Today's minor irritation...

[GSWizz]

Knee jerk damper

Why would you want a damper. My bike handles like a dream. I guess this is a risk assessment issue. Will it be retrofitted if they have identified it as a safety issue?

 

[Jotski]

Why would you want a damper. My bike handles like a dream. I guess this is a risk assessment issue. Will it be retrofitted if they have identified it as a safety issue?

If it was identified as a safety issue there would have been a safety recall worst case or service update best case. My guess is some customers have noted a requirement for damping at speed including journos and bmw has responded - a cover up for a problem is very unlikely if found out it would be a disaster for bmw not worth the risk

 

[Nutty]

I guess that if you complain to BMW directly, and sign a non disclosure agreement, they'll probably fit one FOC. I won't be getting one as my bike handles just fine without.

 

[dave hendy]

I guess that if you complain to BMW directly, and sign a non disclosure agreement, they'll probably fit one FOC. I won't be getting one as my bike handles just fine without.

+1

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

The trouble with most company 'trials' these days is that by the time it gets to 'trials' stage (whatever it is) the suits & the button counters have already decided it will work - be it a new product or a new process. No amount of faults picked up by people beneath them will allow the 'trial' to fail. If the trial failed someone somewhere wouldn't get their bonus for this brilliant new product/process.

 

[DING-DONG]

I guess that if you complain to BMW directly, and sign a non disclosure agreement, they'll probably fit one FOC. I won't be getting one as my bike handles just fine without.

I have been told they/you cannot retro fit the BMW damper to the 1st gen bike .

There's a fella on evilbay selling Toby damper kits for the 2013 bikes 300 notes i think.

 

[alp]

I have been told they/you cannot retro fit the BMW damper to the 1st gen bike .

Ding, I've Just taken a look at the rear fixing point for the steering damper and found that BMW have anticipated fitting a damper because the suspension swing arm (for want of a better term) has a boss already cast into it for the rear mounting.
So, if anyone (i.e. media scribes) really really really wants a steering damper you will need the damper parts plus a 2014 bottom yoke and drill and tap the swing arm at the cast boss for the rear damper mounting. All very doable if you feel the need, perhaps to make it look like a 2014 model? It doesn't need one though.
I'm surprised that the damper isn't adjustable for damping unless it has really very gentle/negligible damping and is for appearance/litigation reasons only.

 

[Jotski]

Ding, I've Just taken a look at the rear fixing point for the steering damper and found that BMW have anticipated fitting a damper because the suspension swing arm (for want of a better term) has a boss already cast into it for the rear mounting.
So, if anyone (i.e. media scribes) really really really wants a steering damper you will need the damper parts plus a 2014 bottom yoke and drill and tap the swing arm at the cast boss for the rear damper mounting. All very doable if you feel the need, perhaps to make it look like a 2014 model? It doesn't need one though.
I'm surprised that the damper isn't adjustable for damping unless it has really very gentle/negligible damping and is for appearance/litigation reasons only.

Seems like a load of hassle for the sake of it - why bother ? Leave an awesome machine alone

 

[zoltan]

Seems like a load of hassle for the sake of it - why bother ? Leave an awesome machine alone

Hm,I wonder...Just back from a 3000 mile tour in Europe. Two ( both of us around 11 stone ) up and luggage , massive traffic jam and filtering in first gear up hill, the steering was all over the place , suspension was adjusted to take in account the extra weight.Problem solved by standing on the foot pegs and leaning forward .
Never had this problem on the 1200RT two up and luggage.

 

[patzx12]

Short visit to the dealer this morning. They reckon that the recurrence of the oil leak is probably just residue blowing out from the previous leak...

New lock barrel fitted to nav mount, and missing fairing clips fitted.

While I was in there I noticed what looked like a 2014 build GS TE, with the steering damper:

... and also what looked like a redesigned ABS/ASC/ESA switch:

Cheers
Jimmy

Just marketing bumph this 2014 speak. This is a 2013 bike.
2014 bikes will be available 1-1-2014
Why anybody calls a bike sitting in a showroom in 2013 a 2014 model is lost on me.

