Bike test

[jonnyp]

If and it's a big IF, the chaps that experienced the "slapper" had the wrong mode setting, as Nutty comments, there are several variables, and the dynamic suspension over compensated because it was in the wrong setting unbeknown to the rider. An osserlation could occur in the steering.

Am I going too far?

I'm looking forward to next weekend and getting my hands on a new bike. I've had one GS befor and considered it probably the best bike I've owned however, after riding for 28 years and never coming off a bike on the road (I spent 9 years riding trials as well) I had 2 off's on the GS, the first was a low speed drop going through a ford, one second I'm looking forward and the next, I'm sitting waste deep in water. The second was more detailed and I'm happy to point an one in the direction of a link for more detail but the bike was a write off and it's left me with a titanium rod in my left leg.

The GS to me, is to a point unstable, the engine rotates 90 degrees to the direction of travel and the suspension is unconventional however it works but I believe it's a fine line........

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

If and it's a big IF, the chaps that experienced the "slapper" had the wrong mode setting, as Nutty comments, there are several variables, and the dynamic suspension over compensated because it was in the wrong setting unbeknown to the rider. An osserlation could occur in the steering.

Am I going too far?

I'm looking forward to next weekend and getting my hands on a new bike. I've had one GS befor and considered it probably the best bike I've owned however, after riding for 28 years and never coming off a bike on the road (I spent 9 years riding trials as well) I had 2 off's on the GS, the first was a low speed drop going through a ford, one second I'm looking forward and the next, I'm sitting waste deep in water. The second was more detailed and I'm happy to point an one in the direction of a link for more detail but the bike was a write off and it's left me with a titanium rod in my left leg.

The GS to me, is to a point unstable, the engine rotates 90 degrees to the direction of travel and the suspension is unconventional however it works but I believe it's a fine line........

Only scary moments I've had on a GSA are when the back let go in a corner & the bike high sided or when the bike does stoppies under hard braking & the rear tyre then goes squirrelly a bit

Apart from that they are very stable

 

[Skid06]

im delaying collecting until i know whats happening, i too had the first batch of TL1000 and i loved it, but it was always in the back of my mind that it might shake me off, and the steering damper just masks the problem in my opinion, it will also hit resale value if god forbid there was a problem with kevs bike

 

[jonnyp]

Only scary moments I've had on a GSA are when the back let go in a corner & the bike high sided or when the bike does stoppies under hard braking & the rear tyre then goes squirrelly a bit

Apart from that they are very stable

Mine high sided, ok I was aided by some twat that left oil on the road but it went so quickly which makes me think about the reactionary forces at play. The chap behind me, on an XJ900 rode through the oil with only a wobble.

I have to say all the damage both the bike an I suffered was more to do with the poorly placed road sign that I had to go through to get to my final resting point!.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Mine high sided, ok I was aided by some twat that left oil on the road but it went so quickly which makes me think about the reactionary forces at play. The chap behind me, on an XJ900 rode through the oil with only a wobble.

I have to say all the damage both the bike an I suffered was more to do with the poorly placed road sign that I had to go through to get to my final resting point!.

I stayed on, by 'opposite locking' the steering via the bars

 

[stevie Allen]

My mini rant earlier in the week moaning about the delivery date of my bike and wire wheels , now doesn't sound so bad, take your time boys , lets see what happens?

 

[jonnyp]

My wife's just read this thread.............now she's looking for the phone number for the life insurance company an muttering about increasing something or other.

She's confident the new GS is fine.........

 

[jonnyp]

I stayed on, by 'opposite locking' the steering via the bars

Didn't have time. Happened so quickly, was only doing 40 mph too!

 

[Mav]

I think that's a bit naive - the journo's are probably some of the most experienced riders out there, who do it everyday for a job

They push bikes to the limits

For 5-6 mags to report the same issue all over the northern hemisphere is significant

I bet they'll fit a steering damper like the R11R's had

5-6 mags are reporting the 2 or isolated issues - it's not that 5 or 6 journos experienced this.

And sure, they're experienced riders... but how many of them are experienced off-road? I've seen plenty of very experienced road riders get in trouble with too much 'enthusiasm' off-road. Now imagine giving people anti-lock brakes and traction control and imagine how carried away they might get...

Another recall, that's two then

I'll stick with the 1150, just like Den & just ride rather than worry what is switched on or off

It's not like you were seriously considering one...


Personally - I can't help but feel that this is a lot of hype over not that big an issue. Somehow, miraculously, no one managed to fall off from one of these violent tankslappers. We have nothing to tell us that what happened to Kevin Ash. And ultimately, has anyone one of the reporters suggested that the bike is dangerous and shouldn't be bought/ridden?

 

[Dario]

Mav in response to your post. So far i get it as three confirmed journo's having the same or similar problem. Ride magazine, Bike magazine and an American one ( name escapes me but there's a link on here somewhere ). It appears that they all happened while travelling in a straight line and then hitting a hole/rut or similar. Now i know f***k all about off road riding (know feck all about most things) but surely this should not cause the rider to lose control of the bike. Did not Kevin Ash's accident happen while travelling along a straight.We the buying public need BMW to make a statement about this.

