5th gear drone?

Hendo66 · 01-21-2013, 04:49 AM

I have a 2011 1200 GS with 6000k's and have a resonating drone that only comes in 5th gear, 4 & 6th seem fine so it's not tyre, road related or engine from what I can gather. Am going to report to dealer but any clues would be helpful.

Thanks in advance

The Evil Twin · 01-21-2013, 06:09 AM

If it is the same thing, mine actually does it in 6th gear

No kidding. It started halfway through my trip to Canada. It is like a "waah waah waah" at 1 second intervals. However, I dropped a couple PSI and went for a "spirited'

ride several weeks ago. It has gone away best I can tell. My assumption is that it actually is the tires. Combined with the engine and drive noise, it just hit that resonant frequency.

Hendo66 · 01-21-2013, 06:16 AM

The old Maxwell Smart "too much air in the tyre trick eh!" We'll I will certainly give that a try, many thanks.

feldjäger · 01-21-2013, 12:19 PM

In 5th gear at 3000 RPM, mine sounds like a twin engine prop at altitude. I don't think its a problem, just a frequency of the engine letting me know how much it is enjoying being on the road

GP1200 · 01-21-2013, 01:13 PM

Yep. Same thing here. I've got 30,000 Kms on the bike and it hums and drones in 5th like a champ. It did not do it when it was new. Don't bother asking your BMW dealer as they will give you the old "they all do that" spiel. I just go to 6th gear if it starts annoying me. It's a great drivetrain otherwise.

def · 01-21-2013, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hendo66

I have a 2011 1200 GS with 6000k's and have a resonating drone that only comes in 5th gear, 4 & 6th seem fine so it's not tyre, road related or engine from what I can gather. Am going to report to dealer but any clues would be helpful.

Thanks in advance

Change transmission oil.

Ayrshire Bull · 01-21-2013, 03:21 PM

when the Evil Twin talks about his bike making a 'waah, waah, waah ....' noise - I can relate.

Mine does too.

Nothing that has ever alarmed me .... and not all the time - but it's interesting to hear that others have the same thing going on.

I think I'll follow Def's advice - and run some fresh tranny oil into the old pig. See if that quietens her down any.

DRONE · 01-21-2013, 05:19 PM

You hear a drone? My wife is always complaining about the Drone she has to listen to.

bobbybob · 01-21-2013, 05:26 PM

I'll reinforce what the others say: my '10 GS does it in 5th gear but not 6th. If I have noisy tires, it makes it even worse (resonates), but still does it with quiet tires too.

DELTATANGO · 01-21-2013, 07:19 PM

When sound waves collide they can create a third wave. It's also called a beat note.

kevin g · 01-21-2013, 07:44 PM

Mine does it as well, 2011 GSA. It seemed to start when my Anakee 2 rear got about half worn. I have 18K miles on it and need to replace the rear tire soon. It changes with lean angle so I chalk it up to tire noise and the rest of the drive train resonating. There was no hint of it with the Tourance EXPs that were the original tires.

Hendo66 · 01-22-2013, 04:15 AM

Thanks guys, your input makes me feel that it's kind of normal and yes I also throw it into 4th or 6th if it gets on my goat.
I also run Anakee 2's like Kevin G so let me know if anyone else runs these & has the same issue,is it related and do they contribute to the drone???? I will still report while still under warranty just so it's noted if it develops further.

P.s. it does sound like the wife on a Sunday morning.....mow the lawn....fix the tap.....buy new kitchen.....etc. goes away when I accelerate

SeeRace · 01-22-2013, 04:24 AM

Both of my GS's do it. 2006 GS and 2012 GSA. Both have Anakee II's. I thought the 06 GS was developing final drive issues or something until I rode the newer GSA on a trip and heard the same thing. I do think the Anakees have something to do with it.

qman8 · 01-22-2013, 09:52 AM

Mine did it in 2nd gear at about 25mph when I had a Hidenau k76 tire on rear. Never experienced it otherwise. NOwhere near as annoying as the vibration this bike makes at MOST RPMs!

zorba75482 · 01-22-2013, 01:28 PM

First BMW I bought was my 1100GS and immeditaley noticed the drone in 5th gear. Being the paranoid type I stripped the final drive enough to examine the bearing, found no issues and put it back together. It's now been droning for another 50k with no issues. Changed a drive shaft 5k ago but drone still there so it's not that. Just some type of harmonic vibration I guess.

