Hi All,

This is my first post ever so please be gentle.

Just bought a 2007 R1200GSA and in the main am very pleased I have changed from a 1996 XT600e so there is a little difference in the bikes but have noticed a few things that may or may not be issues i would just like oher more experienced views.

Not being used to Shaft drive i was expecting it to be smnoother at low speeds traffic etc but i have fund at low speed manovers using the clutch in ad out there is a definate "clunk" when releasing the clutch and re engaging drive is this normal?

I did not notice on the test rides but now i am more familiar there is a what can only bedescribed as a "rumble" when driving does not seem to be the engin but gearbox or at least it soundslike it may be. again is this normal

Not knowing what is normal and based on the responce / feedback i will take the appropriate action dealer et. or do nothing but enjoy the bike.

I am sure if i go back to the dealer the first responce will be this is normal

Thanks in advance

Yes - 'draging' the rear brake helps with slow speed stuff like turns .. you have a lot of power take it easy on the aplication of power.

Could be a drive shaft going .. needs someone to check it out.

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

Thanks Frank for the feed back.

Looked at what may be causing the clunk and I am suprised at the play in the back wheel i.e. place the bike on the centre stand and put buike in gear the rear wheal can move by hand freely for a quite a way i.e. few inches forward and back before stopping on the drive gear at this point the same noise (clunk) is heard when free play is taken up.

If I use more power and using the back brake and it is not as noticable but does require slipping the clutch more. may be just a learning curve and a feature of the R1200GSA. The bike has only done 7K miles so all should be OK I may be being a little critical. I am used to the XT and being able to simply use the clutch and brake control and use bike momentum at idle revs with the bike in first gear to manover (parking garaging etc) I appriciate the bike is a great deal lighter.

I will be taking the bike back to the deler just to
A check another bike,
B get the rumble looked at,

I will keep you posted.

Thanks for the help and feedbak

Thanks again

I suggest you register and post your enquiry on the 1200 section of UKGS'er.com and in the meantime as your dealer to look at it.

Tim (1200GSA owner)

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

I have the '07 GSA and have done about 20 000km on it. The "clunk" in the clutch has been there since new. I believe the '08 model has a lower 1st gear which should help. As for the rumble, I haven't noticed anything but maybe your ears are better than mine.

Happy riding

Kenny

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Just Ride!
www.rocktravels.blogspot.com

Frank Kenny Tim,

Thanks for the responce, I will get the dealer to check. New to the GS forums there are a lot more than for the XT (english versions that is)

Thanks again

Dealer says all is normal for this bike, going to give her long run tomorrow

Thanks again

Hiya Bud.
Yeah, it is a bit alarming when you're not used to it!
It's quite noticable when you're moving along at walking pace on off the throttle or off road. The wheel does have a couple or 3 inches of movement when on the centre stand and in gear!
You'll develop a knack I'm sure.
Keep an eye on the pinch bolts on the fork slider yokes as they can come loose sometimes and the engine finish, especially on the underside, can show corrosion quite quickly, I use that scottoiler spray.
All the best though!
Dave.

Thanks djorob,

Dealer says all is OK, so i am ignoring the "runmble" i think i can hear. got some better ear plugs and she purrs. The dealer re-created the "Clunk" 50 x worse than i ever made it happen, says its the gearbox play between the gears and is completely normal.

Took the bike out yesterday to give the bike a long run, ended up doing nearly 400miles, very imprest with the stability, bike balance and the comfort both at speed and country roads. the bike can move.

Still getting used to the bike weight but now have refined the pre-load to compensate for the panniers and the ride is great. Took the wife on the back to work each morning last week and the bike backend bounced quite noticably when setting off until the suspension and dampening was adjusted and this was very simple. She has a lot more room than on the XT, so much so that she may need to place something between the to box and her back, and the bike handles two up with panniers far better than the XT.

Just booking the ferry for in a few weeks time taking the bike -- sorry wife over to Brussels for her birthday. result

Looking forward to this, just need to (as i have been ordered) get rid of the XT as "we have no room for both bikes", I will miss her as it has been a great bike and i would say for a normaly built person traveling with luggage going off road the XT is more adgile and easier to manage but as I need two up plus luggage and dont realy go off road (camp sites dirt tracks excluded) the GSA appears perfect.

Glad it's all good.
Speed ferries are usually cheap and now have some special bike clamps that do away with strapping the bike down.
Dover-Dunkirk is a fairly cheap crossing too.
If you're in that neck of the woods Bruges is a lovely place.
Dave.

Both noises you describe are normal on the boxers.
It took me about 2 months to get to used to the bikes "quirky"attributes,
as soon as you get used to it you will see why people will not ride anything else!
"Good riding"