Vibration

[JRDisaster]

Hi, new here. Wondered if my bike (R1150GS) is normal or not. I'm not finding my bike too comfortable at what I have always used as a main road cruising speed (90ish). It runs nicely and up to about 3,000 rpm it's okay, that's not too bad as it means 75ish is quite smooth but accelerate and it feels rough (to me).

If you grab the engine bars at 70 you can feel quite a noticeable vibration. Normal?

I have checked the balance of the throttles with vacuum gauges and done my best to set ignition timing whilst replacing hall sensors. Both cylinders run at same temperature so I don't suspect the engine.

My suspect (if something is wrong) is the clutch. Could someone have put it together in the incorrect alignment? (Paint marks not at 120 degrees) Does that make much difference even if they have?

I'm thinking of tearing it down carrying out a spline lube or even replacing the plate with the "long spline" type but as it's all working fine (and I'll probably drop something heavy on my hands or lose all the bits) I thought I'd ask for advice here first.

 

[NeilDD]

What tyres do you have fitted?
this can cause weird vibrations

 

[JRDisaster]

Thanks Neil. Dunlop Trailsmart I think. Great tyres, inspire confidence. Even done a bit of off roading with them although to me they are road tyres. I think my problem is engine speed related but the tyres are due for replacement so I will get a new set fitted and balanced soon.

 

[Tristafarian]

Have you checked the valve clearances? I'm new to the GS (so my knowledge is limited) and have just been on a journey smoothing it out..

Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk

 

[JRDisaster]

Thanks Trist. Yes, I should have mentioned that, I have checked the valve clearances which were fine so I left them alone. Oil and filter done, doesn't burn oil or make bad noises and I also fitted the newer cam chain tensioner.

I've had the bike for 18 months and I love it but I find it tedious on long motorway bits because of this issue.

 

[tornadof3]

Is it a vibration you can feel or one you can hear? I recently had a 'new' vibration noise I could hear but not feel. Only happened above 3k RPM, but didn't change in tone with engine RPM. Turned out to be..... spot/fog light rubbing on the crash bars. Must have moved a bit and was then rubbing/vibrating. A tip from my mechanic was about whether the sound changes with RPM, if it is fairly static it's more likely to be something on the frame than the engine, he said.

 

[Mzokk]

If it has engine bars check they are not fractured somewhere. I had Hepco and Becker bars on mine that fractured and caused a lot of vibes. That said my single spark 1150 is happiest/smoothest at 75 mph.