[Canisbay]

Hi

Just got a 2013 r1200gs water cool version. Notice, when riding at slow speed, mainly in city streets (3 gear/3000 rpm), a lot of buck or hesitation in the bike. Had bring the bike twice to the dealership and they had found no apparent issue with the engine. The chief mechanic took the bike for a ride and feel the same thing but told me was normal and recommend to keep the engine above 3000 rpm. I'm not happy with the answer but haven't found any reports regarding this issue. Wondering if any one have some information about what can be the problem or if this "issue" is truly normal as suggested by the dealership.

Thanks

 

[nicobico]

How many times did you refuel the bike?

 

[Canisbay]

Thanks

I got the bike full and I refill it only once. Is important to note that this bike was a demo bike at the dealership. I got it with 2000km.

 

[nicobico]

Try to use all the fuel or dry up the fuel tank. Then refuel it at a different service station. That *might* solve your problem.

 

[grahamspc]

Agree with Nicobico and also try some BMW fuel system treatment..had bad fuel problem with my 09 and this cured it...I also now use an ethanol fuel treatment product each time I refuel my 2012 GS...not sure whether or not you are in an area where they have ethanol fuel..bad stuff for a lot of vehicles.

 

[Canisbay]

Ok, I will. Thanks for the help..

It is my first BMW bike and not sure if that was "normal" or not. It make sense what you said bcs the feeling is like having a "dirt carburetor" although there is no such in the bike.

I live in ontario and yes there is high % of ethanol in the fuel.

I will take your advice.

Thank you very much

 

[Emoto]

I would experiment with the different riding modes, as well, if you have them.

However, every motor has its sweet spots and areas where it is less happy. You may end up running a gear up or down from where you are now.

I would also call BMW HQ for wherever you are located (your profile does not say) and complain to them about the issue. You are not the first one I have heard of whose bike does this.

 

[Canisbay]

Did that already. Ride the bike in at least 3 modes. Same problem.

I'm in Ontario, but not sure where the HQ are located.

 

[mustang guy]

Did that already. Ride the bike in at least 3 modes. Same problem.

I'm in Ontario, but not sure where the HQ are located.

It does sound like clogged injectors. I do a lot of fuel injection work, and the loss of power at the low end is an indication of poor atomization. It could also be because of the extremely high ethanol content. People who race alcohol dragsters know that it takes way more alcohol than gasoline. In a carb, going from gas to alcohol requires upsizing idle circuit jet, main jet, and higher performance AP circuit. In fuel injection it would probably require either higher pulse width or possibly bigger injectors and higher pulse width.

Does anybody know if there is an E85 (85% or more ethanol) tune for this bike? If so, possibly BMW could update your ECU for the higher alcohol content.

 

[Canisbay]

Thanks for the reply

Have done all what was suggested. Still same problem. Went to the dealership again and keep saying nothing is wrong with the bike. I'm using the gas with less ethanol available.

Starting to think the problem is me and not the bike....

Not sure what to do next.

 

[Emoto]

I would vary the rpm and gear selected until you find where the engine is "happy". This may change somewhat as you put more miles on it, too.

 

[mustang guy]

I would vary the rpm and gear selected until you find where the engine is "happy". This may change somewhat as you put more miles on it, too.

I have noticed that above 3K RPM, the bike seems to be happiest when asking for torque. It is fine in the 2's, but when you snap the throttle in the 2's it is a bit laggy. It is nevertheless very rideable in the 2's, just so long as you are aware of the lugging that will take place when you want quick power. I'd say the torque curve is steep at about 3K and higher. It would be interesting to see a dyno chart of this bike.

 

[AdamWebber]

A throttle body sync may be in order for you. If it isn't bad fuel or clogged injectors then it likely could be the throttle bodies not providing equal amounts of fuel at low rpm. Not sure if the water-cooled version is the same as the previous models but I would assume that they are similar.

 

[73516]

down load the "Pure Gas" app it will locate area gas stations that sell gas that does NOT contain ethanol.

