New to Beemers & Just bought a Rockster, Just wondered......

[Davelee99]

As the title says, Just bought a lime Green & Black 2004 with 18k miles.
Bike is very good condition, but I find it very heavy, and slightly "vibey" through the gears, sits there at 80mph no problem, smooth etc on the motorway, but in town, its a heavy chore with little poke.
Should I be looking to rev the bike through the gears more, as I always seem to be driving in 5th around 2/3000 revs.
Had Jap 4's for years,could this be my problem,mabey need to expand my horizons to twin mode?

Any advice Gratefully received BM fans!

[hank]

Hello Dave

In town you should be in the lower gears, 5th is too high a gear to pull cleanly from 2k revs.
Our Beemers do take a bit of getting used to but it's worth it in the end.

Hank.

[UBockinMe]

Hey Dave,

I personally went from motocross as a kid to a Rockster as an adult. Been on mine for over 1 year now & what I can say is I love it. I've found that mine truly feels happy "cruising" around town at about 3.6 - 4k RPM... Don't even shift until you're over 3000.
That may be why you're getting vibrations.. the heads are working too hard after firing.

Another thing I found out by having a race-day BMW mechanic take a peek at mine is the heads & lifters all need to be tuned & in synch. Now mine more purrs than shakes.
http://www.ketchum.org/BMWEnginePix/AirFlow247.gif

The really crazy thing I've found about the Rocksters is the overall power-band. Get out on a flat stretch of highway, be in 4th or 5th & just punch the throttle... you'll be amazed at how much the bike pulls all the way up to redline. It's like there's hidden power in the upper RPMs that are just sitting there waiting. You never really feel this power in the bike unless you run it high. It's great where you're already running "normal" at 4000 and then you need a quick boost.
It shocked me the first couple of times.

Hope that gives a little insight & welcome.

[rockstercliff]

Dont be afraid to rev it, it actually likes that. I run mine all day in the 4K-5K range. Living in the city, I must admit that it is a tad heavy in slow, city/motorway traffic, but I bought mine new in 04, and have farkled it to death, so she is just where I want as far as comfort and convenience. I keep thinking this could be my last bike as I am 58, and have yet to see something else I would trade for, but last night saw an article about the coming F800-R I think, a naked F800, maybe I was premature on that last bike deal.

[sweatmark]

If you're accustomed to I-4s, particularly sportsbikes, then your feeling that the Rockster is vibey and heavy is accurate. The vibes can be addressed through tuning (throttle body synchronizing and valves, both good DIY projects). The weight is just part of the oilhead BMW experience, with the newer hexheads being lighter by design.

I've found that tire profile and pressure makes a big difference in maneuverability.

Run your Rockster in the 3-5k RPM sweet spot for best response and use of compression braking when required.

Welcome to the group.

[strat10]

Its a completely different vibe than the jap bikes. You will soon find joy in all that torque, I promise you! I came from the world of Ninja's and started out a bit dissapointed inthe lack of HP, but love the bike now. Definately take the advise from the other members on here and get it tuned!

B

[RocksterGT]

There's a whole world of difference... I gave up Jap dirt bike for my Rockster, and Man! Did it gave me an awkward feeling at first!!! Way heavier and "weird" riding... but with practice and some advice from other BMW owners I got quickly used to it, and now I LOVE IT!!! yeah, as everyone's told you, you gotta rev it up a bit and try the lower gears while in traffic, also, check out the tuning, and it will surely be a smooth ride...

[DTK]

Let me just add my two cents. I just put a set of Conni Attacks on my 05 what a huge difference at low speeds the tires have no attitude and make the bike feel completely netural it is amazing how easier the bike is to move around at low speed. I have put over 2k on the tires and not once have I been let down by these tires..highly recomend. Let me also say I have no "Chicken Strips" these tires have made me a better more confident rider. Good Luck and yes it does take some to time to get the whole boxer thing working for you.

[sjbmw]

Do not be afraid to enter the 'party zone'.

5k-7k RPM

The motor likes it, and if you do not throw the beast a party once in a while, it will behave as such.

[fnfalman]

The bike pulls pretty well at low RPM. Great for meandering around at low speed...except for that heavy steering feel. But once you get up to speed, get to the 5000RPM plus range because there is a big, fat flat spot right smack dab in the mid-range at just around 4500-RPM. A tuned Power Commander will take care of that flat spot though.

[johnnyjs1]

Do not lug the engine, it does not like it . Keep the rpms between 3500-5000. Some have attributed many of the bikes problems to lugging the engine.

[Davelee99]

Well Gents, it's been over a month, driving the terminator, and I would like to thank all that offered advice.I have clocked best part of 1000 miles, which is no mean feat as the bike is basically a weekend toy, and it's been pissing here in Scotland.
I have put on a new tyre, Metzler Rennsport (same tyre that was on the bike was replaced replaced), so no major changes there.
Conclusion:Rev It, & Love It. Love Love Love it!
Brilliant, I got it, and now I know why the cops, the ambulance service, the AA,RAC, all the emergency services, all the cats in the know, drive BMW's. It's so bloody obvious, but it's a different thing, a good different thing, a not a plastic clad, boy racer rice burner back breaker; its a bike for ever, kinda thing.A whole new torque y twin thing (and I've owned twins before also), but a whole new view point.Someone called it a German Harley; it's not.
It has totally refreshed my bike brain, I see things differently.
So I suppose I'm one of you now.
Hee Hee, we know don't we?

[riceburner]

boy racer rice burner back breaker;

oi!!




fnflman - I've never really noticed a flat spot at 4,500.....

[fnfalman]

fnflman - I've never really noticed a flat spot at 4,500.....

Look at the tach when you rev the bike up through the gears. There will be a lag around high 4000RPM, you can see the needle sweeping up really fast then it's delayed a bit then sweep fast again. And you can tell by the way the bike's lunging forward then suddenly felt slightly attentuated as well.

[riceburner]

fnflman - I've never really noticed a flat spot at 4,500.....

Look at the tach when you rev the bike up through the gears. There will be a lag around high 4000RPM, you can see the needle sweeping up really fast then it's delayed a bit then sweep fast again. And you can tell by the way the bike's lunging forward then suddenly felt slightly attentuated as well.

I'll try that.

Pretty sure I've done similar in the past and not noticed a flat spot.

[riceburner]

fnflman - I've never really noticed a flat spot at 4,500.....

Look at the tach when you rev the bike up through the gears. There will be a lag around high 4000RPM, you can see the needle sweeping up really fast then it's delayed a bit then sweep fast again. And you can tell by the way the bike's lunging forward then suddenly felt slightly attentuated as well.

Nope - not a sausage.

Tried several roll-on tests last night and this morning (on a private road, natch) in various gears and various throttle settings. No glitches, no hiccups - just smooth power all the way from 2K to 7K. the "full throttle" roll-ons (which is what you'd do on a dyno) reminded me just why I love this bike - smooth seamless OOOMPH - it drives all the way through the revs far quicker than you think it will. 2k - 7k in 4th is 20 to 90mph in around 6-7 seconds (I didn't count it - but I'm guessing that figure).

My bike does NOT have a CCCP though - it's running on the standard Motronic settings, has 63,000 miles, is using standard catalyst and OE can, standard plugs (if a bit old), normal unleaded fuel, and the BMW air filter.

Oh - it IS worth pointing out that a proper dyno chart may well show up a dip or spike in the torque curve, but on the road it may not be noticable, and therefore not really an issue.