R1300GS / the good the bad & the ugly

[ChazzyB]

great review (dont know if its been posted

I don't entirely buy his explanation of the two springs and how they work totegter. To my mind, if the valve opens so the second spring comes into play, the spring rate should get decrease, as effectively, the spring just got longer. A longer spring takes less effort to compress it a given distance. If you want to make a spring stiffer you chop a bit off it to make it shorter.

 

[Clifton]

IIRC a true gallon is measured at 15c as density is affected by temperature. So if it was over 15c then the pumped gallon is smaller than a true gallon. If it was below 15c then the pumped gallon is larger than a true gallon so a full tank, from empty, will be less than 20 litres.

I think petrol from an under-ground storage tank would be consistently around 13-14c so pretty close, even shortly after filling.

 

[GB.]

If you want to make a spring stiffer you chop a bit off it to make it shorter.

Or use thicker wire.

 

[ChazzyB]

Or use thicker wire.

Sure, but this new system isn't swapping springs of two different wire gauges. It's using a valve to bring a second spring into play. Ah, so if the damper fluid on the compression stroke is also pushing a piston against a second spring, that would do it. Possibly. Thinking about it is over my pay grade.

 

[Boxerlust]

Stickywicket…If you want to have a last hurray at Hooliganism age 63 I would go big…M1000XR ! Peter Hickman M1000RR speed but GS comfort and you have a chance to scare the wife too…LOL Even a 1390 KTM will be lame against that thing…Go big or go home…LOL I am more modest age 57…I dont need a 17” front and 201 hp…All I wanted is 155 hp and a 24 liter tank to satisfy my inner hooligan but BMW let me down…again…LOL At least the old lady is happy not spending more money after buying a new car…LOL

 

[Boxerlust]

Chazzy if you chop a little off a spring it will be as hard or soft as before…Same if you preload it that is what most people dont understand…Thicker wire or that new system that BMW came out with…

 

[ChazzyB]

Chazzy if you chop a little off a spring it will be as hard or soft as before…Same if you preload it that is what most people dont understand…Thicker wire or that new system that BMW came out with…

You are wrong. If you shorten a spring it requires more force to deflect (compress it if a coil) the end through a given distance. Clamp a 12" steel rule to a bench and use a spring balance on the end to find how much force it takes to deflect it 1". Then repeat, clamping the rule at 6". You will find it requires a lot more force to deflect the end 1". That is exactly why shortening a spring increases its rate.

Next question?

 

[knutk]

I don't entirely buy his explanation of the two springs and how they work totegter. To my mind, if the valve opens so the second spring comes into play, the spring rate should get decrease, as effectively, the spring just got longer. A longer spring takes less effort to compress it a given distance. If you want to make a spring stiffer you chop a bit off it to make it shorter.

Take a look at the picture.

The spring is compressed (by means of hydraulic fluid in the damper) simultaniously with either gas in the right camber or a spring in the left chamber.

 

[ChazzyB]

Take a look at the picture.

The spring is compressed (by means of hydraulic fluid in the damper) simultaniously with either gas in the right camber or a spring in the left chamber.

OK I get it. It's two springs being compressed simultaneously rather than an effectively extra-long spring (which should be softer).

 

[Boxerlust]

Chazzy the spring rate as in how hard or soft it is stays the same if you compress or lengthen or shorten the spring…Only thing that changes how much initial force has to be brought up in order to compress…Most people dont understand that so you are not alone…LOL But the new BMW system indeed is interesting because if it was true what you said bikes or cars would come with one spring rate that fits all and all that had to be done you would get a saw and shorten the spring for your wanted rate…Or compress it with a mechanical or hydraulic preload adjuster…It does not work that way unfortunately otherwise BMW could have saved themselves from going through all the effort with their new invention and just put s metal saw under every seat of a new GS…LOL

 

[Boxerlust]

One other thing and that is Very important for the new GS Adventure…The GS that looks like one with the big tank , aluminum bags and 20 mm longer shocks…Dont call it R1400GS if it does not have a 1400 cc engine to propel all the added weight and size ! Call it R1300GS-ADV and then in 5 years R1350GS and then in 2034 R1400GS where we finally then get 160 hp…And are too old for it anyways to take full advantage of it…LOL Dont cheat and call it 1400 when its only a a 1300…That would be even lamer than advertising 12 kilos less weight where half of it is the missing center stand,passenger pegs,lithium battery and less gas in the tank…As you can make the 1250 6 kilos lighter too doing the same…And still have a better looking heavier tail light…LOL

