I picked up my (almost new) Rockster this weekend. Its my first BMW.
An couple initial observations:
1. When the engine is warm I can hear what sounds like tapping coming from each cylinder. This happens at idle and when I'm running at lower rpms. The bike only has 2700 miles on it and did have the 600 mile BMW service. Is this normal or do the valve clearances need to be re-checked ?
2. That funky looking catalytic converter sure gets hot. Has anyone seen it cause the paint to peel over time ?
I'm sure I'll have more questions as I get familiar with it. All in all I'm very happy with the bike.
New Rockster Owner
Moderator: Moderators
Welcome to the World of the Rocks. Yes, the engine makes all sort of ticking and clacking noises. It's very characteristic of BMW flat twins. Especially in your area in the summer and at slow speed, you will hear the valve chattering a bit, but that's normal.
The catalytic converter does get extremely hot, so get rid of it and replace it with a Remus Y-pipe (or the type of offering from another company). Your feet will thank you and your bike will thank you for the replacement.
The catalytic converter does get extremely hot, so get rid of it and replace it with a Remus Y-pipe (or the type of offering from another company). Your feet will thank you and your bike will thank you for the replacement.
Cogito Ergo Vroom - I think therefore I ride.
03 Rockster, 07 Aprilia Tuono R, 07 KTM 990 Adventure
03 Rockster, 07 Aprilia Tuono R, 07 KTM 990 Adventure
I call that noise the Singer Sewing machine effect. It freaked me out too at first. 
Welcome aboard, I hope you enjoy your Rock as much as I have. It is a very versitile bike if you are a versitile person. I just got my Iron Butt Saddle Sore 1000 on it when others said it can't (or shouldn't)be done. Actually they said I was nuts to do that on a naked bike in January. But I proved them all wrong. Yea Me!
Take care,
Tommy
Welcome aboard, I hope you enjoy your Rock as much as I have. It is a very versitile bike if you are a versitile person. I just got my Iron Butt Saddle Sore 1000 on it when others said it can't (or shouldn't)be done. Actually they said I was nuts to do that on a naked bike in January. But I proved them all wrong. Yea Me!
Take care,
Tommy
Lifes a garden, DIG IT.
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riceburner
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leno
Catalytic converter
When you talk about the catalytic converter, are you talking about that strange black canister at the RH rear that is fitted to US bikes only?
Unlike some of the others here, I actually like the standard exhaust on my (non-US spec) Rockster. Yeah, the big catalytic converter ahead of the rear wheel can look a bit obvious and ugly from some angles (like if you're lying on the road!), but I think the standard muffler looks good and is nicely tucked away, and I'm willing to do my bit to lessen air/noise pollution. Of course, when it comes to replacement time an aftermarket system usually costs less anyway.
Enjoy your bike ...
Captain K.
Unlike some of the others here, I actually like the standard exhaust on my (non-US spec) Rockster. Yeah, the big catalytic converter ahead of the rear wheel can look a bit obvious and ugly from some angles (like if you're lying on the road!), but I think the standard muffler looks good and is nicely tucked away, and I'm willing to do my bit to lessen air/noise pollution. Of course, when it comes to replacement time an aftermarket system usually costs less anyway.
Enjoy your bike ...
Captain K.
The black cans that are fitted to US spec bikes are the fuel vapor collector. The catalytic converter is the big thing that sits between the headers and the exhaust pipe. It gets extremely hot and radiates heat into your feet. Good on cold days, bad on hot days.
Cogito Ergo Vroom - I think therefore I ride.
03 Rockster, 07 Aprilia Tuono R, 07 KTM 990 Adventure
03 Rockster, 07 Aprilia Tuono R, 07 KTM 990 Adventure
Re: New Rockster Owner
Okay.....well.....personally....my rock has always been pretty darn quiet and I do tend to ride her pretty hard. After my 1st track day, we noticed that she was generally louder and that there was some ticking. I just figured that was normal as I do run her a LOT harder now (usually shifting up around 6k and down at 5k with pushes to the rev limiter at times).grt1500 wrote:I picked up my (almost new) Rockster this weekend. Its my first BMW.
An couple initial observations:
1. When the engine is warm I can hear what sounds like tapping coming from each cylinder. This happens at idle and when I'm running at lower rpms. The bike only has 2700 miles on it and did have the 600 mile BMW service. Is this normal or do the valve clearances need to be re-checked ?
Well...last week I took my wife for a ride over to Long Beach so we could demo the k1200r and it seemed that the ticking was getting louder and mainly coming from the right cyl. I took it in to the shop today and low and behold....TICKING IS NOT NORMAL! lol
Turns out that the 2004 Rock is built with the old style push rods and under hard driving they have a tendancy (so says the techs that showed me old and new) to fail. I actually CRUSHED two of them! *beats chest manly style*
I rode her home....rode without ear plugs for the 1st time in months and she's a whole nother machine.
I'm not sure what you're hearing, but it very clearly sounded like my old car when the valves needed adjusting...tap tap tap tap! Bottom line though....if it's ticking.....get it checked!
Good luck!
*A much happier Rock owner*
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riceburner
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Re: New Rockster Owner
Same thing happened to me last summer. All sorted under warranty though.Illuvatar wrote:Okay.....well.....personally....my rock has always been pretty darn quiet and I do tend to ride her pretty hard. After my 1st track day, we noticed that she was generally louder and that there was some ticking. I just figured that was normal as I do run her a LOT harder now (usually shifting up around 6k and down at 5k with pushes to the rev limiter at times).grt1500 wrote:I picked up my (almost new) Rockster this weekend. Its my first BMW.
An couple initial observations:
1. When the engine is warm I can hear what sounds like tapping coming from each cylinder. This happens at idle and when I'm running at lower rpms. The bike only has 2700 miles on it and did have the 600 mile BMW service. Is this normal or do the valve clearances need to be re-checked ?
Well...last week I took my wife for a ride over to Long Beach so we could demo the k1200r and it seemed that the ticking was getting louder and mainly coming from the right cyl. I took it in to the shop today and low and behold....TICKING IS NOT NORMAL! lol
Turns out that the 2004 Rock is built with the old style push rods and under hard driving they have a tendancy (so says the techs that showed me old and new) to fail. I actually CRUSHED two of them! *beats chest manly style*
I rode her home....rode without ear plugs for the 1st time in months and she's a whole nother machine.
I'm not sure what you're hearing, but it very clearly sounded like my old car when the valves needed adjusting...tap tap tap tap! Bottom line though....if it's ticking.....get it checked!
Good luck!
*A much happier Rock owner*
Re: New Rockster Owner
Same here...Don'tcha love it! Nothing like walking ot of a BMW shop without spending a penny! lolriceburner wrote: Same thing happened to me last summer. All sorted under warranty though.
My only beef is that they only replaced the crushed ones on the right and left the old style rods in on the left....silly buggers!
