Destroyed LC. New GSA instead?

[Poshtosser]

Engine noise is subjective - one persons bag of spanners is another's smooth - just read ride reports in magazines to see the same bike described totally differently. The LC like all boxers have their own characteristic engine noises, in some ways the LC 'clatters' more than the old bike, in others it is quieter and smoother.

Once you get the idea in your head that the engine noise isn't right then one starts imagine all sorts of things that aren't correct. I suspect that your bike is completely normal.

That is what I thought when I first raised the issue of engine noise. When the mechanic told me it was OK I went along with it because I thought it must just be in my head and I was imagining it but then it turned out that it was totally buggered! I would suggest that if you are unsure of your engine noise get a second and then a third opinion. If they all say it's OK then it probably is in your head! Curiously I could only hear the wrong noise when I had my helmet on - it sounded OK to me without it on. I guess the helmet filtered out some of the ambient noise.

 

[Poshtosser]

I was given a replacement 2014 TE (not arrived yet and i spec'd it loaded) and they gave me £1280 in the end for my inconvenience. I could have had a GSA but because there price and date for retail has not been confirmed yet, BMW also offered a full refund on the invoice price i paid for my 2013 bike, and said a £500 deposit would would secure me a GSA, needless to say i went for the GS as a GSA would be just to big for me.

Thanks for that information. That is exactly the sort of result I am after.

 

[Skid06]

Engine noise is subjective - one persons bag of spanners is another's smooth - just read ride reports in magazines to see the same bike described totally differently. The LC like all boxers have their own characteristic engine noises, in some ways the LC 'clatters' more than the old bike, in others it is quieter and smoother.

Once you get the idea in your head that the engine noise isn't right then one starts imagine all sorts of things that aren't correct. I suspect that your bike is completely normal.

its not normal and its not character, ive been ridin bikes far to long to know if its a good, bad or character sound, its deffo got the clutch problem, stood at the side of the bike, first gear selected with the lever in, press the starter and it moves forward a good 6 foot its also very noisey at standstill with the clutch lever out and its getting worse and that's the reason i haven't taken the bike back, because like the original op, i don't want to get fobbed off by an overworked underpaid techno who just cant be bothered and says, its ok its just character mate

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

its not normal and its not character, ive been ridin bikes far to long to know if its a good, bad or character sound, its deffo got the clutch problem, stood at the side of the bike, first gear selected with the lever in, press the starter and it moves forward a good 6 foot its also very noisey at standstill with the clutch lever out and its getting worse and that's the reason i haven't taken the bike back, because like the original op, i don't want to get fobbed off by an overworked underpaid techno who just cant be bothered and says, its ok its just character mate

Seems like there's a new career looming for Engineer, as a BMW mechanic, because he always trots out ....................'they all do that, sir'

 

[Skid06]

Seems like there's a new career looming for Engineer, as a BMW mechanic, because he always trots out ....................'they all do that, sir'

just booked it in at piddies, doing the clutch mod no issues, also giving me their demo for the day to do a back to back comparison with the grinding issue... while im there ill see if there's any jobs goin for him round the back

 

[Engineer]

Seems like there's a new career looming for Engineer, as a BMW mechanic, because he always trots out ....................'they all do that, sir'

The 1150s had their 'characteristics too' - mostly surging, knackered gearboxes and rear drives I recall

 

[Engineer]

just booked it in at piddies, doing the clutch mod no issues, also giving me their demo for the day to do a back to back comparison with the grinding issue... while im there ill see if there's any jobs goin for him round the back

Don't bother they don't pay enough - just let me know how much better the demo bike is and how much better yours is after the mod.

 

[Skid06]

going in on thursday, so ill let you know

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

The 1150s had their 'characteristics too' - mostly surging, knackered gearboxes and rear drives I recall

Surging maybe, but not the other 2....................you must have had a bad one or you don't know how to ride a shaft driven bike properly yet

 

[jonnyp]

stood at the side of the bike, first gear selected with the lever in, press the starter and it moves forward a good 6 foot

If that is really happening and I don't doubt you for a second, you really do have issues.

My bike does not do any of that. If I start it in gear, clutch in, it does not move. I can feel just a little pull, but nothing I would not expect.

You could try one thing which could confirm it's only down to the clutch.