 

[alp]

Hm,I wonder...Just back from a 3000 mile tour in Europe. Two ( both of us around 11 stone ) up and luggage , massive traffic jam and filtering in first gear up hill, the steering was all over the place , suspension was adjusted to take in account the extra weight.Problem solved by standing on the foot pegs and leaning forward .
Never had this problem on the 1200RT two up and luggage.

Don't jump down my throat but it occurs to me that.... uphill, slow riding, filtering movements, lots of weight on the rear, the steering would be lighter than normal soooo maybe what you saw as steering all over the place was steering corrections you needed to compensate and balance the bike and if you had a steering damper it would have been harder work to balance the bike?
The maths of this would apply to any bike to some degree under the same conditions depending on the overall weight of the bike itself, e.g. On the classic TT programme the other night two guys on a C90 were able to lift the front in the air when stationary.
I'm not questioning your riding here, just thinking about the circumstances.
Exits and gets tin hat.....

 

[autogs]

model years of bikes and cars have always been ahead of the actual year for as long as i can remember

 

[jtb]

Just marketing bumph this 2014 speak. This is a 2013 bike.
2014 bikes will be available 1-1-2014
Why anybody calls a bike sitting in a showroom in 2013 a 2014 model is lost on me.

It's a 2014 model year bike, if that makes you feel better.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[dave hendy]

It's a 2014 model year bike, if that makes you feel better.

Cheers
Jimmy

It is a 2014, although to be more accurate its a 2014 model year bike. Manufacturers bring out the next years bikes/cars in the summer across the board.

 

[zoltan]

Don't jump down my throat but it occurs to me that.... uphill, slow riding, filtering movements, lots of weight on the rear, the steering would be lighter than normal soooo maybe what you saw as steering all over the place was steering corrections you needed to compensate and balance the bike and if you had a steering damper it would have been harder work to balance the bike?
The maths of this would apply to any bike to some degree under the same conditions depending on the overall weight of the bike itself, e.g. On the classic TT programme the other night two guys on a C90 were able to lift the front in the air when stationary.
I'm not questioning your riding here, just thinking about the circumstances.
Exits and gets tin hat.....

Or in this case the GS is not the correct tool,God I miss my 1200RT.

 

[DING-DONG]

I'VE GOT A MINOR IRRITATION.

FFS With the akro can fitted you cannot remove the rear wheel, without either taking the zorst off or the rear splash guard and the brake caliper.

The Remus and stock can was fine undo the wheel bolts and remove wheel job done.

 

[Elvisto]

I'VE GOT A MINOR IRRITATION.

FFS With the akro can fitted you cannot remove the rear wheel, without either taking the zorst off or the rear splash guard and the brake caliper.

The Remus and stock can was fine undo the wheel bolts and remove wheel job done.

I didn't have a problem with taking my wheel off Ding,

I have the HP Akro,on mine, wheel came out easy

 

[Wapping]

....Since the damper looks like its welded to the forks. Looks like it will get covered in crap being located above the wheel those seals won't last long !

Cue yet another crud catcher / bling item to be bolted on

 

[Wapping]

The trouble with most company 'trials' these days is that by the time it gets to 'trials' stage (whatever it is) the suits & the button counters have already decided it will work - be it a new product or a new process. No amount of faults picked up by people beneath them will allow the 'trial' to fail. If the trial failed someone somewhere wouldn't get their bonus for this brilliant new product/process.

It's always someone's fault.

Now, if they had only given them to UKGSer to design, build and test, the thing would have been perfect

 

[GSWizz]

Pick a point to keep balance

Glad it was not only me that found it remarkably difficult two up in stop start traffic. I found that by picking a vision point at eye level rather than looking down enabled much smoother balance. I did rush hour on the M25 in the week and by practising making a conscious effort to do this made a real difference. I still find it odd that on my VFR and blade back in the mid nineties I never had to give I a second thought. Is it the high and wid bars or my older age?