Sunday, September 13, 2015

BMW R1200RS Test

Helen and I went over to Williams today to have a test of the new R1200RS and also to look at trading in my bike against a new K1300S.

We arrived as they just opened and also met are friend Ian there. I left my bike there and rode on Helen’s Z1000SX. We left and headed on the BMW R1200RS motorway over towards Glossop. We used some of the back roads to test out the bike and then passed through Glossop and headed over to Woodhead Pass. We then climbed up Holme Moss and stopped at the top for a debrief. Helen was a bit disappointed as she keen on the bike but didn’t like the way it rode. We swopped over and headed back down into Glossop for some lunch.

After lunch we headed back to Williams, Helen was on the R1200RS again. When we arrived back we both agreed that the bike felt a bit agricultural to ride and hard work. I felt it ran out of revs too fast for me and I was up and down the box far too much. After we had handed the bike back we discussed trading my bike in but I wasn’t happy with the deal they offered me, they offered me far too little on my bike. All in all a wasted day in the end, except that Helen did find out that the R1200RS is not for her.

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Saturday, August 15, 2015

K1300S Throttle Bodies

Well a nice dry day with little wind came around so I decided to pull the BMW out of the garage and have a go at swapping out the throttle bodies, to see if that would cure the sticking throttle issue.

I stripped the side fairing panels and tank panels off and then removed the fuel tank from the bike. I then had to remove the battery and battery Airbox and Throttle Bodies holding bracket that is attached to the frame. I then removed the two air inlet pipes that also hold an air filter each. I could then have a go at removing the airbox. I first pulled off the small pipes to the airbox, I then had the pleasure of removing the spring clips to 3 other slightly larger pipes and then the 4 spring clips to the throttle body outlets. I got a set of pliers off Ebay that did the job of making getting them undone slightly easier. I then removed the wiring plugs to the sensors on the airbox. After all that I was finally able to remove the airbox assembly from the bike. At this point I could now see into the throttle bodies and upon activation of the throttle I could see that yes they weren’t closing fully and sticking. They did look dirty and a bit gunked up so I tried cleaning them first but that made no difference. So I was resigned to having to remove them from the bike.

I first vacuumed and cleaned up any crap around the engine to make sure nothing could fall down one of the inlets. I then disconnected the throttle cables at the twist grip and then fed them back inside the frame so they  could come out with the throttle bodies. I then removed the sensor cables New Throttle Bodies In to two of the sensors, the other ones I would have to pull the throttle bodies up to get at. I then released the 4 large spring clips at the engine inlets and then pulled them up slightly. While doing this a glided some kitchen towel into each of the 4 inlets to prevent any debris falling down them. With the inlets protected I was able to manoeuvre the throttle bodies about to disconnect the 4 fuel injector plugs and the other sensor underneath. Once they where removed I disconnect the throttle cables and checked there operation. You could see they where sticking but it was obviously internal and not fixable.

Fortunately the pair I got off Ebay worked perfectly so I decided to install them. I changed over the sensors on the bodies as I knew non of mine where faulty and I didn’t want to remove them again for a faulty sensor. I reinstalled the throttle bodies and cables and activated the throttle. There was no notchy feeling anymore and the throttle valves opened and shut perfectly. I then put the bike back together again and then the moment of truth came. The bike eventually started after the fuel got through, I suppose I should of primed the system some how first. Everything worked perfectly and the throttle now seemed more responsive and when shutting it off the bike stood on it nose more. I will have to change my riding style now as I have obviously been riding to the sticking issue. Now that they are fixed I can look at trading in the bike for a newer one.

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