Fuelling issue at 30mph ?

[Coz]

Just picked up my new 1200GS yesterday and apart from the dealer forgetting to fit the alarm all is going well so far except for...

At 30mph in second or third gear, so around the 3000 rpm mark, with a neutral throttle (I think that's what you call it) it does seem rather 'jumpy'. Is this normal/known problem, can it be sorted or will it sort itself out?

Any info or links would be much appreciated and apologies for the rather non-technical explanation.

 

[birdseye]

It seems to be normal. The engine is lumpy in the 2000 to 3000 rev region with a perceprtible "speeding up" or surge as you slow down through this rev range under engine braking. The throttle is also very on / off from idle

There has been some past talk of updated engine management software, but you bike will have the latest up to date set up anyway.

The on / off seems to be in the nature of fuel injection. The lumpiness / surge is BMW and its been with them ever since they started fuel injection ie its not peculiar to the 1200.

You learn to live with it, like you do with the gearbox and other quirky bits even including the indicators. After all, you bought this bike because it wasnt a Jap IL4. Wonderful bike to ride even if the engineering isnt really up to Jap ( or even Triumph) standards.

 

[birdseye]

Just to add one thing. This forum, with all the reported problems, tends to encourage a sort of mechanical hypochondria. You listen to people's woes (you almost never hear from those like me with no problems at all) and then start wondering if you have the same bike problems, did you do the right thing buying itetc.

Ignore them. BMW have an excellent rep for dealer service so any difficulties will be dealt with. Just enjoy the bike.

 

[Richyboy]

on/off fueling

This problem is common to many fuel injected bikes and only realy been solved by updated engine management settings ie power commander etc.It seems that only the jap makers with exception of triumph have really overcome this problem with thier injected bikes only in the last 2 years becoming as good as carbs for smooth response etc at low revs.I currently have a suzuki gsxr 1000 (awesome injected fueling)and am looking to trade to an adventure, i rode the adv and noticed this immediately.Although it is annoying in slow traffic its just a minor niggle and if i were you i would just get used to it!

 

[Coz]

Cheers guys, I guessed it was probably part of the 'character' of the bike.

As I said, apart from this niggle, I'm more than happy with my decision so far.

 

[Chris Terry]

I know we have 12's because we like them, but some of these "features" are in fact faults, which can and should be rectified. BMW like to consider themselves as engineering experts with the highest standards. I for one, would like more pre production development and proactive after sales. This jerk & snatch throttle is spoiling a great bike ride, and can be dangerous. More and more traffic means this fault manifests itself more often. We pay the most and should expect & receive the best.
All that said market forces will prevail & anyone looking at the 12 should ride in heavy traffic before buying. On the open road the bike is superb!.

 

[GrinningGSer]

but you bike will have the latest up to date set up anyway

Depends when it was built... there is a fairly recent update and at the end of March 05 the dealer advised me to avoid it and await the next version, which may be out now... I am checking shortly. Yes- I have the same issues, such that I found riding at 30mph very tiresome- but seem to have accustomed to it and at 2000miles, the engine is more flexible and will now chug along at lower rpm.

Yes- this site makes me neurotic, I have just been shaking my rear wheel until I can finally feel some small lateral movement. Perhaps I have loosened it .

 

[Big Lee]

You`ll notice the enine wil loosen up a lot over the first 1000 miles & <3k revs will feel better

 

[Pukmeister]

I had the same issue, solved by the latest fuel map (last month).

 

[GrinningGSer]

I had the same issue, solved by the latest fuel map (last month).

I'll second that.

Surging completely gone after software update. Now as smooth as a boxer ever can be and decelerates uniformly and no longer surges at 2500rpm Cruises better at 30mph
The software must have completely altered the fuel mapping because bike feels quite different- it seems not quite as torquey when accelerating from standstill, but generally smoooother and I prefer it now.

Nov 94 bulid.March 95 delivery.

 

[Emoto]

I have to agree with the thought of going ahead and breaking in the engine before worrying about any minor issues. The bike changes over the first few thousand miles and will run smoother and better after break in.

The good news is that a BMW dealer can upgrade your engine management software as new versions become available, so you will not be stuck should an improved version come out.

 

[Dave Price]

You'll find as the engine gets a few miles in, it gets smoother and pulls 30mph quite happily in 4th or 5th gear.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Re: I had the same issue, solved by the latest fuel map (last month).

I'll second that.

Surging completely gone after software update. Now as smooth as a boxer ever can be and decelerates uniformly and no longer surges at 2500rpm Cruises better at 30mph
The software must have completely altered the fuel mapping because bike feels quite different- it seems not quite as torquey when accelerating from standstill, but generally smoooother and I prefer it now.

Nov 94 bulid.March 95 delivery.

My experiance and conclusions too

Andres

 

[Mouse]

Re: I had the same issue, solved by the latest fuel map (last month).

Nov 94 bulid.March 95 delivery.

You must have the oldest 1200 on the planet

 

[GrinningGSer]

You must have the oldest 1200 on the planet

Yes Mouse, it must have been in a cage somewhere before I got to ride the beast

The point is, seriously, that those of us with 'new' bikes, may think that we have the updated software, whereas this is obviously not the case

Not only is surging corrected, but also maybe flat battery/ failure of canbus to power down (see flat battery thread).

Update, which I asked politely for, took 1hr 15mins in workshop on my bike ( I heard on this site that it was 45 mins), so any demand is an issue for BMW and was not volunteered at my 600mile service. It is possible that it will not be done unless asked for.

100 fab miles in sunshine through Cotswolds today and bike brill.

 

[guffter6969]

Had my 1200 serviced at 600 miles at the back end of May and the jerkiness appeared, could have been there before but had not noticed it, it's starting to piss me off so it will be going back for a look at

 

[Chris Terry]

Re: Re: I had the same issue, solved by the latest fuel map (last month).

You must have the oldest 1200 on the planet

Just one point, is this software patch reversible if we don't like the "feel" of the bike after ??.

 

[TheJoker]

Apart from the software comments - if it's a new bike, it really doesn't like running for the first 1000 miles - mine was just horrible. Wouldn't go below 2500 rpms, and above 5000-6000 rpms it was absolutely horrible...

Give it ~3000 miles and it'll lose those "issues", but give it another 5000 miles and it starts to go smoothly...