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Interesting change in my bike

  • <i class="fa--xf fal fa-check "><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-hidden="true" ><use href="/data/local/icons/light.svg?v=1789222567#check"></use></svg></i> Discussion starter Discussion starter MN246
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MN246

MN246

Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2024
Messages
97
Location
Kansas City
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Bike
R18B
So I've had my bike out of winter storage for a couple of months now. When I took it out of winter storage it was the same R18B it was when I put it away for the winter. The OEM Bridgestones were pretty well shot, so I recently had a fresh set of Commander II's installed. My initial experience with the Commanders is that the bike turned in much quicker than the Bridgestones and honestly felt a little unstable. I've put a couple hundred miles on it since, and I'm loving these tires now. The ride and handling are much better.

Now for the weird part. for some reason over the past hundred or so miles, the character of the bike has completely changed. The engine and transmission have unexplainably gotten noticeably smoother. So much so, that it feels like a completely different bike. The high frequency vibration that used to come through the grips and floorboards at all speeds is virtually unnoticeable now. It feels just short of an inline 4 in terms of smoothness. I promise I'm not exaggerating about this. There has been no noticeable change in power from the motor.

Nothing except the tires has changed on the bike although I can't imagine any scenario in which tires could effect the drive train like this. It is due for an oil change, and I have all the Redline oil for the engine, trans, and rear end. If I had already changed the oil I could attribute some of this to that, but its the same oil from last season. I'm planning to change the fluids this coming weekend.

The bike just rolled over about 7,800 miles. My only other thought is that this could be break in related. I'm curious if anyone else on here has had an experience with their bike that is similar.
 
Interesting. Your description is excellent. I hope you're reasoning is correct but I think you're likely right. BMW boxers are well-known for long break-in periods. My R1150GS didn't fully break in until almost 20k miles, and the difference was noticeable. My R18 TC has only 12k miles on it now and I don't feel it's quite reached break-in.
 
I've read these engines get a lot smoother around 6,000 miles give or take, I'm at 5k now..wouldn't complain if it happened to me as well :-)
 
I have 8,900 miles on the R18 and it is much smoother and relaxed than pre-6,000 miles. This was also my experience 18 years ago with the R1200C. The boxer finds its groove around 7k miles.
 
BER18 100 said:
I have 8,900 miles on the R18 and it is much smoother and relaxed than pre-6,000 miles. This was also my experience 18 years ago with the R1200C. The boxer finds its groove around 7k miles.
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Well i,m up to 14,500 mile on my 22 classic runs and sounds great , only vibration i feel is if you let it labour up steep hills in sixth gear .
 
So I spoke with my local dealer today and was told that it is very likely the new Commander II tires. He said the mileage from them being put on is consistent with the typical distance for these to scrub in and that he has seen this in other boxers. I don't know if its the new tires or additional break in, but this thing is smooth as silk now.
 
MN246 said:
So I spoke with my local dealer today and was told that it is very likely the new Commander II tires. He said the mileage from them being put on is consistent with the typical distance for these to scrub in and that he has seen this in other boxers. I don't know if its the new tires or additional break in, but this thing is smooth as silk now.
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First thing that came to my mind, was the tyres.
 
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