R1200R Buzz/Vibration

[SDMAX]

My 2007 has always been buzz free. This week I went to a well known and reliable non-dealer BMW shop to have a Booster Plug installed. I was at 17K miles so we decided to go ahead and do the 18K service to include oil change, plugs, valve adjust and throttle synch, and installed the plug.

Got on the slab to head home and immediately I've got buzz and vibration in my hands, feet and even when I lay my hands on the tank. Also if I throw my left leg over the left cylinder, I feel vibration.

This is at every RPM but especially noticeable when adding throttle in any gear at 4-5K. It immediately goes away if I pull the clutch in so it's not tires; although I put new PR3's on too.

Today, I went back to same shop. Took the Booster Plug off; rode the bike on the old tires. Still buzz/vibration. Left the plug off and put on the new PR3's and the owner of the shop redid the valves and throttle synch. Says he can't feel it anyway.

IT IS STILL DOING IT......

Making me nuts. I have never had buzz or vibration before. I've put well over 10K of the present miles on the bike....so I know the bike.

I think I've read on the forum that this is a problem others have had? Can't really sort it on the search feature.

Any ideas???

On way home I thought it might be a defective plug. All four were replaced with platinum NGK?

Hope for some feedback. Thanks.

[SDMAX]

I have heard from Jens who does the booster plug. He suggests possible defective spark plug cap or cable as he has a friend who had similar problem on a dual plugged boxer.

This makes sense as the four cables and caps were handled when the new NGK's were installed.

I am hoping that eastern and midwestern time zone members will have some input as well.

Still nuts in California.

Thanks. John

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

My experience with the 1100 motor says that valve adjustment is really critical for vibration. But having rechecked that, I'd suggest you put the old plugs back in and test ride. Maybe one is defective. Or maybe the motor just doesn't like the NGK that you used? I don't know what the sweet plug is for these motors. On the 1100, it was the Autolite that really helped.

Let us know what fixes this.

[mogu83]

I had a slight vibration in the 3-5K RPM range that I thought was normal (they all do that). The throttle bodies were adjusted by the dealer (at least I paid for it) and the service guy said the bike was running fine. When I was out of warranty and did my first tune up I checked the throttle bodies and they were out of adjustment. I've been told this is a one time adjustment and they don't go out after they are initially set. Once adjusted the bike ran smooth in all RPM ranges as still does.
If you can't do your own work and the dealer isn't willing to go the extra step, your in trouble. Maybe another dealer or an independent, I'm sure there are a number of non dealers that work on BMWs on the West coast.

BTW: I have the Booster Plug installed for at least 30K miles and no problems. Smooth off idle, and still get 48/50 MPG on the secondary roads if I ride like a normal person (50/60 MPH). On the slab or spirited riding gets me into the low to mid forty zone.

[SDMAX]

Thanks guys. I'll get to the bottom of this and report. Shop who did this says maybe upper coils? Is that the same as the plug cap and wire? Are they all of one piece. Otherwise, I'm thinking simple bad plug cap or wire.

Does anyone know what the stock plug or recommended plug is for R12OOR? I know he put NGK platinums in....

Thanks. John

[deilenberger]

All the coils are stick coils. If you lived closer I'd say come over - you can test them by substitution (I have a spare set..) It's entirely possible one of the coils is out. The bike will still fire both cylinders as long as at least one coil in the cylinder is firing.

It's also possible the plugs are unhappy (and NGK Platinum are not the ones called for.. I could dig it out, but the ones used are a 4 ground plug IIRC.. and not Platinum. I think they're the same as is called for in my BMW M-Coupe engine.) And it's possible the valves aren't adjusted correctly.

As Harry said - if you're paying someone to do it - and they're denying there is a problem - then you have a problem. There are some excellent DIY's on the BMW-MOA Hexhead subforum (I wrote some of them..) on tuning up a hexhead.

There was one member here who had a vibration problem and he'd been to the dealer numerous times. He rode down to see me (from NH if I remember right) - we did an "anal-retentive" tuneup on his bike. A dead-nutz on valve adjustment followed by a very careful TB sync. He was happy when he got home after we did this. Haven't heard from him in a few years so either he is still happy, or he got rid of the bike.

If you can't DIY (and it's not difficult, it does require an investment in some tools, but they probably cost about what one dealer tuneup costs) then I'd be looking for an independent who will listen to you.

[SDMAX]

Thanks; this all happened at an independent. I have already discussed substituting coils and trying that approach with him. Since he can't hear or feel the problem, I'm going to go to one of the two local dealers and settle when I find someone who feels what I feel and doesn't say they all do that....mine certainly did not for 10K miles plus. I suspect damage was done to the stick coil where it connects with the spark plug when it was yanked off the plug.

I also believe the correct spark plugs may assist.

More to be revealed. Thanks for all input. John

[towerworker]

My guess would be either incorrectly adjusted valves or TB sync......or both. I'm leaning toward TB sync.

[SDMAX]

Thanks all. I am going to the dealer with this. I will have them do it one step at a time. I will ride bike after each step. Valves cold as the grave in the morning; then throttle, then plugs; stick coils last. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all input. John

[Lance]

Hi John and Don,

I'm the lucky one that rode to Don's house and had him adjust the valves and throttle body sync. It's a 2007 as well and I still have it and am still happy with the performance! Thanks Don! You went above and beyond! Fell of the radar for a while and been enjoying the vibrations of my '48 Matchless G80 which makes the R12R exceptionally smooth when I switch back to it.

