Niggle jolt from front wheel

[adventuredon]

Hi all, me again. Had a small off when lady driver knocked me from behind about a month ago. (Just got bike back now). I was stationery at lights as well! All fine, bike now repaired (me thinks) new pannier rack on order from Ardcase as original. Anyhow, here is what I have a problem with. Occasionally when riding at slow speeds in a straight line, or when turning, I feel a little bump coming up through handlebars. Feels like a jolt as if I have driven over a smallish rock. But no such rock lies there!.

Happens occasionally and feels almost as if steering column is wobbly (bit like a bicycle when the headset is loose and the forks can wobble back and forth when brakes are applied - or like a loose front wheel clattering against the forks on a cycle. - hope that makes sense.) It also feels lkie a loose bolt but not found that either. Dealer is looking at it and running tests etc but finds nothing - so far. It could almost be likened to the feeling like the suspension / hydraulics that release after a while after pressure has been applied. It rises 1cm or so. I have felt it a few times now and it is very noticeable and worrying. Not felt it before andbike has now got 6000 miles on it. GS 1200 2010 model. Ideas good folks?

 

[socket086]

just wondering if it has esa as i had a fault on an 08 which sounds somewhat similar, front shock was changed.

 

[adventuredon]

what did you tell them/ how did you explain it?

just wondering if it has esa as i had a fault on an 08 which sounds somewhat similar, front shock was changed.

Hi, thanks for reply,
How do i sound more knowledgable than I am and describe my problem? What was your problem description, how did you get them to see the need for replacement?

 

[Beemerman59]

Did the front forks take a hit in the accident? what your describing could be the result of increased stiction in the front forks. If they are slightly out of shape they may not be a smooth as before and have a tendency to "jump" erratically rather than smoothly move up and down.

 

[socket086]

mine felt like a hydrolic release.
dealer could not find any thing wrong.
refused to take back bike unless they would give me a letter from bmw stating if i crashed due to fault they would be liable for any damage to me or bike,
bike sat for four days and every day i would phone and ask what are they going to do, saying things like where will i send the bill for taxi's and just kept annoying bmw ireland.
result they put a new shock in, i think it was to stop me being so annoying but it cured my problem.
never give up if it's under warrenty.

 

[adventuredon]

hydraulic bump.

it does feel like that sort of thing. a sudden pop up/release. at higher speed you don't feel it, only after slowing down and bimbling. Thanks for the advice. Yesterday they said they had done all tests etc. I said no, not right, do some more investigating. Today they never rang back - maybe they did some tests, maybe they didn't. I'll totally take on board what you say. Thanks a lot for advice. Glad to know I am not the only one.

 

[adventuredon]

Update to my GS 2010 Problems

Thought I'd update the history here. Thanks all for the answers and suggestions. This is not meant to be at the expense of dealers or BMW etc etc . I post this merely so that others may hear of what problems can and do happen. So, here goes:


My e-mail to the tech to explain myself better
:
Hi Paul, brought my bike in over the weekend. Spoke to James on
Monday but deferred accepting the explanation and asked hio to look
into it more:
Can I get a status update on my bike and the state of play?
Errors reported should be
1) sensitive - massively so- throttle. Bobbing along in 3rd even
going over a speedbump causes change in throttle position - even with
me aware of it and being relaxed and aware of it, it is very unstable.

2) jolt from front wheel at slow speeds - almost like a hydraulic
release (pop), or riding over a small rock. Feels bit like a loose
headset and wheel or nut loose. Very worrying as it has just been in
for the accident repair. Feels very loose and am hesitant to ride it
unless you can guarantee it fixed, or be prepared to cover costs if an
accident occurs. Awkward as it is intermittent and only occurs when
bike warm.

3)Stalling issue - pulling off it needs a blip on throttle
occasionally to ensure fuel is available, even more so when changing
down from 3rd to second at a yield sign and then letting clutch out to
accelerate out of corner, sometimes there is no fuel/power and I have
to clutch in rather quickly and rev it then go again. Awkward as it
is intermittent. Have looked on forums and had various suggestions.
The most likely is to reflash the software on the BMS-KP unit that
will sort out the stalling ?

4) New query, as my bike is a MAy 2010, buld date is close to the news
that there might be a cam shaft sensor recall. Is my bike one that
will need this?
Appreciate the time and effort, but please understand it has just got
6000 miles, is under warranty and does not perform as it did at 5000
miles, so please run all and sundry tests and let me know.

their reply today Thursday

Good afternoon Mr Smith

Your bike has been inspected by our master technician with reference to
the highlighted faults and is now complete and ready for collection.

He noticed an imbalance between the cylinders which could cause a
running issue, he has carried out a synchronisation. Further checks
showed that the rear shock absorber had poor damping which would
certainly effect the handling of the bike, we have replaced this unit
under warranty.

To put your mind at rest the camshaft sensor recall was carried some
time ago so this has been completed.

My latest response
Good news then. Good to know that there was an issue. I appreciate the efforts and the brief explanation you have offered. Can you explain how reaer damping would give me a bump / jolt issue at the front wheel of the bike? And also why 100 miles after a 6000 mile service the synchronisation should be effected? Appreciate the response.

((what i cannot fathom, is why would the rear dampening effect the front wheel?)) ideas anyone?

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

It's wholey possible that what you believed came from the front started from the rear but only you will know for sure if they've diagnosed the fault correctly by taking the bike back and putting some miles under the wheels

 

[adventuredon]

Yep, off to collect it tomorrow. The whole rear shock has been replaced..Lucky me I guess. Looking forward to some noise again! Car is is so mundane lol

 

[skywalker]

If you push the bike around at walking pace and experience a slight knock from the forks whilst turning the steering lock to lock slowly then the fault lies in the forks lowers -its caused by the stanchion sticking against the plastic bushes that are in the fork leg bottom. We've tried new top yolk bearings in a bid to cure the issue the fault is still there & only manifests itself with weight on the front wheel. The fork lowers will need replacing.Get them to reflash your software as I've previously mentioned to you as your getting fobbed off re your stalling issue and everything else from what I can see.

 

[skywalker]

Thought I'd update the history here. Thanks all for the answers and suggestions. This is not meant to be at the expense of dealers or BMW etc etc . I post this merely so that others may hear of what problems can and do happen. So, here goes:







My latest response
Good news then. Good to know that there was an issue. I appreciate the efforts and the brief explanation you have offered. Can you explain how reaer damping would give me a bump / jolt issue at the front wheel of the bike? And also why 100 miles after a 6000 mile service the synchronisation should be effected?

Can't wait for their reply on that one !!

 

[adventuredon]

update

Okay, I called and spoke to the dealer yesterday. They have replaced the whole rear shock and explained that this may have caused the release / pop feeling. Not sure until I get there. I will perform your test as well and let you know how i get on. They have also reset the synch on it. They say it might have happened when the lady knocked me over. I wont know if it is fixed until I ride it or test it out as suggested, thanks. I did ask the dealer to reflash the unit. I have made it quite clear that I will simply return bike again if it is not corrected. Keep you posted and thanks all.
D

 

[adventuredon]

Ok, I have collected the bike and I did the walk around thing on full lock both ways. No rubbing, noise or anything other than me looking like a weirdo in the parking lot! lol.
Went for a spin and the bike is once again the beauty I knew I wanted! Feels so good to ride it and the handling is obviously very different. They said the rear damper was not working correctly. Awesome bike and sound back!

 

[Spike]

Glad to hear uo got all the issues sorted.

From what i can gather just from my brief talking to the slaes/service people at my local dealer they are more than happy to put anything right thay may be a problem.

spike