And so it begins....
Discussion
BMW are real turds about this kind of thing - you have my sympathies. It took 4 visits and the loss of my bike for about 2 weeks before they finally accepted that it was the ECU controlling the heated grips which was gubbed, and not the switch, or the grips, or the wrong kind of cold etc. Like I told them when I first took the fault back to them. Duh.
If there's talk of Power Commanders, you could always make a virtue out of a necessity and have a Hilltop remap instead:
https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-ins...
At least you'd gain a fair bit of extra poke as well as solving the stalling nonsense, and you'd need to check but I don't think it's detectable to BMW when they plug it in at the next service...
If there's talk of Power Commanders, you could always make a virtue out of a necessity and have a Hilltop remap instead:
https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-ins...
At least you'd gain a fair bit of extra poke as well as solving the stalling nonsense, and you'd need to check but I don't think it's detectable to BMW when they plug it in at the next service...
Reardy Mister said:
Indeed. If the answer comes back that it can't be put right without a PC, my response will be "well please by all means, fit a PC and Akro pipe at your expense and while you're there, ensure my warranty stays in tact." Which I imagine will go over like malaria.
I've ridden a few models with this engine, all have had Akrapovic fitted...probably explains why all the demo models have them.Good luck getting it sorted, you are clearly not the sort to roll over and let them fob you off.
Following with interest
Well it went in Friday. Was due back that day but they weren't sure they could get it back before I went off to start my weekend. So I asked them not to rush it and just to do what they had to do to get it right as I don't want it back until it is. I've not heard from them since. Which suits me because the loan bike is f
king ace (though I'm pretty sure its thirstier) and I don't want to give it back. 
king ace (though I'm pretty sure its thirstier) and I don't want to give it back. Got my 63 plate LC R1200 GS about 3 months ago. (Is that a twin cam?) Managed around 4k on it before getting pranged on the motorway.
In that time it only stalled a couple of times when i was blipping the throttle on down shifts. It is easy to stall when taking off from low revs, but nothing a little more gass dosent sort out.
Needs the gearbox looking at though.
In that time it only stalled a couple of times when i was blipping the throttle on down shifts. It is easy to stall when taking off from low revs, but nothing a little more gass dosent sort out.
Needs the gearbox looking at though.
Sushifiend said:
Reardy Mister said:
Which suits me because the loan bike is fking ace (though I'm pretty sure its thirstier) and I don't want to give it back.
What did they give you as a loaner?king ace (though I'm pretty sure its thirstier) and I don't want to give it back. Nothing from the dealer until yesterday when I missed a call from the service advisor, asking me when I'd like to swap back to my bike. Called back FOUR times throughout the day leaving messages and no return phone call.
Have now put another call into the Mororrad Director. He must be a busy man...
I do rather fancy keeping the new one for the weekend mind you.
Have now put another call into the Mororrad Director. He must be a busy man...
I do rather fancy keeping the new one for the weekend mind you.
Only fair that I update this, as I have been somewhat vocal about the dealer.
To all intents and purposes, the bike is sorted, without (major) fuss, with a free loan bike and all under warranty and for that I am thankful to Vines (though you'd think they could see their way clear to not charging for the replacement headlight bulb whilst it was in, for my troubles). It does still stall more easily than I would like, but I would say its because its intolerant of anything other than generous throttle inputs, instead of a general propensity to just cut out, like before. Sadly, the weather has cooled considerably since I put it in and I've not done much on it since, so there might be an ambient air temp influencing its new found good manners. Nevertheless, the engine at idle is much crisper, each detonation is noticeably sharper and it picks up revs off idle more willingly. It does however still waver at idle, by as much 200rpm at times. Also of note is far less pop and bang on closing the throttle.
I am disappointed that no one at Vines saw fit to email me or even tell me what exactly they did to fix it. The Motorrad Director mentioned some sort of idle sensor replacement but he couldn't be sure.
Banhstormer have an M-Sport coloured GS in at the moment with the new motor and a few nice looking K1300Ses that I'd like to try, before my bike dissolves on the winter roads and is worth peanuts. So that's the next plan. My bike is nice but it lacks personality or dynamism. At least a GS has pretences to offroad and the 1300 has pace. And both have 80% of the comforts of the RT.
To all intents and purposes, the bike is sorted, without (major) fuss, with a free loan bike and all under warranty and for that I am thankful to Vines (though you'd think they could see their way clear to not charging for the replacement headlight bulb whilst it was in, for my troubles). It does still stall more easily than I would like, but I would say its because its intolerant of anything other than generous throttle inputs, instead of a general propensity to just cut out, like before. Sadly, the weather has cooled considerably since I put it in and I've not done much on it since, so there might be an ambient air temp influencing its new found good manners. Nevertheless, the engine at idle is much crisper, each detonation is noticeably sharper and it picks up revs off idle more willingly. It does however still waver at idle, by as much 200rpm at times. Also of note is far less pop and bang on closing the throttle.
I am disappointed that no one at Vines saw fit to email me or even tell me what exactly they did to fix it. The Motorrad Director mentioned some sort of idle sensor replacement but he couldn't be sure.
Banhstormer have an M-Sport coloured GS in at the moment with the new motor and a few nice looking K1300Ses that I'd like to try, before my bike dissolves on the winter roads and is worth peanuts. So that's the next plan. My bike is nice but it lacks personality or dynamism. At least a GS has pretences to offroad and the 1300 has pace. And both have 80% of the comforts of the RT.
Reardy Mister said:
Banhstormer have an M-Sport coloured GS in at the moment with the new motor and a few nice looking K1300Ses that I'd like to try, before my bike dissolves on the winter roads and is worth peanuts. So that's the next plan. My bike is nice but it lacks personality or dynamism. At least a GS has pretences to offroad and the 1300 has pace. And both have 80% of the comforts of the RT.
I've had both the K1300S and now the current MY2015 LC GS. Both are great bikes, and there is a continual debate amongst owners of both as to the virtues of each - both have strong personalities that are alot more fun than an RT. Several US owners have both a GS and K13 given their strengths. For UK riding on a mixture of less-than-perfect A and B roads, I think the GS is the more suited bike. For motorway-biased riding and higher speed Continental solo touring, the K13 is in its element. If riding 2-up more regularly or looking for practicality and comfort, the GS wins handsdown regardless of roads.
Either way, both are great bikes and are significantly more dynamic in their unique ways compared to the RT.
I’m glad to hear your bike appears sorted. It’s a shame that the dealer did not keep you more in the picture as to the issues and the resolution but the service otherwise sounds pretty reasonable.
Enjoy testing the GS and the K1300S. Both offer more excitement than the RT and both are very good at what they do. Let us know what you think of them.
Enjoy testing the GS and the K1300S. Both offer more excitement than the RT and both are very good at what they do. Let us know what you think of them.
Reardy Mister said:
I am disappointed that no one at Vines saw fit to email me or even tell me what exactly they did to fix it. The Motorrad Director mentioned some sort of idle sensor replacement but he couldn't be sure.
I would not be at all surprised if they have no idea what they did to fix it, and that's why they are light on the specifics...Mr2Mike said:
Sushifiend said:
I would not be at all surprised if they have no idea what they did to fix it, and that's why they are light on the specifics...
I wonder how many random parts they swapped out.I like my GS. I've commuted for over 40k miles on it, and it's been good for weeks away abroad too. I'd replace it, but I liked it better than the WC GS I had as a loaner for the day, and I don't want the physical bulk of a touring bike. I'm on 46k miles now, and will probably keep it for a while yet.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff