1200GS low speed snatching

[Mike Gough]

Hi, just bought my first BMW (R1200GS) spent all weekend riding round the lakes, love the bike.
Takes some adapting to after riding a Honda V4, but getting there. Can someone advise me about riding at very low speed. The bike is very jerky, the throttle seems to be either on or off ..... as I'm edging forward slowly....when I ease off the thottle the bike jerks , I get clatter from the engine.
Are all GS's the same? Is there a technique to get round this, or should I take it back to the BMW garage to get is sorted? Any advise please as this is the only thing that is spoiling the bike (oh! apart from the indicator system).

 

[bigchris]

Hi, just bought my first BMW (R1200GS) spent all weekend riding round the lakes, love the bike.
Takes some adapting to after riding a Honda V4, but getting there. Can someone advise me about riding at very low speed. The bike is very jerky, the throttle seems to be either on or off ..... as I'm edging forward slowly....when I ease off the thottle the bike jerks , I get clatter from the engine.
Are all GS's the same? Is there a technique to get round this, or should I take it back to the BMW garage to get is sorted? Any advise please as this is the only thing that is spoiling the bike (oh! apart from the indicator system).

Its the fuel injection system and many twins are like that.

Use clutch control

 

[GSmonkey]

Yep, gotta use the clutch. If you try to disentage the clutch fully at low speed, it will become jerky and you'll feel the backlash in the drive train. Once you're used to it you won't notice it.

 

[seb]

Congratulations on getting the bike

As above. I also though it was jerky around town, engine made a strange noise, and it seemed to bounce up and down a lot when I first got it. Takes time to get used to riding it, before everything levels out. even the indicators make sense after a while. Stick with it.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Don't know about the clatter, but I have experienced the jerkiness and used to pull the clutch at low revs to prevent this. Apparently, in the pre-emisions controls days the engine mapping would have had the mixture running richer at low revs to prevent jerkiness.

I found later engine mappings improved the situation on my 05 12GS and the problem seems to have disappeared totally on my Oct06 12GSA.

Tim

 

[GSwadd]

As above. I also though it was jerky around town, engine made a strange noise, and it seemed to bounce up and down a lot when I first got it. Takes time to get used to riding it, before everything levels out. even the indicators make sense after a while. Stick with it.

The indicators will NEVER make sense....!

ps: own 2 BMW's now and still think it's the stupidest bit.

 

[Bones]

The indicators will NEVER make sense....!

Like the man said . Why use one button when you can have 3? It's not as if you haven't got enough to do with your right hand. - not that !!

 

[Mike Gough]

Snatchy Beemer

Thanks Guys. A bit concerned though Tim reckons his 06 is a lot smoother, where as my 06 is anything but smooth at low speed.

 

[Bart]

I've an 06 12 as well and yes it can be snatchy at low speeds if you don't use the clutch. It's no different from any other big twin I've owned (had 2 TDM's over the years). You'll just have to get used to feathering the clutch when dawdling around. Most of the fuel injected bikes I've ridden have had a similar problem some are just a bit worse than others. I use a Honda pan euro on occasions and it's exactly the same if the clutch isn't used to smooth things out.

Hope you enjoy the bike - done 10000 miles on mine last year and lookin forward to a repeat performance this year.

 

[Mike Gough]

Further to 'Snatching'

Hi Guys,
Further to this thread, took the bike back to dealer (Southport Superbikes), very helpful ran it through the computer while I wated also took for a test ride. Two problems A) Throttle had some extra play which they adjusted and B) Me. So used to riding super smooth honder V4...bit of a culture shock adjusting to the digital throttle control on the GS. However adjusting the throttle has also made quite a difference.

Spent all day in the Lakes / North Yorkshire...this is such a capable bike, I'm so smitten.

Happy riding all!

 

[johnhorsley5]

Same on a 1150GS

I get the same problem on my 99T R1150GS
It's very snatchy at low throttle openings.
Is this curable?
Would removing the Cat do anything (apart from less weight and more NOx)

John

 

[Aggy]

Ive had mine now a couple of months and the snatching of the throttle is a pain. Its a combination of the fuel injection and the backlash in the drive train. But, I live with it. Some days its worse than others, dont know why. I just run it in a lower gear than needed. Okay, my pillion has to hang on tighter round town than doing hurruumph mph round the twisties so they dont get catapulted off the back but its one of those things.

 

[lloyd]

I am really particular about throttle response and have noticed my 2007 has an on/off feel to it at lower revs but I am thankful because my previous bike in comparison was a big KTM which was the worst bike I have had the misfortune of riding. It's all relative. I have removed my cat and if anything its slightly worse.

 

[EggChaser]

The indicators will NEVER make sense....!

ps: own 2 BMW's now and still think it's the stupidest bit.

I was talking to a HD V-Rod rider a couple of weeks ago and he has similar left and right paddles - apparently they hardly ever get comments that their indicator controls are an issue so why of why do BMWs get such grief.

P.S. I like the controls the BMW way.