Advice needed
I have noticed that my k1200gt becomes unstable [slightly] at low speed after I slow down on a ride. At about 60kph or less she tends to want to weave and almost feels as though she is going to fall over. Yesterday during a ride with some buddies a friend said that it looks as though the wheels are out of alignment. He noticed this while riding behind me on straight sections. Is this possible? I would have thought that with shaft drive the alignmmet would be set. I know the bike has never been in an accident. All I can think of is that when the tires were replaced something was or was not done on refitting the wheels, this problem seems to have dated from then. Is this a symptom of some other mechanical problem. I am going to take the bike to Donford next week, but would be interested to know if anyone else has had a similar problem.
The trouble is that it becomes problematic doing 120 in congested traffic so one does have to slow down, as tiresome as this is. [Pun intended] However I shall let you know what the boffins at Donford have to say.
The teacher in you does not allow you to spell tiresome as tyresome???
Well the ex-teacher; - besides the pun is more subtle [is that possible?] by spelling the word as tiresome. :)
It is, but I may have missed it the tiresome way,....you missed a very nice breakfast ride this morning.
I know, but I went on a Ulysses sunset run on saturday so I slept in this morning. Hope you all had a good ride.
All BMW have a runout of 8 to 12 mm because of the uneven weight distribution due to the diff ,the drive shaft and the gearbox shafts that hang to the right (opposite for the new Kseries) and the engine tourque also has something to do with it. Your problem I think comes from low tire pressures!!!
Thanks Alf
I checked the tyre pressure that morning and if the petrol station guage was to be believed I had 290 in the back tyre ans 250 in the front which is according to spec.
Someone suggested a neck bearing or bush might be worn. Anyway I will get it checked out by Donford, there are one or two other minor niggles to attend to.
The problem has been identified. There is nothing wrong with wheel alignemnet or tyres, the neck bearings are worn. I took it into Donford this morning and after checking the tyres and wheel alignment they were about to send me packing when I suggested they check the neck bushes/bearings. A quick check with the front wheel unweighted confirmed that they were loose/worn whatever and so into the workshop it went. I have been told that new bearings are needed and will be in stock tomorrow, so I should get the bike back on Wednesday. So no more weaving like a drunkard at low speed! :)
Thanks for the feedback Phred, I would never have thought of that.
I thought of neck bearings as being a 650 GS/ Dakar thing.
I know from the Funduro that worn bearings end up with a notch in them that holds the front wheel steady and takes a bit of force to turn the wheel slightly. When coming off the freeway, the front seems to settle into the notch, and it makes small adjustments in the steering impossible (you push to get the handlebars out of the notch, but then it swings to far and you have no fine control).
Surely you felt this?
The steering felt a bit heavy at times but it never "tracked" as such. When they wiggled the wheel they said it felt loose and the phonecall later said worn bearings, I don't know about any notch. I am not a mechanic but I would have felt it if handled as you described. I will see what the result is of the bearings being replaced.
Those are not bearings but balljoints that have a smooth surface that it slides on instead of balls rolling back and forth(that can roll through a hole in the surface and cause the feeling of a notch) but the scary thing is that I too had to replace one a week ago and I thaught that it was an isolated case, GUESS NOT!!!
Alf, you are right, I got a call from Donford yesterday to say that it was not the bearings but the ball joint! I sit without a bike and the weekend is looming, hope they sort it out by Friday :(
Was it the lower one ??
Both had signs of wear but the top was the worst, I have also asked them to check the linkage joint to the handle bars as if that has too much play it could also affect handling. Both Donford and I are puzzled by this as the bike has never been abused or been in an accident [apart from once being blown over in heavy wind] - no wheelies etc. Ce la vie, it must be fixed!
On a lighter note it was strange to see the bike with no clothes on [i.e. fairing and front forks removed ] - there is a lot of technology packed into a small space, I am glad that I don't have to work on it! :)
my gt started doing the same about 2 weeks ago. so what was the outcome of your k1200gt ball joint problem. did the replacment of the ball joint sort out the problem? if so what was the costs involved? i have changed my front and back tyres but still have the weave.
The top one is about R1800 and the lower R2200 then there is the labour
That's correct I am looking at least 5- 6 K for the job, am not impressed, the bike has only done 36000 odd kms! Anyway it can't be helped, the dealership [Donford] is doing its best. I hope to have the bike by this weekend if they can source the tool necessary to do the job, apparently this is the 1st one they have dealt with.
They have it and just not know what it looks like ,it looks like a ring end of a spanner that has a square on it
According to them it is like a plug spanner and also needs to be a torque wrench, anyway it has been 2 weeks now and I am not too happy.
The tool no 315721/315722/315723,they are in stock in their special toolroom,well they were when I was there!!
I WENT IN TO ATLANTIC TO CONFERM MY WEAVING PROBLEM. PROBLEM SAME AS YOURS. BALLJOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I DO NOT FEEL THAT WE SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. IT'S YOUR BIKE. MY BIKE, THERE'S ONE AT ATLANTIC AND ALF SAID HE HAD HIS REPLACED. NOT SURE WHAT BIKE ALF RIDES. THAT'S FOUR I KNOW OF IN CAPE TOWN. WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. I SPOKE TO MARTIN ROSS [TECHNIVAL MANAGER BMW SA ] AND HE SAID I MUST TAKE MY BIKE IN TO A DEALER AND HAVE IT ASSEST AND SEND HIM THE REPORT, WHICH I DID. I CANNOT AFFORD R6000 EVERY +- 32000KMS. IF WE ALL STAND TOGETHER AND THE BMW DEALERS SEND THE REPORT TO MARTIN THEN THEY SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS. MARTIN SAID HE WILL TAKE IT UP WITH BMW GERMANY. HOPE TO GET AN ANSWER SOON. SO IN THE MEANTIME HAPPY WEAVING.
Thanks I will let them know!
Guys you have missed the boat, get a G S and stop messing about.
Well if they made a GS 1200 without a boxer motor [hier kom K*K :)] I might consider it.
Seriously though once they have fixed the problem I might just do that, but I would tend towards an 800GS, as it is lighter and I never travel with a pillion - She Who Must be Obeyed does not do motorbikes!
The situation still works for you as long you are biking
That is absolutely correct, it's all about the biking. Anyway I am pleased to announce that the repairs have been done and I will be collecting my bike later this morning. It has been a long 3 weeks! :(
What tools where used??
Phred, my goodness me, the spelling of the word 'repairs' requires a little repair.
The only thing which come to mind is that the tyre may have not seated EVENLY on the bead,.... insufficient lubrication whilst being fitted.
Please let us know the result.
Other option is to ride phaster Phred.