Rear Wheel Washer/Weird Handling

[Beagood]

It is correct

That's how they come from the factory, when new

Over the years and over multiple owners, the washer may have been lost on your ABS Oilhead BMW

The thot plickens. I've attached a screengrab of the RealOEM fiche showing the back wheel. It looks like bikes with 'ABS electronic Evo' don't have a washer/shim whereas those with 'Integral ABS' do. Mine is the former, I think - with servo brakes and ABS. It's a bit confusing because one would assume that both types are 'integral'. I'm awaiting a callback from Motorrad Battersea to see what they say...

 

[Steptoe]

Some have it, some don't. I've never given it much thought.

The old K series from 1984 onwards were the same.

But washer or not it's not really going to have any affect on the handling.

 

[Beagood]

The thot plickens. I've attached a screengrab of the RealOEM fiche showing the back wheel. It looks like bikes with 'ABS electronic Evo' don't have a washer/shim whereas those with 'Integral ABS' do. Mine is the former, I think - with servo brakes and ABS. It's a bit confusing because one would assume that both types are 'integral'. I'm awaiting a callback from Motorrad Battersea to see what they say...

Just re-read the fiche - failed to see I was referring to the FRONT wheel, sorry. JohnnyB, looks like you are right...

 

[Beagood]

Some have it, some don't. I've never given it much thought.

The old K series from 1984 onwards were the same.

But washer or not it's not really going to have any affect on the handling.

You are probably right - it's a psychological thing. I dropped my tyre pressures back to 32/36psi and it tracks sweetly now. My tyre fitters fitted the Tourances with 36/42psi which is probably too high for my weedy frame...

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Where were you when you reinflated the tyre after the puncture?
You might have some inferior air in there.




...try fiddling with the pressures. I've found it make a fair old difference to the feel of the thing.

 

[Beagood]

Where were you when you reinflated the tyre after the puncture?
You might have some inferior air in there.




...try fiddling with the pressures. I've found it make a fair old difference to the feel of the thing.

Hmmm, you might be onto something - lumpy london air - maybe the big pig needs some of that heady highland mist in it's boots...

You are right about the pressures, it makes a big difference...

 

[Welshman]

Hmmm, you might be onto something - lumpy london air - maybe the big pig needs some of that heady highland mist in it's boots...

You are right about the pressures, it makes a big difference...

I had my suspension wound up after our Lesotho trip, it was set for luggage and tough terrain, I slabbed back on highway 5 hours at high tyre pressures, then took it out on a saterday morning it was like a rigid...... change the settings

 

[Dr Bones]

My 97 R1100GS (ABS) hasn't got one. But like you said it's not to say it didn't have one originally. I can't say the handling is affected by its absence, but then I've never ridden the bike with the washer fitted, maybe it would be better?

I hope that made sense



Just checked the fiche

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partxref.do?part=36317653286

Doesn't look like they were fitted to GS pre 1998

 

[Beagood]

Some have it, some don't. I've never given it much thought.

The old K series from 1984 onwards were the same.

But washer or not it's not really going to have any affect on the handling.

And finally to Neil's point...

I checked my Haynes manual and the tolerance for the rear wheel offset is 9mm from centreline (!) so a 3mm washer isn't going to make a lot of difference to our tractors...

 

[richierex]

The washer will make no difference to the handling.

When Kawasaki went from the ZRX1100 to the 1200 they had to move the motor to the left 1/2 inch. To keep the chain in line, they moved the wheel 1/2 inch also and it makes NO DIFFERENCE when riding the bike.

Its exactly the same as people who tell you to put exactly the same amount of oil in each fork leg OR ELSE!!!!!!

Well a MOTO GUZZI Sport has the spring in one leg and the damper in the other, and as they are joined together by a top and bottom yolk/triple tree and an axle and also a mudguard bracket, guess what, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE>

 

[Trullion]

Dunno about 1150s, but my'96 1100RS (ABS) has a spacer, as did my 2000 850GS (non-ABS). FWIW so did my K100RS and K75S, both ABS.

There have been several posts over the years on the RS Owners forum about this. It seems that some bikes (uncrashed and undamaged) have a tendency to pull to one side (allowing for road camber), causing shoulder ache and odd wear on the front tyre. Several owners have measured the wheel alignment and concluded that the rear wheel is offset significantly. They have therefore removed the spacer. Some claim that this has resolved the issue, others that it helps but doesn't entirely resolve it. I have just removed mine, to see if there is any difference. Steering seems a bit sharper, but it could well be that I'm imagining it.

I pass this on FWIW. I doubt that on a GS with wide handlebars and lighter, sharper steering it makes much odds whether the spacer is fitted or not.

 

[richierex]

Dunno about 1150s, but my'96 1100RS (ABS) has a spacer, as did my 2000 850GS (non-ABS). FWIW so did my K100RS and K75S, both ABS.

There have been several posts over the years on the RS Owners forum about this. It seems that some bikes (uncrashed and undamaged) have a tendency to pull to one side (allowing for road camber), causing shoulder ache and odd wear on the front tyre. Several owners have measured the wheel alignment and concluded that the rear wheel is offset significantly. They have therefore removed the spacer. Some claim that this has resolved the issue, others that it helps but doesn't entirely resolve it. I have just removed mine, to see if there is any difference. Steering seems a bit sharper, but it could well be that I'm imagining it.

I pass this on FWIW. I doubt that on a GS with wide handlebars and lighter, sharper steering it makes much odds whether the spacer is fitted or not.

Thats the thing with the internet, some people will tell you anything and then it becomes true.

The ZRX1200 that I had did not track to one side or the other and the rear wheel was at least 1/2 out of line with the front one, and it affects other bikes as well.

 

[B4ndit]

I spoke to BMW today who were able to state that my bike has never had the spacer and doesn't require it.

So to stop all those nasty internet rumours visit BMW and see what they say.