1250 buzzing / vibration

[Monikakaka]

So the bike has been to the dealership and unfortunately I was left unimpressed. Incidentally, as part of the vibration through the seat I noticed that the date stamp on the riders seat was dated 2016 ( on a 2023 bike). The response from Vertu Shipley service department was “we would never change a seat, that’s how it is” I saw red and wrote to the business manager who confirmed there are loads of reasons to change a seat, apologised and the seat was swapped for an appropriate one. So far so good!! At this point I have spoken to 3 people and written to another explaining that the issue occurs as soon as you touch 4750 rpm. After an hour in the workshop the tech said “we’ve checked your bike and test ridden it to 4000 rpm and there’s nothing wrong. There wouldn’t be, the problem starts at 4750rpm. His reply was “nobody told me that” so in short BMW Motorrad Shipley have lied to me about the seat, wasted half a days travel, patronised me with a video of the bike stating tyre tread is legal. (The bikes only done 1800 miles) and they can’t pass on an accurate message having been told 3 times and put it in writing. So they never actually investigated the issue. Oh well it’s under warranty in case there is a subsequent serious issue, so I’ll carry on. I’ve put some grip puppies on and rubber foot peg inserts. No faith in the dealership whatsoever.

 

[snerkler]

So the bike has been to the dealership and unfortunately I was left unimpressed. Incidentally, as part of the vibration through the seat I noticed that the date stamp on the riders seat was dated 2016 ( on a 2023 bike). The response from Vertu Shipley service department was “we would never change a seat, that’s how it is” I saw red and wrote to the business manager who confirmed there are loads of reasons to change a seat, apologised and the seat was swapped for an appropriate one. So far so good!! At this point I have spoken to 3 people and written to another explaining that the issue occurs as soon as you touch 4750 rpm. After an hour in the workshop the tech said “we’ve checked your bike and test ridden it to 4000 rpm and there’s nothing wrong. There wouldn’t be, the problem starts at 4750rpm. His reply was “nobody told me that” so in short BMW Motorrad Shipley have lied to me about the seat, wasted half a days travel, patronised me with a video of the bike stating tyre tread is legal. (The bikes only done 1800 miles) and they can’t pass on an accurate message having been told 3 times and put it in writing. So they never actually investigated the issue. Oh well it’s under warranty in case there is a subsequent serious issue, so I’ll carry on. I’ve put some grip puppies on and rubber foot peg inserts. No faith in the dealership whatsoever.

Disgusting. I too have had and am still having very bad service from another Vertu Motorrad dealership, poor sales service, after sale service and they still owe me £10,500 for my bike I traded in (been two weeks now, chased them twice already). We've also had really bad service from Vertu Land Rover, needless to say I think Vertu Motors Group as a whole is shocking

 

[GSian]

I wasn't impressed with Shipley Vetru when I bought my 2023 GSA, So I went to Barrie Robson in York and bought it. No such issues there.

 

[Monikakaka]

I wasn't impressed with Shipley Vetru when I bought my 2023 GSA, So I went to Barrie Robson in York and bought it. No such issues there.

Thank you for this. I’m in Huddersfield so Vertu has the monopoly ( shipley and Rotherham. Williams in zManchester is not an inspiring ride so I thought I was stuck. But York it is

 

[snerkler]

Disgusting. I too have had and am still having very bad service from another Vertu Motorrad dealership, poor sales service, after sale service and they still owe me £10,500 for my bike I traded in (been two weeks now, chased them twice already). We've also had really bad service from Vertu Land Rover, needless to say I think Vertu Motors Group as a whole is shocking

Thought I'd update this as I've finally received my money

 

[Monikakaka]

That’s something positive!. I’m starting to get similar experiences from other “corporate” businesses. As soon as they have your initial cash that’s it, job done. Anything else just stone wall the customer with BS in the hope they will just go away. Or maybe, as I’ve just retired, I have more time to analyse how I am actually being treated, and I want value that befits the cash I’m spending. Or maybe I’m just turning into Victor Meldrew. But…. Having more time means I’ve got the opportunity to make a bloody nuisance of myself, where appropriate.

 

[Fullchat]

That’s something positive!. I’m starting to get similar experiences from other “corporate” businesses. As soon as they have your initial cash that’s it, job done. Anything else just stone wall the customer with BS in the hope they will just go away. Or maybe, as I’ve just retired, I have more time to analyse how I am actually being treated, and I want value that befits the cash I’m spending. Or maybe I’m just turning into Victor Meldrew. But…. Having more time means I’ve got the opportunity to make a bloody nuisance of myself, where appropriate.

To be fair its seldom these day that you get hassle free interactions and decent customer after care. Always have to chase. So you may be busy in retirement.

 

[vitoman]

Did you get the vibration resolved? I have a similar vibration?

 

[Monikakaka]

I am currently on a bike trip in France. Interestingly, after all the utter nonsense and BS from UK dealerships I went into the Motorrad dealer in Auxerre. Basically because they have no axe to grind or incentive to fob me off. They were switched on. Primarily they admitted it was a known characteristic. Yahoo! They said it was the handlebars picking up the resonant frequency of the engine and acting like a tuning fork. To test this ( to satisfy the keyboard warriors and woke, the next bit was done under total test conditions on a private piece of land -NOT) I put the cruise control on at 77mph in 6th gear (circa 4700rpm) and placed my hands all along the top of the forks, top yolk, bar clamps, between the bar clamps and the first few inches of the bars from the clamps and they are vibe free!!! The bar ends were buzzing away happily. So that is sufficient proof to me that it is a resonant frequency issue and not a mechanical issue that needs resolving. So I have ordered a pair of Evo Tech bar end weights. They are 200% heavier than standard which should help. I’ll let you know how I get on when I get home next week.

