Bad, bad, bad, bad vibrations

[WiiMW]

Sorry if this has been covered before ... but I am new here

Vibrations ....

I took a 09 1200GSA on a test ride today(it had 4300miles on it) ... mix of everything motorway /town/ open As/ twisty Bs ... for about 1:45 Hours.

It seemed a bit vibey especially over 3k rpm ... is this normal?
By the end of it I had some numbness in my right hand
Is the GSA 1150 any different in this respect?


The screen was "OK" - I am used to a naked bike, so used to no protection.
The screen even at its top position directed the turbulence into my helmet... felt like it needed to be another 7-8cm taller (probably look stupid that big!) ... or even drop it right down so the turbulence hit a little lower..
- Anyone got any thoughts on this?


Fuelling didn't seem 100% either ... perhaps overfuelled - popped & farted on overrun ...



.... and another thing ... on the motorway was it was quite gusty ... the GS kept "waggling" the bars ever so slightly ... did the same route on my naked and it was 100% planted



interested in you thoughts ... I was expecting to be "blown away" by a bike that is £13k .... but wasn't really ... might have to try another just to be certain ...

The Dealer was convinced there was nothing wrong with their demo machine

 

[theop]

they all do that Sir - nothing wrong with the specific bike..

Vibes coma and go - go mostly

GS riding is a way of life really - you soon get used to the irks (and the slowness of the things when you are coming from sportbikes), but you also get slowly pulled into their very appealing daily life with them.. They are very stable at most types of terrain and make supremely comfortable laden long distance machines...

If you are small (no offence) and credits the biking experience by top end screams ( I can see the appeal - I ve had plenty of 4cyl faster bikes), then there is a chance that a GS just won't be for you. Not now anyway..

On pricing, I agree with you... we, bmw owners, pay too much. But so do Hogs and Ducatis too.. They are just too expensive for what they are at all measures...

Well, one can always get a 3k Africa twin - a very similar bike (slower still though more capable off road) to any GS in mentality...

 

[RickG]

Usually much less vibey after 10-15k miles. Throttle balance is critical. No numbing vibes on mine, but it's done 75k miles

Actually lowering the screen can feel better as the air hits you square on rather than your head catching the turbulance, exactly as you say.

Shouldn't pop on the overun unless it's poorly set up but the new ones run very lean to pass Euro-regs

the 1150 is slower and heavier and more ponderous but in some people's view that's better.

They are what they are, it's of little value trying to compare them with other bikes. If you like 'em you end up loving them warts and all. They ought to be faultless for the money but they aren't. Exactly as theop says, neither are hogs or dukes, they are just special and inexplicably we're happy to pay over the odds for them just because.

Seriously, have a decent ride on another one just in case you had a duffer and if it still doesn't make you grin it's possibly not for you.

 

[dogman]

I have a brand new 09 GSA with 400 miles. Mine is the same. Bit vibey but hoping it wear off as some suggest. I have put some foam grip puppies on and this helps. They all pop a little on overun as did my 08 GS. These bikes are an aquired taste no doubt. The jury is still out for me. If it's slick smoothness you are after, then look elsewhere, the GS will not be for you. Try the 800GS perhaps?

 

[mechcanico lee]

i have a 58 plate gsa 8k miles , it does all the things you say , fueling glitches , poping on overun mainly down to very lean mixtures for the later bikes checked throttle body sinc and it was spot on .
The boxer engine design is very old 1924 a think was the first one ,it will never be as refined as some of the jap engine stuff its just its nature.

