Odd vibration through handlebars, R1100s '99

[Lochinver]

hi all. First post. Been lurking for awhile checking out stuff for my 99 R1100s.

I've had the bike for about 6mo, first summer out with it. Got it from my Uncles estate.

It needed new gas take, fuel injection etc. Cost me a pretty penny to get it back on the road, but hey, I got it for free.

In the last week or so, I've suddenly been feeling what I can describe...feels like a change in the pavement, rougher pavement, through the handlebars. Gritty (if that makes any sense). Comes and goes.

I'm thinking the bearings.

This bike has been stored a lot. for a 99, it's got just under 18k on it. And I mean stored. good Garage, but years at a time, that's why the fuel system needed to be redone. The gas turned the system to mush.

Anyway, I think the seals on the bearings may have decayed as well.

Any thoughts?


thanks in advance.

[hopz]

Thoughts... gee, yes an idea or two.

Stop riding it.

Do , or have done, a complete service. Change every fluid, every filter, final drive and transmission lube, new air cleaner, etc... all of it. Get all the old fuel out of it. New Chevron, and or a bottle of Techron. Ride it a little more then do a serious valve adjustment, and throttle body synchronization... then see what it feels like.

Probably will still have a buzz at 4K...

but you will know all the fluids are up to snuff... then if you think you really have an issue (which you probably do not) get a big wad of money and start chasing things. A two-cylinder opposed motor will have some characteristic vibrations... some have more then others.

Welcome to the asylum. Have some Kool Aide.

[Lochinver]

I'm sorry. I should have mentioned that when the fuel system was redone. it was done at the local bmw dealer.

it received it's service. new tires. fuel flushed and tank when the service/fuel system was done.


I did call the bmw service today and checked to see if the front wheel bearings were mentioned in the service. they were not.

Right now, I have it sched to go in on Wends.

[RIQUE]

Maybe vibes have nothing to do with bearings. When the throttle bodies are not balanced you get pretty bad vibes at higher revs. Did you have that checked?

[hopz]

Lochinver, thanks for the update information.

Look... as a new guy to BMW you might benefit from some general observations. First, at 18k miles the bike has a huge probability that there is no bearing issue at all. (unless it was stored in a vat of salt water)

If you are concerned about the front wheel... put it on the center stand and rotate the wheel. If it does not have a center stand, get some wood or something under the engine to elevate the front wheel. Feel the bearings. Note the brake pads will likely be rubbing on the disc. This is supposed to happen, do not confuse this feel/sound with bearings.

These motors vibrate... there I've said it. Just about all of them have an inherent vibe. It is product of the opposed twin engine. Some bikes have it worse than others. Fine tuning is normally the answer to making improvements. It would be rare to find a specimen that does not have some vibe.

In Aurora there ought to be several people nearby who are experienced in the issue. Ask someone to take a ride and give an opinion. The dealer will be happy to work with you- at a fairly large price. If that is your choice of option, great, but please ask the service rep to give a detailed explanation of all the work done and report it to us... we would like to hear.

My personal thought is that the bike just needs to be ridden and it is behaving like the bike does... that is to say- normal.

One more thing- since there have been few attempts to help you here- I can also suggest you take a look over at the BMW Sport Touring forum. Many good guys with tons of experience. Look at the Oil head sub-section. That is where you will find guys with motors like yours.

[Lochinver]

Hi again,

Thanks Hopz.

Yep, I'm familiar with that engine vibration. We're BMW lovers. So this isn't my first beemer. Had a 83 R65 that I had back in 88-90.

When this "feeling" appears, it only "feels" through the handlebars. I put it on it's centerstand on Sat. The front wheel spins freely. There is that slight rub up against the brake pad that you mentioned. The wheel did not feel like it played from it's Y axis (if that makes sense) <-------> I spun it several hundred times. But, unfortunately, like in the OP, the issue comes and goes.

There is some oil/dirt accumulation around the bearing. However, I did not make a note of this when I picked up the bike on it's service last fall.

I've riden it several hundred miles so far this summer. Starting in ~the last week of June.

I first noted it on a long ride of ~100 mi the weekend before last when I took it out from Aurora to Watkins/Bennet CO. On back roads. That's when I thought that it was from a pavement change type feeling.

I've got to run to work right now. I'll follow up more later. Also, dropping the bike off on Tuesday night.

I can see if i can put up some pics of the wheel this evening.

Thanks again.

[sgoodwin]

Just remove the wheel & maually check the bearings for roughness or play. You should be able to feel if it is bad. Anything but buttery smooth is unaceptable.

[DavidSoine]

Other things that come to mind: Make sure the drive shaft u-joints are correctly indexed.

Does the bike happen to be a 99 "sport" model (yellow springs?). The different driveshaft angles across models and over the years had different vibration levels. I personally rode the 99 "normal" suspension, the 99 sport "long shock/long arm" suspension, and the later "short shock/short arm" variant. The "short/short" setup was noticeably better for vibes compared to the others.

Those driveshaft related vibes can feel like they come and go, perhaps like you are describing.

#1 suspect for vibes, however, at that mileage is valves and throttle sync tuning, IMO.

best,

Dave
'11 R12R
'99 R11S gone but not forgotten

[Lochinver]

Got the bike back yesterday.

First, the tech rode it ~7mi. Unable to confirm what I was experiencing.

Removed the front wheel, brakes etc. Bearings are good, nice and smooth still. Brake calipers, pads normal. Checked front end components for torque. Checked steering and paralever pivot bearings. All checked good.

Differential checked. Shaft checked, no play.

PSI in front/rear was slightly now. brought to spec.


So, when I picked it up. I rode it around the block and in the area. No issue.

Rode it home. no issue. rode it to work this morning. no issue.

Belief is that there could have been some sort of debris that was in the brake calipers/pads that got dislodged.

For now, going to chalk this up to that. Either that or I was crazy.


I don't believe it's the sport version.

[BumbleBeemer36]

I have this same vibration (I think) and I realigned my drive shaft 48 hrs ago. I get no vibes when rolling straight - clutch pulled in - but when I just start to lean over I feel it. Gritty is a good word for it. And I know I'm getting a bit of brake rub only when leaned over too.

When I had it on the center stand the wheel spun smooth and didn't have any lateral movement. The wheel has been off the bike a few times always with the same feeling - I usually notice it at slow speed tight turns with the clutch pulled in - like in a parking lot.

I think it's wheel bearings slop, I just can feel it on the stand. And I'm not sure it's actually a vibe from the bearings but from the rotors rubbing the calipers when there are side forces on the wheel.

It's been doing this awhile but since I just redid everything on the back of the bike I'm now pretty certain it's coming from the front.