 

[ChazzyB]

Chazzy the spring rate as in how hard or soft it is stays the same if you compress or lengthen or shorten the spring…Only thing that changes how much initial force has to be brought up in order to compress…Most people dont understand that so you are not alone…LOL But the new BMW system indeed is interesting because if it was true what you said bikes or cars would come with one spring rate that fits all and all that had to be done you would get a saw and shorten the spring for your wanted rate…Or compress it with a mechanical or hydraulic preload adjuster…It does not work that way unfortunately otherwise BMW could have saved themselves from going through all the effort with their new invention and just put s metal saw under every seat of a new GS…LOL

No, you are choosing to ignore fact. And compressing a spring is not the same as chopping a chunk out of it. And people DO chop chunks out of car springs to both lower and stiffen the ride.

 

[stick]

No, you are choosing to ignore fact. And compressing a spring is not the same as chopping a chunk out of it. And people DO chop chunks out of car springs to both lower and stiffen the ride.

To be fair they would then be cutting off the finish end of a spring which is the last closed coil , I lowered my van and had shorter springs not cut down springs as the seats are as they should be and not a shed alteration , I would imagine Koni would not advise an angle grinder lol but the correct manufactured shorter item. IMHO

 

[Clifton]

Chazzy is correct, cutting a spring will make it both shorter and stiffer. For instance an easy way to stiffen up your front forks is to cut the springs then add a spacer the same length as what was cut. A 12" coil spring is simply a rod that, stretched out, may be say 60" long. Using Chazzy's ruler example clamp one end of the rod in a vise, go to the other end and see how much effort it takes to bend the rod 6". Next cut the rod in half so it's only 30" in length and repeat, you'll find it takes double the effort to bend it 6". The fact the rod is coiled doesn't change this.

 

[ChazzyB]

To be fair they would then be cutting off the finish end of a spring which is the last closed coil , I lowered my van and had shorter springs not cut down springs as the seats are as they should be and not a shed alteration , I would imagine Koni would not advise an angle grinder lol but the correct manufactured shorter item. IMHO

I didn't go into the heating of the cut end to bend it close up and grind flat. That would blow boxerlust's mind.

Just to pour a little more fat on the fire: Of course some springs are dual rate by virtue of having a closely wound section that becomes coil bound when compressed thereby shortening the remaining spring and making it stiffer!

 

[listermint]

Having watched multiple reviews now one thing I noticed which I have to say stands out and looks particularly awful. The left and right wind deflectors either side of the screen. They are as clear as day an after thought. Bolted on post design.

It's a nitpick but they're horrible. Probably wouldn't look as poor and cheap if they where completely black. But the stand out like a sore thumb when riding and looking down .

 

[stick]

Having watched multiple reviews now one thing I noticed which I have to say stands out and looks particularly awful. The left and right wind deflectors either side of the screen. They are as clear as day an after thought. Bolted on post design.

It's a nitpick but they're horrible. Probably wouldn't look as poor and cheap if they where completely black. But the stand out like a sore thumb when riding and looking down .

But they do work , the wind protection is great in comparison with my 1250 and I thought that was good .

 

[leadfarmer]

But they do work , the wind protection is great in comparison with my 1250 and I thought that was good .

surprised me how good it is as the screen doesn’t look that big, but yes it works very well

 

[listermint]

But they do work , the wind protection is great in comparison with my 1250 and I thought that was good .

In no doubt they work. But they're an ugly after thought. The point being I can stick on any old stuff and get wind protection same as the 1250. But they really phoned it in with these. The clear looks terrible. Ali express stuff.

At this price point I'd expect more from designers

 

[stick]

In no doubt they work. But they're an ugly after thought. The point being I can stick on any old stuff and get wind protection same as the 1250. But they really phoned it in with these. The clear looks terrible. Ali express stuff.

At this price point I'd expect more from designers

I expect over the time of development the wind tunnel dictated the overall shape and not an after thought , I don’t mind it as I will be enjoying the road in front .
I have tried many screens and winglets on the 1250 and this new one is better , a lot better.