Regards,
Lance (Beverly, MA)

[xprof]

Lance,

You have a G80??!! Even two of them? I started on a G80, probably about a 1955 model! I loved that bike and the way it handled in dirt and just flew across the desert, and its finicky nature taught me a lot about keeping motorcycles going. Even starting it was quite an adventure! Malcolm Smith (watch On Any Sunday if you don't know who Malcolm is) started about the same time, also on a G80. In my photo album I have side by side pictures of him and me on our bikes. He said, and I second the motion, that it was the Matchless G80 that really got him into motorcycling.

Of course, our R1200Rs are a lot more comfortable and reliable, for sure, and have like 4 times the horsepower. I loved the good old days, but I do appreciate the progress we've made.

Ride happily, my friend, and enjoy your G80s.

[deilenberger]

Hi John and Don,

I'm the lucky one that rode to Don's house and had him adjust the valves and throttle body sync. It's a 2007 as well and I still have it and am still happy with the performance! Thanks Don! You went above and beyond! Fell of the radar for a while and been enjoying the vibrations of my '48 Matchless G80 which makes the R12R exceptionally smooth when I switch back to it.

Regards,
Lance (Beverly, MA)

Hey Lance,

You did fall off the radar.. Do you remember what I thought the difference in what I did and what the dealer was doing?

Letting the bike sit overnight to cool off before even thinking about adjusting the valves. IIRC we found your valves were a bit on the tight side. That was due to the dealer letting his mechanic adjust them on a still warm engine.

If the valves aren't adjusted correctly - then doing the TB sync is simply going to make things even worse. You'd think a dealer would realize this, but lots of times "good enough" to get the bike out of the shop seems to happen.

Glad to see you're still riding it!

Don

[SDMAX]

Thanks Don; your post is just in time. I rode the bike to the independent who did all the work and created the buzz. He did have his "assistant" do the valves the first time although he did them himself the second time.

But BOTH TIMES the bike arrived hot as I rode it out there and he just put fans on it to cool it down.

My pal at the dealer says the problem is in the throttle synch. BUT....I'm going to as him to let the bike sit overnight, do the valves first stone cold and then fuss with the throttle synch.

BTW I am informed (as a recovering atty), believe, and thereon allege that the computers used to synch the r1200r's has some type of software glich that BMW is quietly trying to resolve. Until then, the only answer is the Don E. hands on I remember how to do it by hand approach.

Bottom line I got a hands on guy to do the throttles; but he's going to do the valves first. Stone cold.

Thanks. Be back with a report mid week.

John

[SDMAX]

Ok so problem more or less solved at San Diego dealer. They were very patient with me. I am an admitted princess with pea under mattress type, but, I know I felt what I felt and ultimately they fixed the vibration and it went away.....took a couple of days.

First they determined that the valve adjust by the independent was off: Left intake loose, minor; exhaust tight, minor; right intake tight and exhaust loose small amounts. I basically attribute all of this to bike not being cold when adjusted. dealer adjustments were made after bike had been left over night.

Second: Sync was off by 25MB; dealer synched the throttle bodies with a Moss-PC; they also set idle and cable pull.

I rode the bike at this point and it was better; but buzz still there. I was on the loaner which is an identical 2007 R1200R with about 37K miles, mine is just over 17K. Before adjustments the loaner buzz was less than mine; after adjustments; mine was a little better than the loaner buzz.

I sat around and they redid the synch literally five times. As I said, very patient with me. They began to infer that it was in my princess mind. I just wasn't ready to give up. So then one of the guys said what about the "hoo hoo whatever thing" Open and closed loop issues. . . I said whatever he said; please do it, I'm out the door on the loaner call me tomorrow (Thursday).

The "hoo hoo" --- he didn't say that, of course, turned out to be: reboot of all ECU sensors; basically reset the electronics, including: the adaptive values that include fuel trim, throttle sensors, mass air pressure sensor. Put everything back to zero.

I had been extensively test ridden before I got there after the reboot. They pronounced it perfect and strong. I'm glad they drove it because it takes a while for the sensors to figure out what good is after a reboot. By the time I got on it, I could immediately feel the difference.

Took a quick late afternoon traffic permitting blast out on local back roads. Bike got nothing but better as I rode it.

Final Verdict: I am back to near perfect. Well, as good as a pea under a tempurpedic (sp?) can feel.

I'm going to give it a couple of weeks. Then I'm going to install the booster plug that started all this. I still believe the booster deal will smooth out the throttle.

Life is good again...off to PA for family; hoping for clear skies in Chicago as I am on weather delay in San Diego now....still have to get to Harrisburg PA tonight. Looking at day outside and wishing I was riding....hope you all have the good weekend. Josh from his dingle has pronounced that Chicago Wx should clear. Crossed fingers. John

[Lance]

That's great that you've got it sorted John. As Don mentioned, the dealer I went to (reputable) used fans to cool the engine after I rode it there and then they did their adjustments. Ironically, the dealer that I bought it from initially (also reputable) had told me that when I was bringing it in for it's first service that I'd have to leave it overnight so it was properly cooled when doing the adjustments. The only reason I never went to them was that they were further way from my home. Looking back at the aggravation I had with the buzz, I should have ridden the extra 30 miles.


Xprof - Yes, Matchless, and yes I should have my head examined but there's something about them. I know well of Malcolm Smith and have that box set of On Any Sunday as well. Great video and neat that you've got that photo with him.

Regards,
Lance