Tie the clutch leaver back to the bar and leave it over night, tomorrow (with out removing the tie) start the bike in gear and see if it moves. (This is something I have to do on a trials bike as the clutch plates bind, that or start it and look out for trees!!). It may not help much but if it is the clutch binding then either the push rod (which has been mentioned many times before) is too short so just not breaking the meniscus of oil and hence the drag or the wrong oil is being used!!!

 

[The Grey One]

I would ask for a full refund and go buy a Honda.

If you think such problems couldn't happen with a Honda, or any other make come to that, you are seriously deluded. Everything mechanical is subject to failure. Sounds to me that in this case the dealers have done all that could be reasonably expected of them. As has been said getting stroppy won't help and suggesting you throw your dummy out of the pram and buy another brand of bike is hardly helpful. I see absolutely no reason in this case for a full refund. It's a mass produced machine, talk of a premium product is just self delusion, a small percentage will fail. We should judge things not so much by the failures (provided they are rare) but by the way the dealer and manufacturers deal with said failures.

John

 

[Engineer]

Surging maybe, but not the other 2....................you must have had a bad one or you don't know how to ride a shaft driven bike properly yet

Never owned one, they were just a bit too agricultural for my tastes - I just read all the problems reported on this site and others about how the shaft drive barely lasted as long as a good chain drive.

Oh and the agricultural gearbox! and the 8 gazillion pounds that you had to spend when the clutch failed at 50,000 miles

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Never owned one, they were just a bit too agricultural for my tastes - I just read all the problems reported on this site and others about how the shaft drive barely lasted as long as a good chain drive.

Oh and the agricultural gearbox! and the 8 gazillion pounds that you had to spend when the clutch failed at 50,000 miles

Are you sure you're going senile, you must be confused and talking about the 1200GS - which exhibits all 2 of these issues................in abundance

Never mind,if you have never ridden one - your opinion doesn't count then and is incorrect anyway...................

You'll never 'get it' and will never appreciate how good they are in reality

 

[Engineer]

Are you sure you're going senile, you must be confused and talking about the 1200GS - which exhibits all 2 of these issues................in abundance

Never mind,if you have never ridden one - your opinion doesn't count then and is incorrect anyway...................

You'll never 'get it' and will never appreciate how good they are in reality

I will never appreciate 85bhp and 250kg compared to 125bhp, more torque and 230kg - you are correct, I am sure they were wonderful in their day - a mate has a very nice shiny black one since new in 2005, it looks lovely (apart from the corrosion after barely 30,000 miles) and he likes it but he must be 60 now compared to my youthful 57 so I can forgive him

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I will never appreciate 85bhp and 250kg compared to 125bhp, more torque and 230kg - you are correct, I am sure they were wonderful in their day - a mate has a very nice shiny black one since new in 2005, it looks lovely (apart from the corrosion after barely 30,000 miles) and he likes it but he must be 60 now compared to my youthful 57 so I can forgive him

Guess we'll agree to differ, good job all folks are different

I had a good look around a 2014 12GS WC, on Weds with wires and it didn't scream 'buy me'

I'll ride mine and you ride yours, that's what life's all about and they're all GS's at the end of the day

 

[Jumblemo]

Engine noise is subjective - one persons bag of spanners is another's smooth - just read ride reports in magazines to see the same bike described totally differently. The LC like all boxers have their own characteristic engine noises, in some ways the LC 'clatters' more than the old bike, in others it is quieter and smoother.

Once you get the idea in your head that the engine noise isn't right then one starts imagine all sorts of things that aren't correct. I suspect that your bike is completely normal.

This is so true, and less refined noise is definitely a boxer trait. It's even true of the boxer in a 911. I've an almost new 997 gen 2, and have to remind myself that the asthmatic wheezing and mechanical noises, which you wouldn't get in a Japanese V6 or V8, is what they call 'character', and is completely normal.

When I run these side by side they make a wheezy clattery din that sounds like an orchestra tuning up in a busy canteen.

 

[Poshtosser]

Hijacked?

Is this what is known as hijacking a thread?

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

why do some people bang on about more power and less weight = a better bike?

what a load of shite.

(just sayin)

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

why do some people bang on about more power and less weight = a better bike?

what a load of shite.

(just sayin)

Because they believe the marketing and journalistic hype

 

[Frankh]

Better

why do some people bang on about more power and less weight = a better bike?

Because it's true isn't it