New to BMW Boxers - a couple of questions

[Headout]

I've not owned a BMW (except C1 which doesn't count) before so since I've just taken my 2013 LC from Chelmsford to Istanbul it has
raised some questions.
Apologies if some seem banal but you are all quite experienced with what appears to be an in depth knowledge.
I bought the bike from Motorworks with 700 miles on the clock and at first the clutch was vicious (I think the bike had sat for months)
and took another 1000 miles before it slipped as I would expect without just grabbing the engine.
So on the trip I noticed a curious noise (not sure if front or rear area) which reverberated around tunnels like a low whine if there is such a thing at, or around 50 mph (under way or with clutch in ) this changed/lessened when leaning the bike slightly to the left or right.
Also the gearchange which makes a Harley seem like a Honda I,ve noticed is covered everywhere, but has anyone fitted the larger oil feed pipe to the crankcase?
And while trying to find the source of the noise I ran slowly the bike in first gear on the centre stand - has anyone had occasion to do this and should it be so awful that the bike lurches clonks and feels like it will lock up any minute!

Thanks for your thoughts (or abuse)

 

[Mr K]

All sounds perfectly normal apart from a "700 mile bike out of Motorworks".

 

[patzx12]

My 13 WC had a really bad gearchange, i put it on youtube. Just search patzx12, This was fixed by BMW my bike qualified for a THRUST WASHER UPGRADE. This sorted the issue and the gearchange was as good as my present 14 GSA.
The engine makes a lot of mechanical noise but i got used to this fairly quickly.
Did you ride it to Istanbul? I would like to see that story in a trip report.

 

[Headout]

All sounds perfectly normal apart from a "700 mile bike out of Motorworks".

A picture seems to be emerging that no amount of noise necessarily means a problem until it becomes so.
Though I feel man love for the thrust washer upgrade!
As to low mileage and Motorworks - saw the bike on their web site but knew nothing about what they do (Hmm)
so thought nothing of it, anyway turns out after 659 miles the owner in Hammersmith impacted with something which
required new centre stand, new passenger footrest thingy, new gear lever and scuff where the centre stand hit the swing arm.
None of these I felt were a problem but I guess if an insurance company totalled up a complete repair at Park Lane I bet it would have been hefty!

 

[Headout]

OH and as to riding to Istanbul, yes through the Croatia , Serbia and Bulgaria route ( visited Bumot panniers in Sofia [Brilliant outfit] )
even meeting a bear along the way !
then back through Italy (and Amalfi coast)

 

[blues n twos]

If the bike is running the Anakee tyres that is most likely the culprit. Lots of threads on here about the noise they throw up and you can almost change the tone by a slight weight shift

I noticed it on my recent trip to Austria. At certain speeds they drone and even with ear plugs fitted it became quite tiresome

I noticed it at higher motorway cruising speeds about 80 mph.

Seems better now I'm on nearly 5k as opposed to when they were new.

Jon

 

[Headout]

If the bike is running the Anakee tyres that is most likely the culprit. Lots of threads on here about the noise they throw up and you can almost change the tone by a slight weight shift

I noticed it on my recent trip to Austria. At certain speeds they drone and even with ear plugs fitted it became quite tiresome

I noticed it at higher motorway cruising speeds about 80 mph.

Seems better now I'm on nearly 5k as opposed to when they were new.

Jon

Thanks for your post Jon, that certainly ties in with the sideward movement , reassuring its nothing more major.
must do a video clip for 'analysis' of the driveshaft when on centre stand in first/second gear as it stalled the engine
and seems close to locking up (the bike twitches as it fights the uj's)
thats for another day :-I

 

[Grim Reaper]

Don't run the bike with it on the centre stand, the driveshaft is not in a plane that lends itself to smooth running when hanging down at max droop.

 

[Rockred]

+ 1 for not running it on the centre stand for the reason stated by Grim Reaper.

 

[Headout]

+ 1 for not running it on the centre stand for the reason stated by Grim Reaper.

Ok , Yes I take your point gentlemen.
I guess I thought having seen the BMW promotional videos of the GS flying through the air and running under it's own weight
one minute then nearly off the ground the next, it might be designed to be ok (short duration).
are you saying that when the suspension is at its lowest point it is running beyond working parameters?

 

[Voz]

+2 for not running it in gear on the centerstand. I did with my 13 GSW and it made clanging noises and did not appear to be connecting 100% with the shaft/rear wheel gears.

I ran Tourance Next for 9500 klm and I would not consider them noisy.

I never experienced any whining sounds and if I did I would have recorded it and taken it back to the dealers poste haste.

The engine was a bit of a clatterer especially at idle and and rpm just above, as a new engine it sounded as if it was old and worn out and ready to detonate, but that's just the GS sound I was told. This was my first ever GS, at 9500 klm the clutch nut undid itself and lunched the gearbox and engine. I have a new one on order, lol.

Still, most others go for longer than mine, this I acknowledge, just get it checked out so you know where you stand. Maybe the rear swingarm has been knocked/bent out of L/R alignment?

 

[Bendy toy]

Mine clatters at idle in neutral but not with clutch pulled. Noise is caused by gear teeth touching under no load. At slow rolling speed there is zero noise.
Top driveshaft UJ has quite a large angle to bend so it will cause some torque pulsing and more clatter if bike is run in gear on centre stand.
Strangely though the back UJ is likely to fail first. The small turn angle does not allow the needle rollers to move properly so grease rubs away and rollers wear flat.
Mine at 50K needs a new back UJ but the seemingly more stressed front UJ is fine.

 

[WindyChuffer]

After reading this thread, tomorrow I'm going to put my bike on the rarely used centre stand and run it in gear. Just for fun. Wanna hear those knocks and rattles.

 

[Headout]

Thanks very much to everyone who has educated and illuminated me to the Meister of motorcycles - I do feel much happier knowing fine engineering can exude such a raft of audio variety !

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Hang on guys - you're missing the main point......




You had a C1?

 

[pistole]

Mine clatters at idle in neutral but not with clutch pulled. Noise is caused by gear teeth touching under no load. At slow rolling speed there is zero noise.
Top driveshaft UJ has quite a large angle to bend so it will cause some torque pulsing and more clatter if bike is run in gear on centre stand.
Strangely though the back UJ is likely to fail first. The small turn angle does not allow the needle rollers to move properly so grease rubs away and rollers wear flat.
Mine at 50K needs a new back UJ but the seemingly more stressed front UJ is fine.

this is a watercooled bike that you're speaking of ?

 

[Headout]

Well spotted Mr Angus,
Yes I commuted every day to London and covered 15000 miles !
In the end (and it was the end) a tipper truck coming in the opposite direction lost it's back wheel and we collided hard - but after flying down the road I unclipped the seatbelt and stepped out (up).
So I walked away rather than was driven away in an ambulance ,so would never - ever be anything but in admiration !
(I also had shortfall insurance so I got all my money back too - blimey )