Vibration and Brake discs

[Mogster]

Justa thought, but seeing thet there are a few of us who have had/are having these probs... should we, as a forum approach Kawasaki for comment?

[slane]

Not a bad idea cos if anybody should know whats going on , we should !

[BigAlan]

For those who know i have had this problem, and this morning had the disks and pads changed by the dealer, the brake pulsing has gone, but the vibration and loud noise from the front end is still present, currently at work having ridden back from the dealer but intend to take the bike back Saturday morning for them to "have another go".

To my uneducated thought the noise sounds like a wheel bearing and this might cause the vibration, but i dont know for sure, anybody else have a theory?

When i got the bike new in Sep all i could hear was the engine and exhaust note, the bike was smooth as one could imagine, not now, you cant hear the exhaust over 50mph and the vibration sends your hands to sleep.

Alan

[Kwikasfuki]

For those who know i have had this problem, and this morning had the disks and pads changed by the dealer, the brake pulsing has gone, but the vibration and loud noise from the front end is still present, currently at work having ridden back from the dealer but intend to take the bike back Saturday morning for them to "have another go".

To my uneducated thought the noise sounds like a wheel bearing and this might cause the vibration, but i dont know for sure, anybody else have a theory?

When i got the bike new in Sep all i could hear was the engine and exhaust note, the bike was smooth as one could imagine, not now, you cant hear the exhaust over 50mph and the vibration sends your hands to sleep.

Alan

Bearings. And whilst you're at it, get the dust seals replaced.

[Mogster]

Notes from todays ride.

I still have the 'clonking' from the front end when i brake at slow speeds.... tbh I'm still not 100% convinced that the new discs are true, as when you spin the wheel there is a difference in resistance at certain points.

I had a service done today, at a non Kawasaki dealer... and the spanner monkey remarked 'Fook me that's some pad rattle you got there' 

Ok so on to the vibration..... it disappears once the clutch is pulled in.... and is noticable when one revs the engine at a standstill...
Could this be because I have the BOS pipe fitted???.....
Does anyone get bad vibes with the spud launcher on ???...if i get time this weekend i may swap 'em back and see.

The vibration gets noticably worse once the pertrol tank is empty.... so something is reasonating under there....
Could this be engine mounts not torqued up correctly??

TBH I'm starting to get a bit miffed, this is a great bike, but the vibes though the bars are begining to be an issue, and one I'm afraid that will see me selling the bike, this is supposed to be Kawasaki's tourer..... tis a bit difficult to tour with numb hands 

'Igor bring me the Spud Launcher'
'Yesth masthter'
'MAAAAAAAWAAAAAHAAAAAAAHAAAAAA!!!!!...It lives'
'Masthter....it is tewely hideousth!!'
'Yes Igor but for the good of science...we must!!!!'

[slane]

Would it be easier to ask the question ............... Are there any of us out there who dont have any issues of some sort ! if so who got highest problem free mileage  ? .................i not even going to bother on this, 15k and 6 going on 7 claims   

[Rusty]

Sorry, but 15 months old ... 13000 miles, used most days and not a single problem anywhere ..........

[Mogster]

Sorry, but 15 months old ... 13000 miles, used most days and not a single problem anywhere ..........

One wonders whether we have a duff batch of GTR's  or something..

[Martin#30]

Would it be easier to ask the question ............... Are there any of us out there who dont have any issues of some sort ! if so who got highest problem free mileage  ?

18 months old, 27,000 miles. Discs are worn well below the 4.5mm minimum thickness but no warping at all.

Martin.

[O.C.]

'Igor bring me the Spud Launcher'
'Yesth masthter'
'MAAAAAAAWAAAAAHAAAAAAAHAAAAAA!!!!!...It lives'
'Masthter....it is tewely hideousth!!'
'Yes Igor but for the good of science...we must!!!!'

[slane]

18 months old, 27,000 miles. Discs are worn well below the 4.5mm minimum thickness but no warping at all.

Martin.

Blimey you surgicaly attached to the thing 

[BigAlan]

So today I had a right old moan at the dealer informing him that my bike was no more a tourer as is my BSA Bantam, I also told him the bike was out the front with a full tank of fuel and he could ride it where he liked but I wanted it sorted.

So his man went out and agreed the wheel bearings "might" be making the noise leading to the vibration, so there next on the list to be changed along with a new tyre on the front to try to bring the bike back to as it was last September.

As usual will keep you up to date with progress.

Alan

[ChrisB]

9,000 miles 3 years old, passed it's first MOT last week without any comment. No vibration no pulsing or noises from the front. I have owned the bike for just over 18 months and put 7,000 miles on it without any issues. I do not use it to commute the 20 miles to work, and use it only for pleasure purposes. I am very gentle on the brakes both on the bike and in the car. Still on original discs and pads on the GTR, and the standard fit tyres lasted 5,000 miles, 1 set of discs all round and 1 set of pads all round to date in my 120,000 mile Mondeo. Could it be down to driving style? Are you all a bunch of mad nutters perhaps???
Just watch, next week the discs and pads on both will fall to bits now.

[O.C.]

Justa thought, but seeing thet there are a few of us who have had/are having these probs... should we, as a forum approach Kawasaki for comment?

YES....I think we should as this clearly isn't an isolated case

Maybe Kawasaki U.K could be told about the problem and advised to read the relevant posts on this forum (if they don't already do so), that way they will be able to see the type and range of issues that are occuring with the GTR.

Maybe the problems exist within a certain frame/build range 

[Mogster]

YES....I think we should as this clearly isn't an isolated case


Maybe the problems exist within a certain frame/build range 

This was something that had occurred to me, that there was in fact a small batch of Bikes with problems....

I'll dig out my frame and engine numbers later and post 'em