steering TOO light

[naza]

Hi

I feel my new 08’GSA (ESA version), has a very “light” steering.
It shakes quite a bit while riding over 100mph with the panniers on, it shakes with medium wind blasts and while overtaking big trucks.
My previous 1150GS was an absolute rock in the same situations.
I also feel crossing regular road bumps, produces quite an impact on the front shocks, and severe shaking of the front wheel.

Does anyone agree with me, or it’s just my bike with some suspension problems?

Cheers!

MAC

 

[Shep]

The 1200's are always a little more flighty/agile/lighter at the front, but it is something you get used to.

If the rear shock is set as from BMW, mine was very under damped and needed a full turn on the rear damper screw to control and a good 2 turns on the preload to maintain a good ride height. Front shock seems best set at its softest (and it still feels too hard at that)

Enjoy your new bike

Shep

edit: sorry i've realised you may have the ESA version, if so, i doubt much of the above would apply

 

[naza]

tks

Hi Shep!

Yes sorry I forgot to mention it has ESA. (just added it to the original post)

Thanks anyway

MAC

 

['Nuffsaid]

Set it to sports mode and leave it there ... forgot to say ...you will need dental work after 150 miles

Hi Shep!

Yes sorry I forgot to mention it has ESA. (just added it to the original post)

Thanks anyway

MAC

 

[Malcvtr]

Hi Shep!

Yes sorry I forgot to mention it has ESA. (just added it to the original post)

Thanks anyway

MAC

I'm not having a go at ESA here, but could there be a problem with your suspension? I must say that I've never found the 1200's steering to exhibit the same behaviour as yours. I'd have it checked out if I were you, mate, just to be on the safe side. Your dealer should be only too happy to check it out. To put your mind at rest, they should allow you to take their demonstrator out for comparison.

 

[Wizard]

If it's just with the panniers on, then the issue could well be that the angle of the panniers on the 1200 means that airflow will push down on the rear wheel, thereby lightening the front.

Or you could just slow down

 

[naza]

lightneess

Hi

Yes you can all be right, but since the "cyclistic" (English is not my mother language I’m not sure to always use the right words) was completely reviewed in this 08 model, that sensitivity can be normal.

This weekend I was cruising trough mountain roads here in PT, one time I was changing direction, maneuvering, the front wheel “stepped” on a cigarette-box sized stone and the steering trembled so much that I nearly lost the grip on the handlebar.

I’ve received a letter from BMW asking to take the bike to the dealer, to be submitted to a software update, in order to correct some detonation and acceleration problems, and also to replace the tail led lights, which seem to have some kind of defect, and need replacement.

I’ll tell them again about this “lightness” I’ve already done, and they said it was probably caused by the panniers aerodynamics (or lack of it)

Cheers!

MAC

 

[Shep]

Its a long time since we've heard anything about them, but check your pinch bolts on the forks

Do a search

Shep

 

[mumbo]

try preload

I had a similar problem. It seems to have gone away when the rear preload was cranked up. I also had wandering steering when stopping which seems to have gone away once i put both feet down together when stopping. Good luck

 

[Engineer]

Hi

I feel my new 08’GSA (ESA version), has a very “light” steering.
It shakes quite a bit while riding over 100mph with the panniers on, it shakes with medium wind blasts and while overtaking big trucks.
My previous 1150GS was an absolute rock in the same situations.
I also feel crossing regular road bumps, produces quite an impact on the front shocks, and severe shaking of the front wheel.

Does anyone agree with me, or it’s just my bike with some suspension problems?

Cheers!

MAC

Recomended maximum speed with luggage is 80mph

 

[cookie]

Recomended maximum speed with luggage is 80mph

07 bikes must be faster

 

[Wapping]

Recomended maximum speed with luggage is 80mph

Is that not a minimum figure?

 

[Wapping]

The only problem I have ever had with truly light / skittish steering on my 1200GSA was when I ran it with Dunlop D607 tyres.

The same tyres worked fine on my vanilla 1200 GS but were truly horrible on the GSA, so much so that I took them off and sold them.

 

[EasySushi]

Hi

I feel my new 08’GSA (ESA version), has a very “light” steering.
It shakes quite a bit while riding over 100mph with the panniers on, it shakes with medium wind blasts and while overtaking big trucks.
My previous 1150GS was an absolute rock in the same situations.
I also feel crossing regular road bumps, produces quite an impact on the front shocks, and severe shaking of the front wheel.

Does anyone agree with me, or it’s just my bike with some suspension problems?

Cheers!

MAC

Hi Mac,

I ride a 1200gsa, put my bike in for a service and was given a 08 1200gsa as a loan.The first thing I said to the service guys when I got back to pick my bike was how light the front end was on the new 1200gsa. My bike is rock solid.


Ty

 

[naza]

tks

Hi Mac,

I ride a 1200gsa, put my bike in for a service and was given a 08 1200gsa as a loan.The first thing I said to the service guys when I got back to pick my bike was how light the front end was on the new 1200gsa. My bike is rock solid.


Ty

"EasySushi" thank you! that indeed is very good to know. I knew they had made some major changes in the 2008 model, but never thought they were that radical.

Most of the time it seems you are riding a 125cc! but that bill is payed with the extreme sensitivity to widblasts and road bumps.

Thanks

MAC