Violent vibration on new R18B??

[Flash2004NZ]

I picked my new bike up on Thursday last (Sunday Now) and rode it 430km home. I noted to the dealer that the vibration was significant, especially on deceleration but hoped it would reduce as everything bedded in. On Saturday I took my wife for a very gentle spin to see if she needed a sissy bar - she does. We were doing about 80kmh up a slight rise when the bike started shaking up and down quite badly. I thought there must be corrugations in the chip seal road surface maybe. I dropped a gear, then another in case it was labouring but no difference. We crested to rise and onto the obviously smooth surface and the vibration remained. I was worried we might not make it the 15km back home but babied it and made it. I've taken it to our local service agent for inspection.

I'd add it was less obvious when only one up, she's not overly heavy, probably about 75kg and I'm 130kg. I've felt similar vibrations in motor vehicles when the driveline is out of phase. It might be worth mentioning that the reverse gear operation has been disabled at BMW's request while they work out a solution. I don't know if they disabled it using software or whether they had to open it up to remove any parts and have upset something in the reassembly. There are two brass plates in the panniers which may have been removed. I'll get a photo of them and add to this post.

Any idea? This situation is quite concerning on a new bike. I had a 22 R18 Classic before which was not overly smooth in terms of buzziness but I'd read elsewhere BMW had addressed that.

Thanks for reading

 

[Flash2004NZ]

 

[Star-Lord]

I own a 2022 R18 B with 13,000+ miles on it, and have never experienced what you described; also, I've removed the side cases in order to perform work on my Model B and don't recall the two brass pieces that you found?

It will be interesting to see what your dealership - service shop comes back with regarding the vibration.

Disabling the Reverse functionality is the removal of either the positive (+) power lead, and or removing the negative ( - ) ground lead.

Keep us posted on what the shop finds.. maybe unbalanced tires, or perhaps flat spots on the tires if purchased used...?

Oh yeah...!!! Your dealership owes you $1,000 compensation credit towards the purchase of any R18 Accessories for removing the Reverse functionality...

 

[Flash2004NZ]

Bike had only 11km on the clock, was brand new when I picked it up. The $1k comp sounds interesting, but they had done a NZ$7500 special discount on that model already.

 

[Star-Lord]

Bike had only 11km on the clock, was brand new when I picked it up. The $1k comp sounds interesting, but they had done a NZ$7500 special discount on that model already.

When did they disable your Reverse module? Was it disabled at the time of purchase or are they doing it now while they troubleshoot the vibration issue?

 

[Flash2004NZ]

I think the supplying dealer did it, definitely done before i collected it

 

[BER18 100]

My R18 is a very smooth ride.
At 50 mph in 4th, 60 mph in 5th, or 70 mph in 6th, I can barely feel the bike. The sweet spot is about 2,500 rpm in these gears.

 

[johndeeredr]

Do you have Michlen tires on it ?

 

[Flash2004NZ]

Yes, Michelin tyres, but not sure of the model of them and of course its in the workshop now so can't check. I've always run Metzler on my BMWs before and they've been great, Michelin make brilliant tyres as a rule but the front on this roars madly on chip seal.

 

[Flash2004NZ]

My R18 is a very smooth ride.
At 50 mph in 4th, 60 mph in 5th, or 70 mph in 6th, I can barely feel the bike. The sweet spot is about 2,500 rpm in these gears.

Mine's the same, so was my old one, happiest at 2500 and I'm not a thrasher, especially of a new engine