Vibration/Buzz

RoundelRider · 03-23-2003, 06:30 PM

I have a question for the group. While on my way to Virginia Intl. Raceway this morning i noted a very harsh vibration in my left hand grip. I was travelling at about 80mph, in 6th gear that set the RPMs right about 4k. This is the first "trip" (about an hour) at highway speeds, so i have not seen it before. My questions are, Is this normal? If it is will it subside in the future? Does anyone else have this problem? Its just the left grip, the right side is fine. I suspect its something with the throttle assy possibly, though nothing noted as being odd about the actuation. It makes my fingers totally numb, if this continues to be a problem i may have a S up for sale!!!???

Thanks for any replies!

John

Dave Hopkins · 03-23-2003, 06:35 PM

Sumtingwong! Does not sound normal, I suspect the place to start in syncing the injectors?

fiery · 03-23-2003, 06:57 PM

I have the same problem, but it affects my right (throttle) hand. "Dead Man's" fingers are not good news on long trips.

Carefull attention to balancing / throttle sychronisation helped a little, but these machines just seem to have a vibe around 3.5 ~4 k rpm at speed, that is noticeable in the bars.

I have purchased a "throttle rocker" (arrived today - a big thanks to the guys at MotoHansa Sydney!), and will take my "S" for a good ride this week-end, with it fitted, to see if it helps. I think it will. Try one if the vibes keep getting to your hand.

regards

fiery

RoundelRider · 03-23-2003, 07:11 PM

I need to post a correction!! (too much time at the track!)
Its the right, throttle side. The 600mi service was done last week.
Im going to call the dealer tmomorrow and have them check it out.

Fiery,
I have a throttle rocker as well. It works good, but donsent do much for my situation.
Ride Safe

john

CarlosT · 03-24-2003, 06:02 AM

Engine's still breaking you in

No really...this is a very young motor. Get some ibuprofen and see if you can hack it. The other thing about dealer service is that they often do a really schitty job of synching the TBs. Take it back and tell them to synch again.

Bad news on throtle locks...the S doesn't have enough pooch to hold a steady speed.

CarlosT · 03-24-2003, 06:02 AM

BTW my S has like 18,000 miles and still buzzes in a serious way. You can either hack it or you can't. Sometimes I think I can't

Daniel Restrepo · 03-24-2003, 06:07 AM

good note on the throttle lock. in hilly areas the bike slows considerably so your speed fluctuates. i have a throttlemeister that works great except in hilly areas.

BMW Atlanta · 03-24-2003, 06:55 AM

Try riding in 5th instead of 6th if you are turning under 4k. I either run over 5k or under 3500 depending on speed and load. These boxers, with exception to the R12C love to turn the RPM's for the duration. If you arent exceeding 50% of the RPM range, youre not riding it how it was originally designed to 80 years ago.

CarlosT · 03-24-2003, 08:03 AM

Interesting note on the 5th gear and it would prolly works. When I'm on the road I can't wait to get into 6th to quell the vibes, though. High speed in 5th would destroy what's left of my carpal

To my Buell's credit, it's torque is monstrous enough that highway riding on with the Throtlerocker is real easy. Mind you that the Throtlerocker is not a throtle lock so you do tend to work the throtle a bit.

t0land · 03-24-2003, 09:24 AM

There are a few little things you can do to reduce some of the buzz of your S. The two easiest are balancing the tyres (or tires) and syncing the TB.

repoe3 · 03-24-2003, 11:55 AM

not to forget balancing the engine...but who who do that?!?!?

repoe3

Flatbutt1 · 03-24-2003, 12:02 PM

I've found that higher RPMs make the 259 very happy. I had a vibration with less than 5K miles. Better now but higher RPMs makes it all but disappear.

t0land · 03-24-2003, 12:53 PM

I've had my rods, pistons and now clutch balanced (along with head work). I dare say I have the smoothest S; I'm talking K bike smooth here. I'm also going to have lighter wrist swapped in (as proto-types later this spring/summer).

Flatbutt1 · 03-24-2003, 01:38 PM

Lighter wrist?

CarlosT · 03-24-2003, 02:40 PM

I think t0land means Bob's Wrist Rest which is a throtle lock product sold by Bob's BMW in MD. I got the current Wrist Rest. What the S really needs is electronic cruise control

I mean they managed to put it in that aberration of a motorcycle they call the R1200CLC...they should at least make it available for the RT and really the entire Boxer line.

Dave Hopkins · 03-24-2003, 02:43 PM

Or does he mean:
a wrist with a lighter angle on it?, or
lighter wrist pins to reduce vibrations.

t0land · 03-24-2003, 02:48 PM

wrist pins. sorry. The pisons are about a light as you can get with out spending more money then the bike is worth, the rods too. So for me the next step in reducing replicating mass [buzz], is to lighten the wrist pins.

I guess I could start looking into a balanced crank, but I need to stop...

CarlosT · 03-24-2003, 03:08 PM

LMAO

t0land at this rate I think that cruise control would be cheaper.

All good things to do...too bad they don't get done at the factory.

RoundelRider · 03-24-2003, 06:08 PM

Im gonna ride it tomorrow to work, and possibly for the rest of the week! ill try the riding in 5th gear, but my commute to work is mainly slower highway/urban. Is the engine in the S mounted different (solid v. rubber damper) than say a RT or R? I know my 1150R wasnt nearly this bad, even at this low of milage ( i know; different bikes). I just dont get this, its just in the right grip. nothing though the pegs, seat, or left grip, other than the "normal vibes"!?

Ride safe

John

jclark · jclark's Garage

Yose guys just don't gots enough miles on the odo yet - if it's still buzzin' after 20-30k, then we'll whip up some fixes for ya.

meanwhile, ride.

jeff