.



And I don't understand the 'lots of movement in the handlebars' bit - I'd have thought lots of movement was a good thing, especially at low speeds So I've missed something.....

 

[trebor]

Engaging first gear is a real pain, I have to keep moving the bike or trying second to get it to engage.

I think you'll find most do this, if it won't pop straight into 1st then slowly let clutch out whilst gently pushing down on gear change lever and it will just slip in (as the actress said to the bishop )

Bob

 

[NorthernBoy]

My bike did not feel great when I came back from 3,500 miles of alps, autoroutes and provencale twisties, but seemed a lot better after the service. It may have just been because I knew it'd been checked over, so stopped worrying (I was fairly late for it, so was gettinga bit paranoid before), but the drivetrain slop and clunking seemed less, and the engine as a whole seemed smoother, and yes, even a bit more powerful.

The power thing is probably just because I was happy riding t very hard again, rather than having one part of my mind reminding me that it was overdue a check.

On the selecting first thing, I read in another thread on here that a good technique is to make sure that you select first immediately you pull in the clutch. If you wait a second, things have stopped spinning, and it gets harder to engage.

 

[Ollie GBR]

A lot of the above is hard to comment on without riding your bike - see if you can blag a go on another 1200 in order to compare.s

That's exactly the problem, I'm on a loan 1200GS and it's soooo much smoother. Slips into first every time, no movement/slack from the drivetrain and oh so tight handlebars

 

[Bigboy]

New front discs

Hi

Just a comment , 08 model / 7000 miles ........new discs this week to replace the warped ones .......... changed by the dealer no problem

This has been the only real problem I have had with the bike, I did suffer vibration through the handle bars ... fitted "grip puppies" and a 6000 service and a few miles under it belt and the vibs are far less.

quick , touch some wood

Regards

 

[RickG]

I don't understand your comment about loose handlebars. If they are moving, how? They shouldn't move at all given that they are rigidly clamped to the top yoke.

The bike will be lots smoother after 20,000 miles as long as the throttle bodies are properly balanced

I've never experienced 'more power' after a service, the only thing a service could do to give you more power would be to fix something that's wrong, eg a very filthy air filter or a valve clearance that's tighted up to the point of holding a valve slightly open, which in not good and quite unlikely.

My front disks gave the impression of being warped (judder on braking) after about 3k miles. I ignored it and it went away at about 10k. At 75k it's still fine. I'm not suggesting yours are not warped, that's just an observation from my own experience.

 

[BeemerBaz]

Just got mine back from its 12000 mile service and its running like a dream, as it was before. £178 all in, am well pleased, Thanks Pidcocks.

 

[original_concept]

My front disks gave the impression of being warped (judder on braking) after about 3k miles. I ignored it and it went away at about 10k. At 75k it's still fine. I'm not suggesting yours are not warped, that's just an observation from my own experience.

IME of slight plusing at low speed, replacing the brake pads did the trick. Check Steptoe for a suitable set.

 

[Ollie GBR]

OK, so service complete.
It did indeed need new front discs and pads, and the head race bearing was also replaced - so good news there.
The gearbox was only half full of oil, (where did it go), and this is apparently the cause the of the clunky gear changes - time will tell, (where did the oil go)??

Thanks chaps.

Ollie

Just want to add that so far I'm very impressed with the Wollaston guys in Northampton!

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Dealers

OK, so service complete.
It did indeed need new front discs and pads, and the head race bearing was also replaced - so good news there.
The gearbox was only half full of oil, (where did it go), and this is apparently the cause the of the clunky gear changes - time will tell, (where did the oil go)??

I often wonder how many problems are caused by faulty initial preparation and/or checking by the dealer. Losing oil from a gearbox for instance. How could you not notice it? More likely some tipped out between factory and final delivery -the bike was cleaned up for the new purchaser but all levels were NOT checked. You have probaly seen the bikes arriving at the dealers, in a box with front wheel, screen etc removed. Plenty of scope for details to be overlooked for an impatient client.

 

[Ollie GBR]

Soooo, I'm still not quite satisfied that my 'clunk' is normal.
Neighbour, (Palerider), has a GSA, tested his this evening and he certainly has a 'clunk', but not as aggressive as mine
Think I'll be calling BMW tomorrow to get them to check it.

Cheers
Ollie

 

[patboy]

Just ride and enjoy. They all clunk a bit when engaging first, depends how patient you are! The gearbox will never be the smoothest compared to a jap bike but sometimes we all miss a gear and there fine. I know people call them agricultural, but there fun to ride

 

[Ollie GBR]

I agree, and I know there's some clunking to live with.
However, this is above the normal limit I feel - I'll let you know what BMW say.

Thanks
Ollie

 

[RogerJ]

Your feeling of "loose" handlebars sounds familiar. If the steering feels sloppy or wandering or not as direct as before and your tire pressures, etc. are fine.....then have them check that the bolt underneath you handlebars at the top of the yoke is at proper torque. Sometimes these loosen and give a vague feeling to the steering. Happened to mine. Good luck!