scarab1987
Registered user
How many miles have you done with new engine?
R1250GS Rattling noise
- Thread starter scarab1987
- Start date
GelandeStress
Registered user
20 miles
scarab1987
Registered user
Congrats for new engine. I would say to you that sound will reappear but don't worry. It is a characteristic of Shiftcam. When intake camshafts move metallic sound is normal. I have analyzed and checked every single part of this engine, because of this sound. Just keep going and don't worry.
My 2019 GSA used to have the exact same mechanical rattling sound especially under load going up hill as well as sometimes on the flat whilst cruising but now it’s done a few more miles it doesn’t do it anymore and the engine is quieter, smoother and stronger than it’s ever been.
How many miles in total when it quietened down ?
My 2019 is on 20k and is still pretty noisy.
scarab1987
Registered user
You mean that you replaced engine too?
I think about 40-45k miles. I’m now at 60k.
Still with original engine. It’s a shame people don’t keep their bikes longer and get to appreciate how much better these engines get once done reasonable mileage.
scarab1987
Registered user
Did you make cam alignment at 45k?
No.
bosnjo
Registered user
On my 2021 GS something strange happened last week.
I have this noise sice the first year of ownership. I noticed it's more pronounced on hot weather then on cold and I know exactly how to make it show up. On idle, quick blip on throtle (full twist) and letting it go back (all very quick), after the grip goes back all the way, I can hear something "jumping" inside the engine. It's metallic noise, like I have loose screw jumping arround the not lubricated part of the engine. That's one way.
The other way to provoke it, is riding steadily at 2000-2200 rpm and then abruptly open full throttle and let it accelerate. I can hear "click, clong, click..." metallic noise during 3-4 seconds and then it would quiet down. I could repeat this all day long and the noise would always be the same.
Last week, I lost my patience. This noise is so disturbing that I'm fed up of my bike. It has 20.000 miles now. I've spent so much money on it and it sounds like a piece of junk. So, I brought it down to 2000 rpm in 6th and then fully open the throttle, let it make noise then closed the throttle. I repeated the proces 10-15 times very quickly and violently, like I wanted something to brake down inside the engine.
Well, each time I've done it, noise got a bit different. At the end, like 15th time, the noise has disappeared.
Did I brake something? I don't kow but the noise has never returned.
Just as a side note: I've done this very, very violently, out of anger, full of rage. If I was just a little careful, maybe it wouldn't give the result I achieved.
Let's see in coming days.
I have this noise sice the first year of ownership. I noticed it's more pronounced on hot weather then on cold and I know exactly how to make it show up. On idle, quick blip on throtle (full twist) and letting it go back (all very quick), after the grip goes back all the way, I can hear something "jumping" inside the engine. It's metallic noise, like I have loose screw jumping arround the not lubricated part of the engine. That's one way.
The other way to provoke it, is riding steadily at 2000-2200 rpm and then abruptly open full throttle and let it accelerate. I can hear "click, clong, click..." metallic noise during 3-4 seconds and then it would quiet down. I could repeat this all day long and the noise would always be the same.
Last week, I lost my patience. This noise is so disturbing that I'm fed up of my bike. It has 20.000 miles now. I've spent so much money on it and it sounds like a piece of junk. So, I brought it down to 2000 rpm in 6th and then fully open the throttle, let it make noise then closed the throttle. I repeated the proces 10-15 times very quickly and violently, like I wanted something to brake down inside the engine.
Well, each time I've done it, noise got a bit different. At the end, like 15th time, the noise has disappeared.
Did I brake something? I don't kow but the noise has never returned.
Just as a side note: I've done this very, very violently, out of anger, full of rage. If I was just a little careful, maybe it wouldn't give the result I achieved.
Let's see in coming days.
Sounds like youve blown the carbon out of the combustion chambers that was causing hot spots and pre ignition.
GelandeStress
Registered user
This sounds exactly like the fault in my videos - good that you have sorted it out, regardless of the method!
scarab1987
Registered user
Please update us after few kms.
Hi bosnjo,
Finally, the sound noise have definitively gone after your 15th time violent acceleration ? Please give us some feed-back ;-)
Best regards,
David
Following this thread for some time.
From quite reliable source have heard that the noise may be coming from worn out valve guides...
Has anybody heard something similar and did the the valve guide tilt clearance check for their 1250 shiftcam?
I have some reports that 1250 with 5 000 km has already the wear limit 0,4mm and 1250 with 30 000 km has 0,9 mm worn out valve guides!!!
P.S. According to bmw valve guides can not be replaced and only option is new cylinder heads.
From quite reliable source have heard that the noise may be coming from worn out valve guides...
Has anybody heard something similar and did the the valve guide tilt clearance check for their 1250 shiftcam?
I have some reports that 1250 with 5 000 km has already the wear limit 0,4mm and 1250 with 30 000 km has 0,9 mm worn out valve guides!!!
P.S. According to bmw valve guides can not be replaced and only option is new cylinder heads.
scarab1987
Registered user
Let me not agree with you. Because noise dissappears completely when shiftcam moves intake camshaft at bigger lobes. If noise comes from valve guides, why dissappears later? When rpm increase valve guide noise, if is from there, should be more loud but it isn't.Following this thread for some time.
From quite reliable source have heard that the noise may be coming from worn out valve guides...
Has anybody heard something similar and did the the valve guide tilt clearance check for their 1250 shiftcam?
I have some reports that 1250 with 5 000 km has already the wear limit 0,4mm and 1250 with 30 000 km has 0,9 mm worn out valve guides!!!
P.S. According to bmw valve guides can not be replaced and only option is new cylinder heads.
Came here in 2025 to say that my 10k km R 1300GS has the same noise, under the same conditions. Like in the second video from the original post
the only difference is that mine is not continuous, it's much shorter and it's sometimes accompanied by a pop before or after. But the rest the same: same sound, more often when going uphill, more often when 2up riding. And it started when the bike was almost new.
scarab1987
Registered user
So you come to my conclusion. That this sound comes from Shiftcam and is a characteristic of the bike. It doesn't create any issue on the bike. Just annoying noise.
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