GS 1250 grinding feeling

My 2021 suffers from the same problem. I did extensive investigation, my friend that is Suzuki racing mechanic did the same, dealer did the same... No joy! My suspicion from the beginning was that what I felt was drive shaft splines moving as the rear wheel is going up and down on road imperfections. The friend (Suzuki racing mechanic) couldn't confirm that but he said, for him, it was the only possibility. When my bike got to 5000 miles, I decided to do preventive maintenance on drive shaft. When I opened it, it was almost dry on splines. I lubed it with recommended lube, a lot. After that, the feeling was 90% gone. So my theory was confirmed. It was splines moving in and out and that makes you feel like something is loose. And it only happens on small road imperfections, not on a big ones.
Now, another 5000 miles later, of that "90% gone", it came down to 50% but it has never come back to what I felt before servicing the splines.
So, nothing to worry about. It's just the nature of the drive shaft working.
 
Well, it has to be said the dealer so far have been fantastic. Their Tech took it for a ride and he couldn’t really find what I was on about.
But the service manager took me at my word and has re done all of the engine mounts to ensure the engine is sitting properly in the frame etc, had the splines lubed, bearings checked and greased where needed.
I’m off to test ride it tomorrow…. If it’s still duff, he’s said they’ll swap out the wheels and tyres from a ‘loaner’ to see if that make a difference.
Can’t fault them for trying… I just hope it does the trick!
 
It sounds as though the dealership are doing their best to cover all the bases, well done to them. Good luck with the ride tomorrow, and thanks for the update.
 
Test ride complete - Its much better…
They re lubed the drive shaft splines and wheel bearings. Loosened the engine mount bolts, checked engine alignment and re tightened. Checked the Knuckle on the drive shaft.
Seems to have lessened the issue…
It could also be the tyres that hadn’t been warn on bends at all… and as the techs have scrubbed the tyres more, and I did today… that may have been it.
We’ll wait and see… but if it carries on, it’ll go back, but it felt much better today.
So it’s getting valeted and returned to me!
Well done Sycamore BMW Peterboghorror…. You’re great!
 
Hi guys,

I recently took delivery of a EX - BMW company bike, a GS 1250 rallye. It has a little over 3000 miles on it. I appreciate that any issues are going to be covered under warranty, but wanted to find out if anyone has suffered the same following issue.

I took it out for its and my first ride today on a road that I know very well that runs out of town from my home. It has left and right sweeping bends and subject to a speed limit of 40 mph. Tipping the bike into a left-hand bend everything is fine and when riding with a bike straight up again the bike is fine. However, when the bike is tipped into the right-hand sweeping bends I can feel what I can only describe as a dry grinding bearing feeling from the bike. As soon as you take the bike straight back up again, it disappears drop it back into a right-hander it comes back. I have spoken to the dealer, and they are going to have a look at it for me. I have checked the tyre pressures, the issue also appears in all gears.

Clearly the previous owner didn’t do much cornering, as the tyre is obviously worn a little in the central part but anything that would have included any fast flowing bend work, clearly hasn’t been done as the bobbles are still on the tire just off centre. I am assuming that this isn’t the issue.

I have been riding BMWs for years both Work and personally, and have never experienced this, which is why it is worrying me on such a new bike. I don’t want to be getting into a major argument with a dealer, as I know this is an issue and I don’t want to be fobbed off.

Any ideas?
I m going to randomly suggest what you feel you are hearing is not mechanical grinding but vibration and frequency amp of the (usually Tourance) tyres rolling. Can you try different tarmac or ideally some smooth field/dirt road? Is the sound the same? I doubt it.
 
I had the same with my first set of tyres when part worn. The cupping on the front tyre sound like a worn wheel bearing when on the smooth surface of the French motorways and keeping a good pace.

Barry
 


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