I have the same view as yourself WiiMW a just wasnt blown away with a 12 grand bike, saying that a have now got the 800 gs and love it ,its just as quick , i would say faster round the twistys it can be thrown around like a motocross bike, really good fuel consumption, really makes me smile every time i go out on it good fun , try one a see what you think

 

[Brian ROSEN]

I have the same view as yourself WiiMW a just wasnt blown away with a 12 grand bike, saying that a have now got the 800 gs and love it ,its just as quick , i would say faster round the twistys it can be thrown around like a motocross bike, really good fuel consumption, really makes me smile every time i go out on it good fun , try one a see what you think [/QUOTE]I think it all depends on what you have been riding and become accustomed to in the last few years. I thought that the 800GS was very good value for money and certainly encourages you to throw it around - but the 1200GS feels more substantial, more relaxing and stable. I even think it is more refined - but I have become immune to the boxer vibes and am not sure if I notice them!

 

[L'Escargot]

Sorry if this has been covered before ... but I am new here

Vibrations ....

I took a 09 1200GSA on a test ride today(it had 4300miles on it) ... mix of everything motorway /town/ open As/ twisty Bs ... for about 1:45 Hours.

It seemed a bit vibey especially over 3k rpm ... is this normal?
By the end of it I had some numbness in my right hand
Is the GSA 1150 any different in this respect?


The screen was "OK" - I am used to a naked bike, so used to no protection.
The screen even at its top position directed the turbulence into my helmet... felt like it needed to be another 7-8cm taller (probably look stupid that big!) ... or even drop it right down so the turbulence hit a little lower..
- Anyone got any thoughts on this?


Fuelling didn't seem 100% either ... perhaps overfuelled - popped & farted on overrun ...



.... and another thing ... on the motorway was it was quite gusty ... the GS kept "waggling" the bars ever so slightly ... did the same route on my naked and it was 100% planted



interested in you thoughts ... I was expecting to be "blown away" by a bike that is £13k .... but wasn't really ... might have to try another just to be certain ...

The Dealer was convinced there was nothing wrong with their demo machine

Sir,may I be so brazen as to ask where you got your Demo from ?
You might want to PM me on this !
Cheers.
Charlie.

 

[WiiMW]

Would it be indiscrete of me to mention the dealer?

I'll PM you ...

but if the collective thinks it worth knowing I'll post the dealers name??

 

[Brooner]

Mines pops and farts lots on the overrun, and does it more now it has an Akrapovic can on it!

But it handles better and the fueling seems smoother.

I am sure there are technically better bikes out there, but I cant think of anything I would rather have.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

I may be wrong but....

I hve the impression that my 2008 model (12:1 compression ratio) runs more smoothly and with less popping on the over run when I fill with 98 (which I generally do as it is often only about 1 centime more expensive and the pump is less crowded

 

[(RIP) Arkwright]

vbrations

I thought the vibrations on my 06 GS were so irritating that I considered changing it for something else..............until I fitted a Remus system and got rid of the cat.............the difference was unbelievable..................and 7 miles a gallon more!

Duncan

 

[Chris Terry]

I thought the vibrations on my 06 GS were so irritating that I considered changing it for something else..............until I fitted a Remus system and got rid of the cat.............the difference was unbelievable..................and 7 miles a gallon more!

Duncan

Has anyone else found this ?

 

[streaky]

Has anyone else found this ?

yes once the cat is removed the vibrations are minimal,

 

[Yonkyo]

My 4 month old 09 GSA is going in for its 6k service tomorrow. It was also a bit rough and vibey for the first few thousand miles. However, at around 5k miles it became uncannily smooth.

I can also recommend fitting Remus headers combined with the OEM can. This combo sounds great, removes the 5krpm flat spot and boots overall performance.

I also recommend using Shell V Power or BP Ultimate. My GSA seems to run much smoother perform better, and I get around 3-4 extra mpg.

Simply put. With just a few simple mods. My GSA has gone from being a great bike to a brilliantly capable and addictive riding machine.

 

[WiiMW]

Well, I test rode another bike (used) and bought it ...

No-where near as vibey as the 09 demo machine I tried the other day
this one didn't waggle the handlebars in gusty winds either

 

[SiMo]

Well, I love my 08 GS (with Akra exhaust) - and the more miles you do, the smoother the bike and the gearbox gets.