GSA Vibration

[mykickstart]

Just upgraded from 2010 1200 GS to a 2012 1200 GSA to achieve better fuel range and I am experiencing severe vibration through mostly right hand handlebar but also foot rest too. Is this something that has happened to anyone else. I am used to the boxer vibrations having had many before but this is unbearable!

 

[patzx12]

That doesn't sound right, the TC GS bikes still vibrate but they are smoother than any of the predecessors.

 

[flatdog]

Get the 'old girl' serviced to iron out any gremlins, then see how she feels.

Its a big twin and any defects affecting normal servicable items such as spark plugs and tappets can impact how they feel when running.
Vibrations...start at the cheapest fix and move on to the next is the method I'd employ anyway.

Good luck

 

[mykickstart]

Thank you for that, it has only just clocked up 3200 but supposedly had the usual services done, having said that I bought from an independent dealer and I suspect the book has been stamped with little or no service! The vibration does feel like the exhaust resonating, any issues with known exhaust mounts?

 

[Pukmeister]

I'm sure I read somewhere about the Akrapovic end cans for the GS being solidly mounted and causing vibration on somebody's bike. Don't think the stock can has the same issue.

Is yours stock?

 

[Bendy toy]

Mine is a Mk2 with Akraprovic exhaust. It's rubber mounted under gearbox and to the frame. My engine won't be as smooth as a Mk3 but all other stuff is the same.

Bike vibrates annoyingly at times but no worse in any respect than it was with standard exhaust. Engine is solid mounted to frame so there is no relative movement to cause exhaust to exaggerate any vibes.

As others have said get tappets set exactly right, balance throttle bodies and swap coils about to see if there are any spark issues.

 

[mykickstart]

Cheers folks, think I may have sorted it, balanced T/B but they seemed fairly spot on. The problem was the exhaust silencer mounting the rubber mount needed centralising almost metal touching metal which was causing a resonance.

 

[Bendy toy]

So it was vibration noise rather than vibration as in shakes.

 

[freelancefoto]

Vibes

Exhaust don't vibe on their own. More likely it a wheel weight missing and causing the problem. My rear wheel wasn't balanced properly and the rhs handlebar and footpeg. Smooth now after another set of tyres and balancing.

 

[mykickstart]

Finally got the bike into A Jeffries toady after a two week wait to be told after a 20 minute inspection that the final drive or gearbox has a problem! Amazing they told me they are not aware of known problems that cause vibration on the GSA!!! Perhaps BWM dealers don't google these issues!
Anyway I am not to worry because my 11 month old 3000 mile £14K bike is under warranty and we can book it in to strip it down in two weeks and one day!
Well I am very pleased.

 

[TLSgazza]

Finally got the bike into A Jeffries toady after a two week wait to be told after a 20 minute inspection that the final drive or gearbox has a problem! Amazing they told me they are not aware of known problems that cause vibration on the GSA!!! Perhaps BWM dealers don't google these issues!
Anyway I am not to worry because my 11 month old 3000 mile £14K bike is under warranty and we can book it in to strip it down in two weeks and one day!
Well I am very pleased.

I'm not sure what you're so pleased about , your 11 month old 3000 mile £14K bike is being pulled apart for repair, yes I'm sure you're glad you've got warranty cover but I'd be pissed off myself.

 

[Bendy toy]

C'mon nothing is perfect and at least the dealer/manufacturer is looking into it.

But I agree that some dealers seem to ignore the facts (unaware of vibration issues - yeah right). If they would get their acts together the bikes might have a less chequered reputation.

 

[Clifton]

C'mon nothing is perfect and at least the dealer/manufacturer is looking into it....

I agree. Many just blow it off saying "they all do that". Just be thankful that your dealer is attending to it on the first trip.

 

[Pukmeister]

Dealers not giving a shit....they all do that sir!

 

[TLSgazza]

C'mon nothing is perfect and at least the dealer/manufacturer is looking into it.

But I agree that some dealers seem to ignore the facts (unaware of vibration issues - yeah right). If they would get their acts together the bikes might have a less chequered reputation.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very pleased with most things the dealer has done for me, I had the bike split in half just last week to replace a leaky gearbox seal and a rear wheel bearing , all done under extended warranty with no hassle,
But mine has done 41.000 miles.
You just expect a wee bit more mileage before things like this SHOULD need doing

 

[mykickstart]

I am pleased ! (tongue in cheek) These bikes are marketed as globe trotting adventure tourers. Why can nothing made be to last any more, the vibration has probably been there since day one, the bike has had its PDI and subsequent services so what happens when it id test ridden following servicing. I made it clear to the dealer today that I had been around the garage industry all my life and I wasn't accepting that the vibration was caused by wheel weights. To be fair Allan Jeffries did not supply the bike and had not seen it before today so credit to them for taking it on and not trying to fob me off with either "that's how they all are" or "try going back to the garage you bought it from" Just rather inconvenient but that's what warranty is for!

 

[Bendy toy]

Most dealers will try it one when they can. Justify your reasons and get them to prove you wrong. They all do that isn't a valid reason.

Splitting the bike isnt really such a big deal if you have suitable stands. It takes labour time but check out the acres of plastic and other stuff to be removed from most bikes to do regular stuff like cam clearances. That's all costly labour time that has to be done a lot more often than a new clutch. Or at least it does if the warranty is to survive.