01-21-2013, 04:49 AM	#1
Hendo66 ^OP Hendo66 Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Down Under Oddometer: 80	5th gear drone? I have a 2011 1200 GS with 6000k's and have a resonating drone that only comes in 5th gear, 4 & 6th seem fine so it's not tyre, road related or engine from what I can gather. Am going to report to dealer but any clues would be helpful. Thanks in advance __________________ Hendo66 2011 BMW R1200GS

01-21-2013, 06:09 AM	#2
The Evil Twin Boxer Freak Joined: Jul 2012 Location: NoVa Oddometer: 411	If it is the same thing, mine actually does it in 6th gear No kidding. It started halfway through my trip to Canada. It is like a "waah waah waah" at 1 second intervals. However, I dropped a couple PSI and went for a "spirited' ride several weeks ago. It has gone away best I can tell. My assumption is that it actually is the tires. Combined with the engine and drive noise, it just hit that resonant frequency. __________________ Cornerworker of the year 2012 www.marrc.org 1981 BMW R100rs "Helga" 2007 Kawasaki ZX6r "Grasshopper" 2012 BMW R1200 GS/A "Elche"

01-21-2013, 06:16 AM	#3
Hendo66 ^OP Hendo66 Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Down Under Oddometer: 80	The old Maxwell Smart "too much air in the tyre trick eh!" We'll I will certainly give that a try, many thanks. __________________ Hendo66 2011 BMW R1200GS

01-21-2013, 03:21 PM	#7
Ayrshire Bull why the hell not? Joined: Nov 2002 Location: North Vancouver, B.C., CA-NA-DA Oddometer: 1,301	when the Evil Twin talks about his bike making a 'waah, waah, waah ....' noise - I can relate. Mine does too. Nothing that has ever alarmed me .... and not all the time - but it's interesting to hear that others have the same thing going on. I think I'll follow Def's advice - and run some fresh tranny oil into the old pig. See if that quietens her down any. __________________ "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." - HDT

01-21-2013, 05:19 PM	#8
DRONE Dog Chauffeur Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Tacoma, WA Oddometer: 2,665	You hear a drone? My wife is always complaining about the Drone she has to listen to. __________________ ******************* WUMPA! Goot-Z 4XKPN - sold

01-21-2013, 12:19 PM	#4
feldjäger Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2012 Location: Las Vegas, NV Oddometer: 106	In 5th gear at 3000 RPM, mine sounds like a twin engine prop at altitude. I don't think its a problem, just a frequency of the engine letting me know how much it is enjoying being on the road

01-21-2013, 01:13 PM	#5
GP1200 Adventurer Joined: Aug 2011 Oddometer: 53	Yep. Same thing here. I've got 30,000 Kms on the bike and it hums and drones in 5th like a champ. It did not do it when it was new. Don't bother asking your BMW dealer as they will give you the old "they all do that" spiel. I just go to 6th gear if it starts annoying me. It's a great drivetrain otherwise.

01-21-2013, 05:26 PM	#9
bobbybob Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Oddometer: 242	I'll reinforce what the others say: my '10 GS does it in 5th gear but not 6th. If I have noisy tires, it makes it even worse (resonates), but still does it with quiet tires too.

01-21-2013, 07:19 PM	#10
DELTATANGO Motorcyclist and Dog Walk Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Alabama Oddometer: 12,665	Constructive Interference When sound waves collide they can create a third wave. It's also called a beat note.

01-21-2013, 07:44 PM	#11
kevin g Adventurer Joined: Dec 2010 Location: San Diego Oddometer: 85	Me too, me too. Mine does it as well, 2011 GSA. It seemed to start when my Anakee 2 rear got about half worn. I have 18K miles on it and need to replace the rear tire soon. It changes with lean angle so I chalk it up to tire noise and the rest of the drive train resonating. There was no hint of it with the Tourance EXPs that were the original tires.

01-22-2013, 04:15 AM	#12
Hendo66 ^OP Hendo66 Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Down Under Oddometer: 80	Thanks guys, your input makes me feel that it's kind of normal and yes I also throw it into 4th or 6th if it gets on my goat. I also run Anakee 2's like Kevin G so let me know if anyone else runs these & has the same issue,is it related and do they contribute to the drone???? I will still report while still under warranty just so it's noted if it develops further. P.s. it does sound like the wife on a Sunday morning.....mow the lawn....fix the tap.....buy new kitchen.....etc. goes away when I accelerate __________________ Hendo66 2011 BMW R1200GS

01-22-2013, 04:24 AM	#13
SeeRace Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Kennesaw, Ga Oddometer: 136	Both of my GS's do it. 2006 GS and 2012 GSA. Both have Anakee II's. I thought the 06 GS was developing final drive issues or something until I rode the newer GSA on a trip and heard the same thing. I do think the Anakees have something to do with it.

01-22-2013, 09:52 AM	#14
qman8 GS09 Joined: Jan 2012 Location: ohio Oddometer: 231	Mine did it in 2nd gear at about 25mph when I had a Hidenau k76 tire on rear. Never experienced it otherwise. NOwhere near as annoying as the vibration this bike makes at MOST RPMs!

01-22-2013, 01:28 PM	#15
zorba75482 Adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Oddometer: 59	First BMW I bought was my 1100GS and immeditaley noticed the drone in 5th gear. Being the paranoid type I stripped the final drive enough to examine the bearing, found no issues and put it back together. It's now been droning for another 50k with no issues. Changed a drive shaft 5k ago but drone still there so it's not that. Just some type of harmonic vibration I guess. __________________ 1974 Laverda 750 SF2 1974 BMW R90S 1999 R1100GS

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