BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Over the past few months have been experiencing a steering weave at low speeds. I was advised that this was due to my front tyre being worn and as I done 7000 miles on the then current set I replaced both.

This did not cure the problem and it was suggested that it could be down to my 22 inch Cee Bailey screen or the steering damper. One technician suggested that I remove the steering damper but another said that this would make the bike non standard and it should therefore be retained.

In the meantime I have replaced the Cee Bailey with the original BMW screen and this appears to have improved the low speed stability.

Has any one else experienced this problem and if so how was it solved.

Sounds like you should have the damper itself checked. I have a Cee bailey 18" and have never had a hint of wobble at any speed. Good luck.

I agree with hankth - it's not the screen; something else is wrong. I have an 18" Cee Bailey's on my '07, and the bike is steady as can be - much better than the R1100RSL with its frame-mount fairing that preceeded it. My buddy Rad has an '09 R12R with a Parabellum Scout - heavier than my Cee Bailey's screen - and his bike's real steady, too.

Mike,

Describe the weave..

I've had instances of steering head bearings (on bikes that had them) being too tight, causing drag. This made the bike very difficult to make go in a straight line at low speeds.. if the steering damper is binding up, that could cause this. You can check if fairly easily by unscrewing the torx bolt that holds the rear end of it to the telelever wishbone. Then try "stroking" it in and out. It should move easily at low speed, and be more resistant to movement if you stroke it faster (sorry, this is starting to sound like a happytime video - but dunno how else to describe it..)

I've had the 22" CB screen on my bike (recently sold it to a friend, I'm now using an 18" CB).. and had no difficulty at low speeds. It did have some "sail" effect at higher speeds and when passing trucks, but nothing that made the bike hard to ride.

I ran a 22" Cee Baily on my first '10 R12. I had the front of the mount jacked up as high as it could go. I posted pictures here back in early 2010. (Search for "Ferguson Block") The setup was perfect. No wind noise, no buffeting just smooth sailing.

On my next R12, also a '10, I used a 20" shield with the block: not as good.

On my '13, I'm still using the 20". It's OK enough while I figure out an elegant way to tilt it back some more. If I have occasion to replace it (Hey, I'm a Yankee of Scottish decent there's no easy replacing) I will go back to the 22" length.

Bruce

I've been running a 25" Cee Bailey with a 1/2 inch Don C block on my 2009 "R" for 20,000+ miles; no buffeting, no "weave", no "sail" effect at any speed up to 120mph, even passing big trucks. Perfection! I'm inclined to vote with Don Eilenberger: look very carefully at the headset bearings, the damper, the axle/wheel bearings, or the tires before blaming the screen. Just my opinion...

Thanks for your comments I will put the Cee Bailey back on and book my bike in at the dealers to see what they make of it. It is still under warranty so there should be problem in finding the fault.

Yes to what they all said. I was the Guinea Pig...well my bike was....while developing the Gen 2. That bike and my new to me "11 classic have no issues with it.

By the way

I have a new 2013 R 1200 R and I would like to upgrade with a 18" or 18.5" windshield height but I am not sure what is the most used by you guys Cee Bayley, ZTechnik or the OEM BMW.

I am not too tall, 5'7" with 30" long length size 150 pounds only. I use an extra low height seat bench around 29" from the floor; I had upgraded seat because original 32" Super-comfort original was too much to me, after a week riding I returned to Dealer in order to change the seat but they said "...no, you should by a new one..." I refused them, claiming I was not noticed before purchase but anyway they replied "...sorry..." so, now I have two seat and I do not know who will buy the original, I don't need it anymore.

Well my big concern about windshield is about Lexan or Acrylic quality and of course really security on the road if a stone hit the screen..., would some of you let me know your experience about this topic, is there another brand windshield name to investigate to? Does the OEM BMW is Acrylic or Lexan?

Thanks in advance!
Cordially,

CosmeT wrote:By the way

I have a new 2013 R 1200 R and I would like to upgrade with a 18" or 18.5" windshield height but I am not sure what is the most used by you guys Cee Bayley, ZTechnik or the OEM BMW.

I am not too tall, 5'7" with 30" long length size 150 pounds only. I use an extra low height seat bench around 29" from the floor; I had upgraded seat because original 32" Super-comfort original was too much to me, after a week riding I returned to Dealer in order to change the seat but they said "...no, you should by a new one..." I refused them, claiming I was not noticed before purchase but anyway they replied "...sorry..." so, now I have two seat and I do not know who will buy the original, I don't need it anymore.

Well my big concern about windshield is about Lexan or Acrylic quality and of course really security on the road if a stone hit the screen..., would some of you let me know your experience about this topic, is there another brand windshield name to investigate to? Does the OEM BMW is Acrylic or Lexan?

Thanks in advance!
Cordially,

Your size is somewhat like mine (if you add on a few LBS..) and I have a low seat (modified by Sargent, but still low)

Dunno on Lexan or Acrylic, but CeeBailey's are on R1200R's all over the place and I've never heard of one breaking. Mine has survived a number of big enough stone hits (big enough to put a divot in the screen) and hasn't shattered. I think it's a non-issue.

Apparently Z-Technik has come out with a different shield/mount for the R12R - their first effort was difficult to mount and some people found it less than satisfactory at speed. Dunno much about their new one.

The BMW stock "Touring" shield is expensive and only provides protection to about nipple height.

I've found I'm most happy with the original CeeBailey (which I don't believe they sell anymore - but they do turn up used) in the 18" height. I've had the larger 20" and I still have the smaller 16" - the 18" seems a good compromise with protection vs naked-bike feel. It would be a good thing to tip the mount back about 3/4" at the bottom point, with the 2013 touring mount (which is used with the CB shields) this is more of a chore than with the earlier mounts - but it has been done, and some searching here will turn up discussions on how. I tried out the new CB shield, but found I experienced turbulence on my shoulders with it which I found annoying, so I gave up on it.

Lots of options, lots of choices - I've tried many.. and that's where I am this week (with 75,000+ miles on the bike.. I don't see me changing it real soon.)

BTW - if you list the tall comfort seat for sale in the buy/sell forum here (gotta be a paid member to do that) chances are it will sell rather quickly. Price it around $300 since it's basically new, and take $200 if offered..

Thank you Don, very good suggestions and ideas, anyway I will search a little bit more before purchase decision.
Maybe somebody from our forum brings another idea and/or experienceI so, I will wait a little bit more.

Cordially,