Hi all, I picked up a June 2014 GS TE just over a week ago with 948 miles on it. I didn't test ride my bike as it was in the showroom, so test rode 3 other GS TE's just to make sure I was making the right choice as I had wanted a S1000R as a daily commuter. 2 were from the same dealer, the 3rd from another.
I picked the GS over the R as it seemed a great all round bike and perfect for my daily 126 mile commute, and I was very impressed with the demo bikes.
On riding home from the dealers, I noticed the bike would vibrate badly at 5000 rpm, with the vibration starting to come in at 4500 rpm. Its so bad you can feel it through the seat and frame. I thought this may be because I had some accessories I had purchased in the top box.
By the time I had ridden the 44 miles home, I couldn't feel the finger tips in my left hand, and my backside was numb, almost to the point I was in pain.
I removed the panniers the following day, then didn't use the bike for a few days. I went to visit my parents, but they only live a few miles away from me. The bike did feel better, but I didn't managed to get it up to speed on that journey due to traffic and the weather.
Two days later, I made the dummy run to my office in Hemel Hempstead. 126 mile round trip. The bike vibrated so much, at 75 - 80 mph you couldn't see out of the rear mirrors they vibrated that bad. The seat and frame felt like I was having a mild electric shock put through my body. It would be impossible to ride the bike daily, covering those miles with the level of vibration.
I took the bike back to the dealers and was told "thats what a GS rides like". I asked why the demo didn't ride like that then, or the other bikes I had rode, but got no real explanation. I pointed out that I did not feel BMW would design a "world touring" bike that costs over £14k to ride the way mine does. Again, no real explanation.
I felt totally fobbed off, so booked the bike in to my local dealer. I drop it off later so it be looked at tomorrow.
Since I booked the bike in to another dealer, the suppling dealer asked me to take the bike to them yesterday to be looked at, so I spend nearly 3 hours there yesterday.
We tried a number of things, first thing was to remove the engine protection bars as this I was told my impacted on the harmonics of the frame. They did this, I then took it out on the road. No change at all, so they were put back on.
Next was to fit wheels and tyres from another bike on to mine. These were fitted with Conti tyres. I must admit, these did help, but only slightly. Below 3500 rpm, it felt smoother, and it moved the point the vibration comes in up by 300 rpm to 4800 rpm. It didn't totally cure it though.
Next was to complete a full bike reset, setting all the parameters back to factory. The saleman then took the bike out, and came back saying the vibration had gone! I was chuffed to bits, so suited up, thank them for all there effort and support and left for the ride home.
The vibration is still there. No change what so ever...Nothing. Totally gutted and disappointed.
I totally understand the bike has a BIG flat twin, and these aren't the smoothest of motors. I didn't purchase a Ducati as it wasn't for me.
NONE of the 3 demo bikes I rode vibrated like mine. If they had, I wouldn't of purchased a GS, I would of gone for the R, my original choice.
I'm not sure what to do? Reject the bike? Change the tyres?
The dealer is trying to resolve the issue, but if I'm honest, I do still feel like I'm not being taken seriously.
Any help and advice would be much appreciated.
I picked the GS over the R as it seemed a great all round bike and perfect for my daily 126 mile commute, and I was very impressed with the demo bikes.
On riding home from the dealers, I noticed the bike would vibrate badly at 5000 rpm, with the vibration starting to come in at 4500 rpm. Its so bad you can feel it through the seat and frame. I thought this may be because I had some accessories I had purchased in the top box.
By the time I had ridden the 44 miles home, I couldn't feel the finger tips in my left hand, and my backside was numb, almost to the point I was in pain.
I removed the panniers the following day, then didn't use the bike for a few days. I went to visit my parents, but they only live a few miles away from me. The bike did feel better, but I didn't managed to get it up to speed on that journey due to traffic and the weather.
Two days later, I made the dummy run to my office in Hemel Hempstead. 126 mile round trip. The bike vibrated so much, at 75 - 80 mph you couldn't see out of the rear mirrors they vibrated that bad. The seat and frame felt like I was having a mild electric shock put through my body. It would be impossible to ride the bike daily, covering those miles with the level of vibration.
I took the bike back to the dealers and was told "thats what a GS rides like". I asked why the demo didn't ride like that then, or the other bikes I had rode, but got no real explanation. I pointed out that I did not feel BMW would design a "world touring" bike that costs over £14k to ride the way mine does. Again, no real explanation.
I felt totally fobbed off, so booked the bike in to my local dealer. I drop it off later so it be looked at tomorrow.
Since I booked the bike in to another dealer, the suppling dealer asked me to take the bike to them yesterday to be looked at, so I spend nearly 3 hours there yesterday.
We tried a number of things, first thing was to remove the engine protection bars as this I was told my impacted on the harmonics of the frame. They did this, I then took it out on the road. No change at all, so they were put back on.
Next was to fit wheels and tyres from another bike on to mine. These were fitted with Conti tyres. I must admit, these did help, but only slightly. Below 3500 rpm, it felt smoother, and it moved the point the vibration comes in up by 300 rpm to 4800 rpm. It didn't totally cure it though.
Next was to complete a full bike reset, setting all the parameters back to factory. The saleman then took the bike out, and came back saying the vibration had gone! I was chuffed to bits, so suited up, thank them for all there effort and support and left for the ride home.
The vibration is still there. No change what so ever...Nothing. Totally gutted and disappointed.
I totally understand the bike has a BIG flat twin, and these aren't the smoothest of motors. I didn't purchase a Ducati as it wasn't for me.
NONE of the 3 demo bikes I rode vibrated like mine. If they had, I wouldn't of purchased a GS, I would of gone for the R, my original choice.
I'm not sure what to do? Reject the bike? Change the tyres?
The dealer is trying to resolve the issue, but if I'm honest, I do still feel like I'm not being taken seriously.
Any help and advice would be much appreciated.
