Front wheel - run out

[Jon P]

Just noticed that the front wheel is not true. Whilst riding (at any speed) I can see that the front wheel has a bit of a 'wobble' - maybe a couple of mm either side. All my previous GSs have had perfectly true wheels.

I have not hit anything so assume it was made like this. Referrring to BMW it seems that they allow 1.5mm as acceptable.

Anyone else notice that their wheels are not straight? and should I ask my dealer to straighten it?

 

[davedyer]

Which wheels - alloy or spokes?

 

[Jon P]

I keep forgetting that they do alloy wheels - mine are spokes.

 

[Dellis]

Jon,

If this is while you're on the bike could it be the tyre?

Dave

 

[Slowdown]

Get a DIY gig - I used a clamp and a pencil.

How old's the bike?

I got my rear replaced under warranty, no problem - 2mm runout and slightly oval.

 

[Jon P]

It is a new 1200 Adventure and I have done 3,000 miles.

It is definately the rim - and yes I made a home made jig - the rim is a good couple of mm out in two places. The BMW data says that 1.5mm is within tollerence.

This is my 6th GS and I have never had a bent rim before - I just wandered if anyone else has noticed this on theirs'?

 

[martinc.d]

Jon P I have a wobble on my R12 GS Adv rear wheel had two BM dealers check it out to make sure and both said the same thing it is within the tollerence,The spoked wheels are put together in two halves then welded and some times not quite so true. As you say to watch the wheel spin i thought i had got a buckle. It does not seem to cause any ill affects ie,bike unsettled or vibs.
MD

 

[Jon P]

Jon P I have a wobble on my R12 GS Adv rear wheel had two BM dealers check it out to make sure and both said the same thing it is within the tollerence,The spoked wheels are put together in two halves then welded and some times not quite so true. As you say to watch the wheel spin i thought i had got a buckle. It does not seem to cause any ill affects ie,bike unsettled or vibs.
MD

Hi Martin - I reckon I am coming to the same conclusion, it seems (reading around the place) that this is a common issue - just not one that I had experienced on my previous bikes with the same wheels. Of course now that I have noticed it I am going to convince myself that I can feel it! Just like all the folks that reckon their bars are not straight!

I will drop in at my dealer and let him have a look anyway and see what they say. You would think though that by now it would be possible to make a wheel round? Let me see.........when was the wheel invented?

 

[martinc.d]

Jon P, The first thing they will check is the spokes ie, the `ping` test then look at the spoke tops on the top edge of the wheel to see that they are all sitting in the slot nicely and none of the heads are missing.
The hardest part as you say is coming to the conclusion that you feel it, I convinced my self i could feel a slight movement at slow speed but after speaking to the dealers ive put it out of my mind
MD

 

[JohnP]

On a recent trip to Germany the front wheel started to wobble at speeds anything over 65MPH it happened suddenly after braking hard at about 90MPH on the Autobahn. A couple of days after arriving at our destination I had had enough and took it to the nearest BMW dealer when after inspection they said I needed a new wheel. Three days later it was replaced under warranty. Before I took it in I checked the wheel whilst on the centre stand. There was about 2mm. radial run out and 5mm. axial run out. All the spokes passed the 'ping' test ie. all seemed equally tight. Now I have the new front wheel everything is fine. Never had this problem on me mountain bike!

 

[Jon P]

Update - I am off the the BMW member rally in Wisconsin next week - it will be a 4,000 round trip so I took the bike to the dealers..............they checked everything and reckon it is OK and that a 'bit' of runout is no problem. Oh well, I guess I'll just get on with the riding then!

After many years of 'swallowing'......."oh, they all do that sir....." I fail to see how it can be that BMW can no longer makes their wheels round............maybe it's the latest invention? A none round wheel?

Incidently, I don't normally do rallies / gatherings (isn't motorcycling meant to be about freedom and getting away from it all? - the last thing I usually do is go where there might be others!) but I went to the rally last year just because it was in my State, Vermont only a hundered miles up the road - I had to go and have alook at 10,000 BMWs...............so this year I am going again just for the ride........and to spend some timw with 10,000 BMW riders! Interestingly BMW sell fewer BMWs in the whole US than they do in the UK and yet the owners club has over 35,000 members!

 

[GSwadd]

My rear wheel has 2mm lateral (sideways) runout measured on the rim edge. Still have to get in to see the dealer as I feel it's way too much and looks sh*thouse while riding. Can't feel any odd effects though even at 200kph.... which I never do cause 100 is the limit......right?

 

[Jon P]

4,000 miles later I took it back to the dealers - the vibration has got worse (a change of tyres just seemed to highlight the problem). They fitted a new wheel and new discs - it is a new bike. I have been told that the bent wheels that BMW say are within tollerance can not be felt through the bike - could bloody well feel mine - I had convinced myself that I had become paranoid and was imagining the vibration and bars shaking etc - well the difference is night & day. The bike just rides smoother, even effects handling. Bent wheels are not OK!

 

[roadrider]

4,000 miles later I took it back to the dealers - the vibration has got worse (a change of tyres just seemed to highlight the problem). They fitted a new wheel and new discs - it is a new bike. I have been told that the bent wheels that BMW say are within tollerance can not be felt through the bike - could bloody well feel mine - I had convinced myself that I had become paranoid and was imagining the vibration and bars shaking etc - well the difference is night & day. The bike just rides smoother, even effects handling. Bent wheels are not OK!

Jon,
Glad you got the wheel sorted.
do you have any pics of the Rally ??

 

[Jon P]

Nah - didn't take any pictures at the rally (one man can only have som many pictures of bikes without the wife catching on!), but got some shots of stuff enroute - including moose in the road!

In truth I was dissapointed with the rally - as usual they seem to have them next to main roads so loads of traffic noise in the night, they never get a site with proper toilets (so loads of porta loos - lovely!) and showeres in the back of trucks?? Is this not the 21st Century? If ever you go to a big show in Germany it seems that they helicoptor in huge stainless steel bathrooms with attendants!

Usual stuff for sale at the rally - how many pieces of crap can one person really nail to their bike? - they really do wear their badges of honor a lot as well - or maybe I am just not a rally person. To cap it off it was in fact a pretty boring ride as well! I am going to stick to Maine, Northern New Hampshire and Northern Vermont in future!

 

[blackstoun]

mine too

The dealer changed my front wheel under warranty , thinking this was the cause of my wobbly bars problem , but the bars still shake