73516

 

[jpel]

My GS (purchased in April) runs on the lean side too. Not enough to bug me but it is noticeable. On the flip side, it gets great mileage. On a trip this weekend, averaging 50-65mph, I got a true calculated 48.5mpg! I have used an additive called Startron in the GS and it did make the lean running less noticeable. In my 06 K1200S, the difference with the Startron is dramatic. So much so, that it always gets the Startron after a fillup!

Jim

 

[nicobico]

On the flip side, it gets great mileage.

Jim

I did a nice trip this weekend. 500 miles + wife and luggage (BMW large soft bag). We rode the sierras along a group with different types of bikes. So we agree to stop every hour to refill the bikes.

When the speed was 55 mph, the R1200GS 2012 ran at 53 mpg. But at 70 mph I got 43 mpg.

Considering the size, weight and horsepower for such bike, that is not bad all. There was a buddy with another GS (2008) and he was getting the same mileage.

 

[Micklin1]

Same

I have the same thing but only at lower speeds. Pretty much 25-40 mph in 2nd or 3rd gear, low rpms, it feels like it's running out of gas. Kind of chugs like when that happens. No issues at same rpms at higher speeds. I have put the cruise control on and it does with it on too at those speeds. My dealer in Germany says the same thing, nothing can be found wrong. I just deal with it as I still love the bike.

 

[bmgm37]

OK, my bike was doing this same thing that I have been reading all over the internet. I just took my bike in for its first service at 800 mile, a little over but dealer said that 800 is actually a little better in his opinion.

I mentioned the rough idle and the bucking/sputter around 3K. They said since I had mentioned it, the problem is not considered a safety issue or harmful to the motor but many bikes came out of the factory with the twin cams out of alignment. They checked my cams and they were off so they they did the 1.5 hour service of aligning the cams properly and now it is like a different bike, smooth idle and much smoother at all rpms....a little snappier too, could definitely feel the difference.

I am sure it is something that comes down to your dealers service level and willing to go to bat for you to do this warranty work which my dealer was willing to do.

 

[Miguel AL]

It does sound like clogged injectors. I do a lot of fuel injection work, and the loss of power at the low end is an indication of poor atomization. It could also be because of the extremely high ethanol content. People who race alcohol dragsters know that it takes way more alcohol than gasoline. In a carb, going from gas to alcohol requires upsizing idle circuit jet, main jet, and higher performance AP circuit. In fuel injection it would probably require either higher pulse width or possibly bigger injectors and higher pulse width.

Does anybody know if there is an E85 (85% or more ethanol) tune for this bike? If so, possibly BMW could update your ECU for the higher alcohol content.

Here in Brazil all the gas available - regular and Premium - is E25. My 2013 GS runs really fine on it despite the manual limiting the ethanol content on gas at 10%. They must have tuned the bike for this ethanol content, because it would not be possible to run the engine otherwise.

 

[JohnG]

Hi

Just got a 2013 rags water cool version. Notice, when riding at slow speed, mainly in city streets (3 gear/3000 rpm), a lot of buck or hesitation in the bike. Had bring the bike twice to the dealership and they had found no apparent issue with the engine. The chief mechanic took the bike for a ride and feel the same thing but told me was normal and recommend to keep the engine above 3000 rpm. I'm not happy with the answer but haven't found any reports regarding this issue. Wondering if any one have some information about what can be the problem or if this "issue" is truly normal as suggested by the dealership.

Thanks

My bike has 1000 miles on it and it runs rough at times and also drops dead at stop lights on occasion. I also noted this on the demo model at Dealership. I just had the new ECM upload done and throttle response seems better but it still idles rough at times...seems to be temperature related, but engine temp recovers quickly and it smooths out..just crank it up, it's not going to putter around like a trials bike, all of the gears are a little tall for idling around, it's a much better sport bike, and it gets a little rough just about where the cams start kicking in...JMHO