 

[SBD]

I notice you say Rallye

I am assuming you have the standard pegs which do not have the rubber inserts (so your foot is directly onto a metal peg)

I also have a Rallye (2019 GSA) but I fitted the inserts....I feel no vibration/buzzing

Good that you got some unbiased advice, that you can trust.


Apropos Bigcats’ post, I was loaned a Rallye when my TE was being fixed under warranty, and it felt more buzzy to me. I put it down to the pegs. You might want some rubbers as well as the bar end weights.

 

[Monikakaka]

The rubber inserts went in a year ago, see previous posts on this thread. It’s the resonant frequency of the bars we are talking about now

 

[vitoman]

Hello guys and particularly @Pukmeister and @Monikakaka I am a newbie. I have been subscribed for years but now I have a 21 1250gs with very low miles and i have the same vibration. starts around 4750 making a tinkling ringing noise then starts to vibrate really badly under your seat and particularly if you shut off on the over run down from 6k through this rev band. Did you ever decide what the cause of the vibes.? Does accurate valve clearances at mid range .12 and .36mm and reset both the exhaust cams to TDC with the factory jig do the trick? I'm finding i have to ride around the buzzy section. I drive mainly 30-4000 revs which is very nice but limiting. When I rev it hard it doesn't sound happy like its straining. I don't think its good for the engine long term. I can't do PM's, do I need to make so many comments or likes to be given permission?

 

[Monikakaka]

Hello guys and particularly @Pukmeister and @Monikakaka I am a newbie. I have been subscribed for years but now I have a 21 1250gs with very low miles and i have the same vibration. starts around 4750 making a tinkling ringing noise then starts to vibrate really badly under your seat and particularly if you shut off on the over run down from 6k through this rev band. Did you ever decide what the cause of the vibes.? Does accurate valve clearances at mid range .12 and .36mm and reset both the exhaust cams to TDC with the factory jig do the trick? I'm finding i have to ride around the buzzy section. I drive mainly 30-4000 revs which is very nice but limiting. When I rev it hard it doesn't sound happy like it’s straining. I don't think it’s good for the engine long term. I can't do PM's, do I need to make so many comments or likes to be

 

[Monikakaka]

This sounds the same as mine. See earlier reply yesterday. I will update you when I get home and fitted the bar end weights. I have just done nearly 2000 miles in a week on mine and it’s now showing 4000 in total. To be honest it feels better for having had a good run for a few thousand miles. I’m still putting the bar ends on as it’s not ideal.

 

[Monikakaka]

Update: returned after 2000 miles trip. The bike has now done nearly 5000 miles and there has been a definite improvement in the buzzing, which I can only put down to an extended running in that’s loosened it up a bit, in a good way. The bar end weights arrived when I got home, they are now fitted. They have provided even more improvement. Any vibes, buzzing, tingling that exists now is no worse than any other bike I’ve ridden, be that BMW or other marque. I am totally satisfied with a bike that “feels” like I think it should!! I can confidently say, in my case it’s not about “hiding” other issues ( the bikes under warranty ) it’s a resonant frequency issue with the bars, see above for the details. Also my bike is a Rallye version which has a smaller screen. One thing I did notice when I did my 77 mph test, some of the perceived vibration was created through wind being directed onto my upper arms. If I tucked my elbows in the buzzing reduced. Summer gloves were worn throughout fyi. Hope that helps those who have got in touch to ask.

 

[BrokenPaw]

Update: returned after 2000 miles trip. The bike has now done nearly 5000 miles and there has been a definite improvement in the buzzing, which I can only put down to an extended running in that’s loosened it up a bit, in a good way. The bar end weights arrived when I got home, they are now fitted. They have provided even more improvement. Any vibes, buzzing, tingling that exists now is no worse than any other bike I’ve ridden, be that BMW or other marque. I am totally satisfied with a bike that “feels” like I think it should!! I can confidently say, in my case it’s not about “hiding” other issues ( the bikes under warranty ) it’s a resonant frequency issue with the bars, see above for the details. Also my bike is a Rallye version which has a smaller screen. One thing I did notice when I did my 77 mph test, some of the perceived vibration was created through wind being directed onto my upper arms. If I tucked my elbows in the buzzing reduced. Summer gloves were worn throughout fyi. Hope that helps those who have got in touch to ask.

Well, just came across this thread as I am thinking of a 1200/1250 GS again.
I had a 2020 1250GSA, and after a few thousand miles a mild buzzing became a not so mild buzzing. `I initially thought it was cold winter weather giving me numb white fingers, but come Spring I still had white digits. I had the bike thoroughly checked out, and nothing untoward was found; it seemed that it was just a characteristic of the Shift Cam, and did not really get bad until the bike had a few miles on it (so not evident on a demo bike prior to purchase). I put the Evotech bar ends on, and that helped - but did not really cure it.
I then had a ride on a R1300GS, and the lack of vibes and white fingers sold me on it.
So, I'm keeping the 1300, but fancy a well used 1200/1250 as a winter machine. I was looking at a RE Himmie 450, but they are getting close to the price of the BM, and not half the bike.
So, from reading this thread, my rose tinted specs have fallen off!
Do you think the 1200GS is maybe a better bet?