[Jojosb]

Hi everyone,

I have a quick question (and possibly a problem). I've noticed a strange sound coming from the engine area – it almost sounds like a loose nut or washer rattling against metal. But here's the catch: the noise only happens while riding, and only when I’m giving it throttle.

When the bike is stationary, even when revving, there's no noise at all – everything sounds normal.

It really feels like something might be loose and vibrating under load, but it's hard to pinpoint since it only happens in motion. Has anyone experienced something similar or have any ideas on what I should check first?

The bike is a 2015 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure.

Thanks in advance!

Oliver

 

[Krons]

Welcome to the forum.

First thing I would check is the driveshaft.

 

[Hogges]

Maybe check for a loose nut or washer?
How about the skid plate underneath the engine? Or for something completely different: when was the last time anyone checked the valve clearances? Don’t know what it sounds like on a boxer, but I had loose valves once on an air cooled single cylinder and it definitely sounded metallic.

 

[Wellcraft]

Is this bike new to you or have you owned it for a while and now noticing this metallic sound? I only ask because the boxer engine is inherently noisy so what you're hearing may be natural. When I bought my 2018 GS I thought the engine was going to explode because all I could hear was a bunch of racket and thought bolts and nuts were dancing around inside the engine.

 

[Jojosb]

Hi everyone, thanks for all the replies!

I just bought the motorcycle, and it had a full service 500 km ago at an authorized BMW service center – valve clearance was checked and the driveshaft was replaced.

The sound I'm hearing really seems like it could be a loose bolt or nut, but it only happens while riding, so it's hard to pinpoint the exact source. It sounds like it's coming from the front of the bike or possibly from underneath the fuel tank.

 

[Freedomrider1776]

You are hearing the clutch basket and gears from the front of bike, this is very well known from all the liquid cooled GS machines......yes it's loud and a bit unsettling.

 

[Jojosb]

Hi everyone!
Following up on this topic, I managed to record sound using a microphone that I placed in the front part near the handlebars. If anyone has managed to solve this issue or has a solution, please let me know. Thanks in advance!
SOUND

 

[Jojosb]

he sound is clearly noticeable from the 23rd to the 40th second of the recording.

SOUND