Weird idle at start and while running

[OlivierB]

Hey everyone, first post here.
I recently bought an s1000xr 2016 model and I’m loving it so far.
However the idle runs pretty rough/irregular and if I’m around 3/4000rpm it’s pretty shaky as well…
The sound and smoothness of the bike is there but then switches back and forth between rough and shaky.

It’s at 17000km’s and I just did an oil change (with flush) and I noticed a little bit of metal on the oil plug magnet. Nothing crazy but worth mentioning. I also tried to run injection/fuel system cleaner as I read somewhere that a buildup on the intake/exhaust can be an issue.

Now after that, the issue is still there.. Should I go to a BMW dealer and let them check it, should I ask for anything specific? (Calibrating, valve check etc..)

( or is this just how the s1000 platform runs? I had a Kawasaki z1000 before this and it ran a lot smoother)

Thanks everyone in advance 

[smithy]

Originally Posted by OlivierB

Hey everyone, first post here.
I recently bought an s1000xr 2016 model and I’m loving it so far.
However the idle runs pretty rough/irregular and if I’m around 3/4000rpm it’s pretty shaky as well…
The sound and smoothness of the bike is there but then switches back and forth between rough and shaky.

It’s at 17000km’s and I just did an oil change (with flush) and I noticed a little bit of metal on the oil plug magnet. Nothing crazy but worth mentioning. I also tried to run injection/fuel system cleaner as I read somewhere that a buildup on the intake/exhaust can be an issue.

Now after that, the issue is still there.. Should I go to a BMW dealer and let them check it, should I ask for anything specific? (Calibrating, valve check etc..)

( or is this just how the s1000 platform runs? I had a Kawasaki z1000 before this and it ran a lot smoother)

Thanks everyone in advance 

2016 is a Euro-3 model and TBH they're quite a harsh and mechanically noisey engine, they're a tightly strung engine.... all Gen-1's whether Euro-3 or Euro-4 are similar. Idle usually fluctuates a bit and riding slowly with low throttle openings it can be difficult to be smooth. A remap will sort it. It's not BMW's fault, they have to run them too lean in the lower rpm ranges to comply with the emissions rules...once in the higher rpms and under load they actually run slightly rich but are very good.

The Kawasaki Z1000 engine which is similar in the Versys etc is indeed very smooth but it's nowhere near the performance of the S1000 and nowhere near as tightly strung. They're only ~120hp compared to the 160+ of the BMW.

Smithy.

[Antares]

Originally Posted by OlivierB

Hey everyone, first post here.
I recently bought an s1000xr 2016 model and I’m loving it so far.
However the idle runs pretty rough/irregular and if I’m around 3/4000rpm it’s pretty shaky as well…
The sound and smoothness of the bike is there but then switches back and forth between rough and shaky.

It’s at 17000km’s and I just did an oil change (with flush) and I noticed a little bit of metal on the oil plug magnet. Nothing crazy but worth mentioning. I also tried to run injection/fuel system cleaner as I read somewhere that a buildup on the intake/exhaust can be an issue.

Now after that, the issue is still there.. Should I go to a BMW dealer and let them check it, should I ask for anything specific? (Calibrating, valve check etc..)

( or is this just how the s1000 platform runs? I had a Kawasaki z1000 before this and it ran a lot smoother)

Thanks everyone in advance 

If you're comparing to a Z1000 then nope... That's pretty normal for a Gen 1, especially if you have an exhaust on it, it never idled smoothly, here is a clip of mine, if yours sounds like this, you're fine.

eature=share

[OlivierB]

Mine sounds exactly like the one in the video! Good to know it’s not necessary an issue but more for me to get used to.
I will soon decat the exhaust and after I will make an appointment at my tuner to get the fuel map adjusted.

Decat is pretty straightforward but I know the exhaust unit with those valves brings up an error in the computer when removed. I’ll place one of those dummies on the connector to prevent it 

[Antares]

Originally Posted by OlivierB

Mine sounds exactly like the one in the video! Good to know it’s not necessary an issue but more for me to get used to.
I will soon decat the exhaust and after I will make an appointment at my tuner to get the fuel map adjusted.

Decat is pretty straightforward but I know the exhaust unit with those valves brings up an error in the computer when removed. I’ll place one of those dummies on the connector to prevent it 

Decat is actually not that straight forward due to how awkward it is to get at it, few tips:

1. Loosen the radiator mounts to get better access to the header bolts
2. Put some thick carboard on on the backside of the radiator to avoid damaging the fins with hands/tools
3. The exhaust nuts are 12 point copper nuts, get some new ones from BMW (they are not too expensive) and get yourself a DEEP 13mm socket + a swivel adapter, I promise it'll make your live much much much easier.

Re: Exhaust valve, here is a topic that just talked about it:

https://www.s1000xr.uk/index.php/topic,6870.new.html#new

Good luck!

[OlivierB]

Originally Posted by Antares

Decat is actually not that straight forward due to how awkward it is to get at it, few tips:

1. Loosen the radiator mounts to get better access to the header bolts
2. Put some thick carboard on on the backside of the radiator to avoid damaging the fins with hands/tools
3. The exhaust nuts are 12 point copper nuts, get some new ones from BMW (they are not too expensive) and get yourself a DEEP 13mm socket + a swivel adapter, I promise it'll make your live much much much easier.

Re: Exhaust valve, here is a topic that just talked about it:

https://www.s1000xr.uk/index.php/topic,6870.new.html#new

Good luck!

Little update,

Decat went great. The headers were definitely a pain to remove (also 12 point socket needed and I only had a 6  ) but with the right swivel bit for my wrench i got to them and was able to lower the whole exhaust successfully.

The radiator i loosened and moved forward so the headers were accessible.

The valve in the exhaust was actually already set to open at all times by the previous owner hahaha! He cut The metal ends off the two cables that turn the valve, allowing the computer to still move them and think it’s doing something so it doesn’t throw a code. I mounted these cable ends in a convenient place so that the computer can keep doing its check and I don’t have to remove the whole unit and deal with an error.

However! With a full straight piped system and open exhaust I definitely heard the rough idle a lot more, also the shocking movement in low rpm became more clear. So, I took it to my tuner and re-mapped the fuel map. Corrected all the lack of fuel points in low rpm areas (apparently bmw does this because of emission rules in Europe) and after this is it ran a lot better. I installed a manual cam chain tensioner but I have questions about this in another post 

Overall, bike sounds 100x better, fully alive and popping flames when I want 

 
 

[Antares]

Sounds like it all worked out fine, re valve codes: If you fully remove the cables it won't throw a light, only an invisible code, and it's quite likely it's already in the bike anyway. I'd do away with the cables altogether if I were you. The tune is pretty necessary to make the most of the exhausts so you did the right thing by getting it sorted. Hopefully you'll enjoy it