What is a 1200gs/a like at motorway speeds?

[Richie N]

My old 800gs had a lot of buzz through the handle bars at m/way speeds and I was slightly disappointed with my 1200gsa in this respect. I was expecting it to be a lot smoother and effortless on the m/way. Is it usual for a 1200 to have vibes through the bars? It feels quite harsh at around 80.

I recently found out that my front wheel is very slightly buckled, so I am hoping that is the cause of the vibes and the 1200 is usually very smooth..is getting the wheel fixed likely to result in a much more relaxed m/way ride?

I guess the other factor is that mine appears to have the close ratio box which doesn't help on m/ways.

Cheers

 

[autogs]

My old 800gs had a lot of buzz through the handle bars at m/way speeds and I was slightly disappointed with my 1200gsa in this respect. I was expecting it to be a lot smoother and effortless on the m/way. Is it usual for a 1200 to have vibes through the bars? It feels quite harsh at around 80.

I recently found out that my front wheel is very slightly buckled, so I am hoping that is the cause of the vibes and the 1200 is usually very smooth..is getting the wheel fixed likely to result in a much more relaxed m/way ride?

I guess the other factor is that mine appears to have the close ratio box which doesn't help on m/ways.

Cheers

close ratio is only on first,called enduro box and was an option are you sure you have it?

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

At 70 75 it should be really smooth, 4000 rpm. From there on it gets vibey. That's for a single can Hexhead anyway. You don't say if your single or twin cam, they are different.

 

[Richie N]

close ratio is only on first,called enduro box and was an option are you sure you have it?

Ah, I didn't know that, the gearing seems really low, so assumed it was all gears. I am sure top gear is a lower ratio than on my old 800.

 

[Richie N]

At 70 75 it should be really smooth, 4000 rpm. From there on it gets vibey. That's for a single can Hexhead anyway. You don't say if your single or twin cam, they are different.

Now you're getting technical! Dunno, mines a 2006? Sounds like it might be normal then - harsher than the 800.,

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Ah, I didn't know that, the gearing seems really low, so assumed it was all gears. I am sure top gear is a lower ratio than on my old 800.

Your 800 probably raved higher, I can't remember to be honest.

You have a single cam engine.

Tbh people go in about how smooth these engines are but to me they simply aren't. In fact at some rpm they cam feel really harsh and buzzy. The 1100 was much smoother, never driven an 1150 so I can't comment.

 

[Blowzorn]

Fecking Awesome.
That is all

 

[Sgt Bilco]

The 1200 motor isn't as smooth as the 11**'s but should be OK at motorway speeds. It's a big twin so never going to be turbine smooth but you get used the foibles after a while. I've got 250 motorway miles to do tomorrow whcih will be an effortless cruise at aroudn 75/80.

Have you checked your tyre pressures and what tyres are on teh old girl?

 

[Richie N]

Tyres are good, new front recently. They didn't have a Tourance (I waited 1 1/2 hours so I had to have a tyre!) and so they fitted an Anakee 3 I believe on the front. Tourance on the rear. Although, inhave to say the handling is great. I can't tell that I've got two different tyres! I will check the pressures. I'll have to get the front wheel straightened or find another....

Sounds like some vibes are normal - well, at anything over 75-80 :

 

[Greenman14]

My TC is fine at motorway speeds, though smoother at 80 than 70. Two of my mates have TCs and they both complain of vibes at 70. Since Hilltopping and decatting my bike is much better, my mates bike are both standard. I find wind and weather protection just fine and could, boredom excepted, ride at 80 all day on motorways.

 

[timeandtide]

My TC is fine at motorway speeds, though smoother at 80 than 70. Two of my mates have TCs and they both complain of vibes at 70. Since Hilltopping and decatting my bike is much better, my mates bike are both standard. I find wind and weather protection just fine and could, boredom excepted, ride at 80 all day on motorways.

Ditto except I haven't decatted.
bike's very smooth!

 

[comberjohn]

My TC could be a bit harsh around those speeds but much smoother since I fitted a Power Commander and de catted the headers.
It's a big twin and you can always feel the engine but could certainly hold 80mph or more without any problem.

 

[bisbee]

My 2006 1200GS with de cat headers plus an Akro can and Power Commander fitted is smooth at well into 3 figures(where it is legal to do so)

 

[comberjohn]

See a pattern developing here.
Anyone using a PCV or having a remap seems to be happier with vibration levels.
Inclined to think that if BMW had been able to make this engine without the constraints of environmental controls at that time, it would be a very sweet motor.

 

[topcat2006]

It'll never be silky smooth but they're not bad. Have you had the valve clearances and the throttle body balance done recently - these often cause vibes if they are out.

 

[Richie N]

I experimented a bit this morning (don't know why I never thought of this before ). On the m/way the bike was pretty smooth up to 70 and 4k rpm. Over that things got vibey, peaking at 4,500 rpm - the vibes did not increase after that but stayed the same. So, I went through the gears just past 4k rpm, in 2nd and third for instance (not on the m/way!!). And in those gears at 4k and above, there was a buzz through the bars (similar to my old 800), but not the vibes I get on the m/way. Does that make sense?

So, I am thinking that the subtle vibes (but not the buzz!) is caused by the wacked out front wheel. And it would, wouldn't it? Out of balance, or in my case, buckled, it would cause a vibration..

 

[spm0912]

IMHO it's the wheel. Had the same vibes on mine, both wheels were out of true. Swapped to cast wheels and it's like a new bike

 

[KMD]

I too suffer high frequency vibration through the bars on my 6,000 mile 2006 1200. So bad I bought a set of Rox damped anti vibe bar risers, which unfortunately didn't fit as they were for a later model 1200. So I now have a set of neoprene grip buddies fitted, hopefully they will help.

Having fitted a Remus de cat and end can, I'm now interested in a power commander and re-map. Can I ask those who have carried out this mod what affect its had on their bikes ?

 

[seahorse]

My first 1200 was an 08, the 08/09 bikes seem to have the worst fuelling as stock. I decatted the OE pipes and then had it Hilltopped. Significant improvement in power delivery. Smoothness pretty much as before but I thought it OK anyway. As said previously a 1200 twin is never going to be silky smooth. I now have a TC which I found to be more vibey above 4k than my old bike. This would appear to be the experience of most owners. I have had this one remapped at Hilltop also and while the improvement in power delivery is nowhere near as marked as on the 08, it has got rid of the vibes.

 

[dmilne]

I had a 2010 1200GS which had all the symtons you mention.
Compared to my old ST it was noisy, low geared, lots of buffetting and poor fuel consumption. I solved all of these problems by trading it for an Twin cam RT. Much better especially cruising at speed.