How do you adjust the front end of a 1200 R?

Topics related to the ownership, maintenance, equipping, operation, and riding of the R1200R.

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
Bheckel169
Basic User
Posts: 71
Joined: Thu Aug 14, 2008 1:28 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Mill Spring, NC

How do you adjust the front end of a 1200 R?

Post by Bheckel169 »

Took my bike in for the 600 mile service and everything was fine. As I rode home and again as I rode around this week it just seemed to me my front end seemed a bit wooden. I made some adjustments to my suspension, nothing severe but as I looked through my manual I saw nothing about making adjustments to the front end suspension. My question is, when they took off the handlebars to change out the chip for the EWS and put it back on could they have somehow changed my suspension on the front end and where do you make adjustments on the front end? I may want to tighten up the front end a bit and there's nothing describing these adjustments in the manual.
Bruce
User avatar
Phillo
Basic User
Posts: 140
Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:09 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Ramsgate, South Africa

Re: How do you adjust the front end of a 1200 R?

Post by Phillo »

:( The short answer is "you don't" there is no adjustment on the front. There may be something that can be obtained in aftermarket suspension that will allow you to have an adjustment but nothing that I know of.
R50/R69S/R50S/R65LS/XT660R-2007 R1200R- Now 2009 R1200GS - 69 YEARS YOUNG STILL GOING STRONG
User avatar
Dan-A
Member
Posts: 422
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:18 am
Donating Member #: 613
Location: Sacramento CA
Contact:

Re: How do you adjust the front end of a 1200 R?

Post by Dan-A »

Check tire pressure.
Dan-A
BMW MOA # 137114
BLOG: http://danzgarage.net
Bheckel169
Basic User
Posts: 71
Joined: Thu Aug 14, 2008 1:28 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Mill Spring, NC

Re: How do you adjust the front end of a 1200 R?

Post by Bheckel169 »

I wanted to let you know you were spot on. I had no idea the dealer would inflate the tires to over 40 psi on the front end.
Why they did that I haven't a clue, but it was so obvious I never even thought of it because it literally was a change of tire pressure in one day. They had inflated the front tire to over 40 psi and the back was over 40 as well. I dropped them down to the recommended pressure for each tire and will take it out soon to see the difference but I'm convinced this was the reason why my front end seemed so wooden. Thanks for the simple read on my situation.
Bruce
User avatar
Dan-A
Member
Posts: 422
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:18 am
Donating Member #: 613
Location: Sacramento CA
Contact:

Re: How do you adjust the front end of a 1200 R?

Post by Dan-A »

Bheckel169 wrote:I wanted to let you know you were spot on. I had no idea the dealer would inflate the tires to over 40 psi on the front end.
Why they did that I haven't a clue, but it was so obvious I never even thought of it because it literally was a change of tire pressure in one day. They had inflated the front tire to over 40 psi and the back was over 40 as well. I dropped them down to the recommended pressure for each tire and will take it out soon to see the difference but I'm convinced this was the reason why my front end seemed so wooden. Thanks for the simple read on my situation.
Bruce
Don't know if it a gauge difference thing, or a difference of opinion of the mechanic who does the work, but I have frequently had vehicles come home from service with weird tire pressures.

There just aren't that many things to screw up on the front of the bike, so when you said it had just been serviced....
Dan-A
BMW MOA # 137114
BLOG: http://danzgarage.net
User avatar
ziobato
Basic User
Posts: 104
Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:02 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Rimini - Italy

Re: How do you adjust the front end of a 1200 R?

Post by ziobato »

I check out tires pressure regularly: our bike is pretty sensible to it.
Bheckel169
Basic User
Posts: 71
Joined: Thu Aug 14, 2008 1:28 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Mill Spring, NC

Re: How do you adjust the front end of a 1200 R?

Post by Bheckel169 »

Took the R out today and the correct tire pressure adjustment made all the difference. I'm usually a fanatic about tire pressure but for some reason I didn't think of the air in the tires until you brought it up and something as simple as that can make a big difference.
Bruce
BackNBlack
Basic User
Posts: 47
Joined: Tue May 08, 2007 12:54 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Roseville, CA

Re: How do you adjust the front end of a 1200 R?

Post by BackNBlack »

I'm also not sure why the dealer would do that when the owners manual states so much lower. At my dealer, when I bought, the Sales guy recommended 40 in front, 42 rear (this was for solo). I like to stick closer to the manual, plus a bit, so I run about 34 front, and 38 rear as it seems good compromise between manual, 2 up and dealer's recommendation. Still, cant understand why a dealer would recommend so high
R1200R!
Post Reply