 

[Mav]

Mav in response to your post. So far i get it as three confirmed journo's having the same or similar problem. Ride magazine, Bike magazine and an American one ( name escapes me but there's a link on here somewhere ). It appears that they all happened while travelling in a straight line and then hitting a hole/rut or similar. Now i know f***k all about off road riding (know feck all about most things) but surely this should not cause the rider to lose control of the bike. Did not Kevin Ash's accident happen while travelling along a straight.We the buying public need BMW to make a statement about this.

So there's a couple point here:

Did any of those reports say the bike needed fixing before people should be allowed to ride it? Pretty much every report seems to suggest it's a tremendous bike...

And with regards Kevin's accident - straight or no straight, off road, even harmless looking fire road off-road, it's still very easy to fall off. And when that involves a 200+kg motorcycle, things can go very wrong, very quickly... And often for seemingly no reason. I've seen plenty of people fall on flat, smooth fire trails, at very reasonable speeds.

The facts are:

3 people have experienced a tank slapper while testing a new bike.
None fell off as a result of the experience.
1 person died riding the bike off-road - and we will likely never know the reason as no one saw it.
No one has said the bike is unsafe. (Would be interested if anyone can cite a report to the contrary)

 

[ebbo]

hype over not that big an issue.

Knowing Mags don't like to upset advertisers, I think if the same mags are stick their necks out reporting these handling issues its for real.

Don't forget these thinks can happen, as has already been said, Honda Pan1300...

Keep an open mind and lets see what comes of it...

 

[red1]

No one has said the bike is unsafe. (Would be interested if anyone can cite a report to the contrary)

Non of the mags has the financial clout to dare stand up and say the bike is unsafe and withstand the ensuing court case.

 

[Dario]

Agree with what has been said re the magazine's not having the clout to stand up against BMW. An important point here has the out going model ever suffered this problem? Would i be right in saying that previous road tests of the out going model would have had some off road sections? I have owned my GS 1200 2 odd years done 11k miles and it has been brilliant. Okay i have never ridden off road with my bike ( i don't have the skill or inclination ) but i don't recall any threads about tank slappers. Yet here we have a ground up new model with issues that never existed with the old model.

 

[(RIP) Johno23]

This may or may not be a major issue regarding the new bike.However for 3/4 journos to report the same or similar problems then this certainly needs to be addressed by BMW. To break off the lock stop due to a tank slapper is incredably unusual and shit scary for the rider, even of their experience, which could be the only thing that saved him.
The only way to force BM to come clean and make some sort of statement regarding this is if people refuse to collect their bike and go through with the purchase until they have received the reassurance they require .
I'm a huge fan of The GS and really want this bike to be the dogs bollox that it should be, but this is a serious potential fault that only BMW will be able to explain.

 

[Mav]

By contrast, taken from the ADVRider review:

Tank Slapping / “weird” feelings:
I read a review that mentioned tank slapping, and it was a surprise to me. The bike was rock solid as far as I could tell. There were no shakes or shimmies that seemed out of place, just the usual ‘dirt dancing’ that all Adventure bikes provide. Huh.

And in response to the question that BMW should make a statement, what exactly do you expect them to do? They've been through years of R&D, and have even give 5 amateurs the chance to ride the bike on a proper trip. And everyone can test ride it from this weekend to actually allow people to make their own decision.

So what would satisfy you?

Out of interest, are you one of the people seriously considering buying one?

 

[(RIP) Johno23]

By contrast, taken from the ADVRider review:



And in response to the question that BMW should make a statement, what exactly do you expect them to do? They've been through years of R&D, and have even give 5 amateurs the chance to ride the bike on a proper trip. And everyone can test ride it from this weekend to actually allow people to make their own decision.

So what would satisfy you?

Out of interest, are you one of the people seriously considering buying one?

Mav, were you asking me the question?

 

[Mav]

Mav, were you asking me the question?

Yup

 

[Nutty]

By contrast, taken from the ADVRider review:



And in response to the question that BMW should make a statement, what exactly do you expect them to do? They've been through years of R&D, and have even give 5 amateurs the chance to ride the bike on a proper trip. And everyone can test ride it from this weekend to actually allow people to make their own decision.

So what would satisfy you?

Out of interest, are you one of the people seriously considering buying one?

Exactly I stand by what I said earlier, and do not believe that BMW would launch this bike to the general public if there an a potential dangerous fault. And anyone cancelling or delaying their order, get a grip FFS

 

[Dario]

Mav i am buying the new model.Given the recent documented reports i do not believe it to be an unreasonable request to have a statement or indeed some clarification on this issue from BMW.It would take for BMW to consider that there was a problem in the first place before they would comment i guess.So we are back to square one.Over critical/alarmist journos? It will not be the first time that a major car or bike manufacturer has spent time and money on R&D of a new model only for it to have unresolved underlying issues.