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Engine Vibration
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:37 am
by thelazyman
What is a normal amount of engine vibration for a 1150r? I have a 2003 with 15K. I just bought the bike and have ridden a few hundred miles in the past week. I have noticed engine vibration when I get up around 4k on the tach. It is not really excessive but it is definately not as smooth as my inline 4. Just wondering if this is normal or not.
Thanks
Re: Engine Vibration
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:16 am
by beemer-biker
thelazyman wrote:What is a normal amount of engine vibration for a 1150r? I have a 2003 with 15K. I just bought the bike and have ridden a few hundred miles in the past week. I have noticed engine vibration when I get up around 4k on the tach. It is not really excessive but it is definately not as smooth as my inline 4. Just wondering if this is normal or not.
Thanks
Do you know when the last service was performed? It could need a throttle body synch. The twins sort of let you know when they are in need of synching, making their presence known by vibrating. If you have 15K on the clock, hopefully it was done at the 12K service, but, if it wasn't done correctly, it could be vibrating now. Does it have the dreaded surge as well? Together, this would just about guarantee the TB synch.
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:46 am
by DJ Downunder
Yes I think it's normal...but some are worse than others.
Maybe take a test ride on another and compare it with yours.
DJ
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:57 am
by Boxer
This is caused by the high tension actuator in the maximus region of the hyperbolator. Don't be alarmed by the vibration. BMW has built this feature in to let you know when you are at 4K RPMs. It's perfectly normal.
In case you haven't discovered it yet, the left mirror vibrates more than the right one. This is due to the left head being 1 1/2 inches farther forward than the right one....Or is that vice versa?...dunno...But one of them is and this is why one mirror has vibes the other one doesn't.
If you get the TBs synched perfectly, the vibration IS abated somewhat but not completely.
Plus this was the inspirstion for a Beach Boys song. After riding the Roadster one of them...can't remember which...started singing "Good Vibrations"
Also one last word. I bet you're not a lazy as I am.
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 12:03 am
by Bud
Yep, mine too.
Bud
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 2:34 am
by Boxer04
My experience is the same as others. Yes it vibrates most at 4000 rpm. Even after tune and sync it still vibrates more at 4k that at any other revs.
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 7:14 am
by SLEDGE
I have a '98 r1100r, I ajusted the valaes and synced the tb's at 4,000 rpm,and I think it purres like a ketten.
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:28 am
by Brownw3
I'd be worried if mine didn't vibrate. In my experience with BMW's, the engines don't seem to really settle in until about 20K. The vibration is all about a little bit of soul. I agree with the above that TB sync should be checked at the service intervals but vibration is normal, I get it at 5,000 on my R, it has 2,100 miles on it.
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 2:32 pm
by LonestaRR
I was telling my chiropractor (holistic type) yesterday the pain in my neck which extends down my back is relieved after I ride my BMW. If I've got a sore neck, I can go riding and after 20 minutes it's gone. It's not due to relaxation because it could be while riding 20 minutes in horrible Houston traffic. She told me the German made cars and motorcycles have a vibration that is more in sync with the human body than any other makers, hence there is less driver fatigue. She proposed the rhythm of the bike was putting my body back in sync and therefore helping me. I wonder if my health insurance provider would see it that way.
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:05 pm
by chibbert
More in sync with the human body?
Althought the vibrations may help, I somehow doubt the vibrations were "engineered" into the bike.
Stressfull traffic on a motorcyle is bliss (in my opinion) and is torture in a cage
Bad vibrations
Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 12:39 am
by KHaynes
Another member on this board (Fossil Fred) has his R1150R with a vibration that is possibly the same as you describe. It is the same kind of high frequency vibe produced by a lawn mower. I have ridden it for a short distance and it did indeed cause some numbness in my wrists and forearms.
A few dealers have looked at the bike and claimed that it is within normal limits. The vibe is not serious but is a annoying to Fossil Fred.
There's a huge amount of variation in the vibrations from bike to bike. Jump on a dealer's bike for a test ride and make a comparison.
Remember, big twin thump along the road and they don't hum along like a 4 cylinder.