General topics » Bouncy Ride

I've got the Z8 tyres on and I'm not sure about the ride I'm getting. After having a K1200s, 1200GS and so on, I'm finding the RS quite bouncy - not good. Wondered if it's the tyres. Tried different pressures - still not happy. Thought I might put the question out there about the "bouncy" ride.

Have PR4's on mine, perfect ride, just put a Road 5 on the rear and again perfect. In fact don't even have to think about suspension at all, just set one rider, one rider + luggage or 2 persons and get on with riding. If you have the electronic suspension just check the link rod at the rear connecting between swing arm and suspension unit is attached, there was a report ages ago that someone's became disconnected. This rod transfers suspension movement to the sensor that regulates the damping

Funny you should say that. I spoke to Lind at Norwich today about the very same thing. Mrs Bravo and I were out on Sunday and the rear shock felt decidedly soggy. It was fine solo while hooning about with some chums but two up it didn't feel like it should,it was fine when we did the South West run a couple of weeks ago so I know it's not just there were two on the bike. They going to do a check on it when I take it in for it's 12000 mile service at the end of the month.
Like Willy says check the rod and see if you've got a leak.

My ride smoothed out as I put miles on. At about 3,000 I moved from road to dynamic, and at about 5,000 it started feeling more properly damped.

I’ve found that if I have my ‘16 RS in rider + luggage setting, with nothing in the panniers, it feels slightly under damped and “bouncy”. Only in Road mode, though. I’m approx 180lbs

I'll go ahead and assume you do NOT have ESA and must adjust your suspension manually. If I'm wrong about this, try the dynamic mode. With my luggage full, I found it to be sturdy/stiff in the toughest of corners.

As for manual adjustment, you have to consider the different scenarios across the board: you alone, two-up, you with luggage, two-up with luggage.

Here's a suspension tuning calculator I wrote some time ago.

I have noticed similar. What I can describe as a peculiar double bounce in the rear suspension. I have an R1200RS SE 2018 model so suspension is either road or dynamic with solo rider, with luggage or two up indicated. I weigh 80 KG so average. The double bounce is reduced when travelling with full luggage, in dynamic mode and input as 2 up.

The bike feels under damped or under sprung or both but this is a subtle motion and not all the time. Odd.

Anyone else come across this?

Zitat von Tzindo im Beitrag #7

---

I have noticed similar. What I can describe as a peculiar double bounce in the rear suspension. I have an R1200RS SE 2018 model so suspension is either road or dynamic with solo rider, with luggage or two up indicated. I weigh 80 KG so average. The double bounce is reduced when travelling with full luggage, in dynamic mode and input as 2 up.

The bike feels under damped or under sprung or both but this is a subtle motion and not all the time. Odd.

Anyone else come across this?

---

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #9

---

I rode a 2018 registered GS Rallye a few weeks ago and as I posted in my review, that bike seemed to wallow on undulating surfaces. This bike had the new fangled, automatically self levelling preload rather than self select from presets. I put the difference down to this new mode.

As you say, Richard, I wonder if the 2018 RS had a software update that has made the preloading softer in all modes, giving similar symptoms to the GS model I rode.

---

Zitat von Bravo im Beitrag #3

---

Funny you should say that. I spoke to Lind at Norwich today about the very same thing. Mrs Bravo and I were out on Sunday and the rear shock felt decidedly soggy. It was fine solo while hooning about with some chums but two up it didn't feel like it should,it was fine when we did the South West run a couple of weeks ago so I know it's not just there were two on the bike. They going to do a check on it when I take it in for it's 12000 mile service at the end of the month.
Like Willy says check the rod and see if you've got a leak.

---

Well, BMW replaced the rear shock under warranty - shot to bits, !t would have cost £1900 for the job. Still not happy with the ride "bouncy" front and the front dive is ludicrous.
Tried a Honda VFR, the ride was brilliant, I had a VFR years ago and loved it - probably going to ditch the RS and go back to the VFR. After having and riding many bikes in the last 15 years (since the VFR), the RS is the worst ride I've ever had. Back to BMW and argue again that there's something wrong with the bike. Funny how every time I've had issues with the BMW bikes, they always say there's nothing wrong with it or "can't replicate the problem". Clutch went on my K1200s after 24k, 4k miles later the gearbox went - I said the clutch was not right when I picked the bike up new. The GS developed clutch drag so the gears were seriously "crashing". All seems to be since they went over to a wet clutch.
Going off BMW big time !

Zitat von Crasher im Beitrag #12

---

Well, BMW replaced the rear shock under warranty - shot to bits, !t would have cost £1900 for the job. Still not happy with the ride "bouncy" front and the front dive is ludicrous.
Tried a Honda VFR, the ride was brilliant, I had a VFR years ago and loved it - probably going to ditch the RS and go back to the VFR. After having and riding many bikes in the last 15 years (since the VFR), the RS is the worst ride I've ever had. Back to BMW and argue again that there's something wrong with the bike. Funny how every time I've had issues with the BMW bikes, they always say there's nothing wrong with it or "can't replicate the problem". Clutch went on my K1200s after 24k, 4k miles later the gearbox went - I said the clutch was not right when I picked the bike up new. The GS developed clutch drag so the gears were seriously "crashing". All seems to be since they went over to a wet clutch.
Going off BMW big time !

---

As a non-ESA rider, I ditched the standard BM shocks for a custom set up to suit my weight. 10mm rear lift.

Riding solo only.

It’s great. I can actually feel the bike absorbing the bumps. Not quite “Ohlins perfect”, but very, very good.

Love it.

Standard suspension is a poor compromise. I can’t speak for ESA, but I suspect it’s a bit hit and miss too.

OEM is designed to cope with 2 up with baggage.

ps - it’s Maxton

Zitat von Boxerboy55 im Beitrag #14

---

As a non-ESA rider, I ditched the standard BM shocks for a custom set up to suit my weight. 10mm rear lift.

Riding solo only.

It’s great. I can actually feel the bike absorbing the bumps. Not quite “Ohlins perfect”, but very, very good.

Love it.

Standard suspension is a poor compromise. I can’t speak for ESA, but I suspect it’s a bit hit and miss too.

OEM is designed to cope with 2 up with baggage.

ps - it’s Maxton

---