Grip Puppies?
K1600GTL vibration
I recently brought a 2015 k1600GTL with 13500km. It now has 15000km on it. Since buying, I have had a vibration that appears to be clutch related. I queried the previous owner and was told that at a service at 13000km, he raised this with the service agent, only to be toldbthat it wasn't an issue. However, any engine vibration is not good. So I took it into the local BMW dealer, and had an independent mechanic take a look, and they could see no obvious issue. Next step... pull the engine out and do much thorough examination $$$$$$$$. I havent done that yet. So what is happening. While riding, there is a very rapid vibration. When I disengage the clutch it goes away, when I re-engage the clutch, I feel the vibration start as the clutch starts to bite, and it remains constant when full engaged. When I stop and put into neutral and release clutch, there is a bit of noise from the clutch mechanism, but I can usually pump the clutch lever a couple if times and it comes right. Any ideas from the forum as to possible causes and fixes?
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Great idea, but it's not a vibration through the handlebars.Grip Puppies?
Butt Puppies? 🤣 Sorry. I couldn't resist. Seriously, good luck finding a solution.
I have no clue what this could be, but you might try this. With the engine not running, put the cycle in 5th or 6th gear, clutch engaged and try to push the cycle (maybe more than one person). If it will roll or rolls in a jerky fashion, there is a clutch engagement problem. What is it doing coasting in neutral clutch in or out? Does the vibration change with RPM or wheel speed? Just throwing something out there for you to tear apart.
I have no clue what this could be, but you might try this. With the engine not running, put the cycle in 5th or 6th gear, clutch engaged and try to push the cycle (maybe more than one person). If it will roll or rolls in a jerky fashion, there is a clutch engagement problem. What is it doing coasting in neutral clutch in or out? Does the vibration change with RPM or wheel speed? Just throwing something out there for you to tear apart.
I'm no great mechanic, but the good news on these 'slant' motors is that the clutch is easily accessible, unlike the clutch on the old 'flying brick' Ks. Ensuring that you have the requisite gasket(s) and any requisite new single-use bolts to hand, I'd be tempted to pull the clutch cover and see if there's any obvious damage or failure that may have caused the clutch basket to become unbalanced. Maybe a chunk has fallen off a friction plate, or a lug snapped off the basket or non-friction plate?
Also, you say that when parked up, a couple of pumps of the lever clears the noise, so maybe the release mechanism is not pushing straight somehow? A bent actuation rod? So I'd check the rod and change the clutch fluid first, remembering that it's probably mineral oil on the K16 as it is on the K13.
Also, you say that when parked up, a couple of pumps of the lever clears the noise, so maybe the release mechanism is not pushing straight somehow? A bent actuation rod? So I'd check the rod and change the clutch fluid first, remembering that it's probably mineral oil on the K16 as it is on the K13.
Try bleeding the clutch first. If it works by pumping, you may just have air in the line. It is mineral oil.
On the k12 the centre bearing was of poor quality and allowed the clutch basket to fret on the shaft. This may be the problem here. Altho the 16 has a different setup it still has a similar bearing
Also check out this video which shows a well known cause of vibration in the k12. Again adifferent system but checking these areas for freeplay could show some result.
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Also check out this video which shows a well known cause of vibration in the k12. Again adifferent system but checking these areas for freeplay could show some result.
im getting exactly the same on my 2020 gt ! did you find out what it was ???I recently brought a 2015 k1600GTL with 13500km. It now has 15000km on it. Since buying, I have had a vibration that appears to be clutch related. I queried the previous owner and was told that at a service at 13000km, he raised this with the service agent, only to be toldbthat it wasn't an issue. However, any engine vibration is not good. So I took it into the local BMW dealer, and had an independent mechanic take a look, and they could see no obvious issue. Next step... pull the engine out and do much thorough examination $$$$$$$$. I havent done that yet. So what is happening. While riding, there is a very rapid vibration. When I disengage the clutch it goes away, when I re-engage the clutch, I feel the vibration start as the clutch starts to bite, and it remains constant when full engaged. When I stop and put into neutral and release clutch, there is a bit of noise from the clutch mechanism, but I can usually pump the clutch lever a couple if times and it comes right. Any ideas from the forum as to possible causes and fixes?
my bike does the same 2021 gt, did you find the cause ??I recently brought a 2015 k1600GTL with 13500km. It now has 15000km on it. Since buying, I have had a vibration that appears to be clutch related. I queried the previous owner and was told that at a service at 13000km, he raised this with the service agent, only to be toldbthat it wasn't an issue. However, any engine vibration is not good. So I took it into the local BMW dealer, and had an independent mechanic take a look, and they could see no obvious issue. Next step... pull the engine out and do much thorough examination $$$$$$$$. I havent done that yet. So what is happening. While riding, there is a very rapid vibration. When I disengage the clutch it goes away, when I re-engage the clutch, I feel the vibration start as the clutch starts to bite, and it remains constant when full engaged. When I stop and put into neutral and release clutch, there is a bit of noise from the clutch mechanism, but I can usually pump the clutch lever a couple if times and it comes right. Any ideas from the forum as to possible causes and fixes?
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
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