1150GS Part 23

Balancing or synchronising the throttle bodies is without doubt one of those 'black arts'. Last time I did it was on the cafe racer R100 and they were of course carburettor's. All those dials flicking back and forward. Actually a little easier on fuel injection but unless you have the ear of an orchestra conductor you will need something to help you. There are wonderful looking electronic devices available now, but a little too expensive to buy to use once every year or so. I have the Carbtune from Motorworks. Yes a little basic but it works.

[@TheThejpmshow]

I used your video to help me replace the rear suspension on my GSA, this is useful to have as one day Ill get round to refurbing the throttle bodies (they’ve got the tell tale rattle!)

[@normski3091]

Excellent...I must admit I didn't like doing the throttle adjustments 😮‍💨

[@CameronJay]

Brilliant, I've yet to attempt this on my r1100s, it's pretty much the exact same setup.

[@TheDervMan]

Great to hear it running 😎🎉🔧

[@normski3091]

Yes Derv Man it sounds good, but have to take it out for its first ride and then I will know🥳

[@btsc1]

I always start by setting the proper amount of slack in the throttle cables so there is no tension on either butterfly. If there’s even a slight amount of pull on either throttle body cable your butterflies will slap at idle and it sounds like valve tappet noise. This can accelerate throttle body shaft wear and make it hard to set your idle mixture screw.

[@normski3091]

Brilliant thank you so much btsc that is so useful.

[@fleetwarrior75]

Great timing Norm I’m syncing my tb’s this week as well 😀 great video!

[@normski3091]

Really pleased, it is quite satisfying 🤗

[@peterbarwick4938]

On the home straight now norm - looking good. Glad the strap idea helps, not too tight though. Rgds Peter Warrington

[@normski3091]

The minute the rear shock comes and is fitted I can go on the first ride 🤗

[@berrycroezen]

Thanks for showing, you've been really helpfull with all your videos.

[@normski3091]

Thank you Berry 🤗

[@vikingmic]

Hearing some ticking noise from the right cylinder...?

[@motooilermotooiler9597]

The RIGHT TB is done proper 😂

[@massimoborghi5090]

Every time I watch your videos I find a surprise. Do you play the drum, Norman ? Me too! 😉🥁

[@normski3091]

Sadly not Massimo. I have always played in bands as a bass player and in 2019 we had bass, lead and singer but only a drum machine. A good friend of mine, 78 years old, was a jazz drummer and a drum teacher (you know the kind who could write and read drum music). I asked him if he would join us just for fun. However he had this massive drum kit with 2 bass drums etc etc, but no money. He just lived on state pension in a one bedroomed old peoples bungalow. So I offered to buy him an electronic set which I did. Then Covid hit, the lead guitarist moved to Wales and the singers wife became ill. Whole band fell apart. I put my 50 year old Fender Bass on Ebay which I have played in pubs and clubs all around Derbyshire. That sold for 10 times what I paid for it 35 years ago. My Gibson, a very rare one, sold for almost 3 times what I paid when I bought it new in 1992. So that has helped me pay for the cost of the 1150GS. I set the drums up so I could photograph them and put on Ebay. They sold on Sunday but only for 2/3rds of what I paid, never mind. The new owner, Jodie, is arriving in an hour to collect them. All very sad really......

[@tojj29]

She's looking lovely now Norm. That seat is gorgeous, hope it's as comfortable as it looks. Think you've done a wonderful job with this restoration. How much ya want for it?😜😜

[@normski3091]

Hi Tojjer, yes the seat is amazing and I paid and extra £50 for each seat to have this very special gel fitted even though my wife will not ride pillion on a GS. We had one before and she found it too high as she is 5’ 2”. If the shock arrives as promised this week I will discover if I can touch the floor properly. I was building this GS for me but I decided this afternoon riding back from Lincoln with my two biking buddies that I think I maybe will sell, especially if my wife will not come on it with me. I paid £3000 for the bike from Israel in Penzance and I have kept all the receipts. I would guess I have spent £2000. In the past I tend to find I get the initial cost plus half the receipts (forget the 100 plus hours), do I imagine about £4000🤔🤷🏼‍♂️

[@tojj29]

@@normski3091 worth every penny would imagine Norm

[@davidhaney1394]

Those bodies were totally in sync. There was no need to do this at all . Unless you did it to show the procedure

[@normski3091]

Absolutely right David... I started so had to finish🤣

[@bribraybrai]

can I borrow the machine? It's a little silly that everyone buys one to use it for a few minutes...

[@normski3091]

Hi Bri, you would have been welcome but I sold the 1150GS February 2022 and gave the unit to the new owner🤷🏼‍♂️

[@olivierc9339]

Great video! I just bought a used Carbtune Pro 2, and I have two questions : -in the manual they said that for some R-series BMW the carbtune must be mounted upside down, it’s not the case for R1100/R1150 models -it is also written that the main hoses have to be cut so as to insert small reducers. It seems that you didn’t do that isn’t it? It’s not a problem for the measurement ? Thanks

[@normski3091]

Hi Olivier, Good questions. I sold the 1150GS and gave the new owner the Carbtune as a present. I do remember cutting the tube and putting the inserts in, just didn't film that. But the original owner must have done that? I also remember that some models it had to be upside down but I couldn't work out why at all!

[@olivierc9339]

@@normski3091thanks for your answer

[@richardrichard5409]

Not the correct methodology. You don't have enough slack in the throttle cables. The brass screws are not idle mixture screws, they are idle air bleeds to set idle speed. These have closed loop AFR management.

[@wilhamcobly3805]

Sorry but Carbtune Is really bad. For BMW the best is a DIY vacuum meter made of trasparente hoses

[@normski3091]

Yep you are probably right…I gave it away to the new owner of the bike😳