Noisy '07GSA engine?

[Polarbear]

DOES anyone else have an issue with the marbles effect engine, as mine seems to be full of marbles rattling away at highway speeds! The new '10 and '11s engine has been quieted quite well on the latest models with twin cams. My valve adjusts are dead on and no cam chain adjust is required. DOES some other motor oils help? I have used Valvoline20/50w,M/C since new and wonder if others using whatever oils have the same rattling engines. Otherwise "runs perfect", just quite noisy, especially pulling grades/hills under acceleration. It runs quiet at slower speeds. It seems the cam chain is the noise maker, but I guess! Randy

[marchyman]

DOES anyone else have an issue with the marbles effect engine, as mine seems to be full of marbles rattling away at highway speeds!

And in another thread

The manual says middle grade, 89+ octane, but the knock sensor makes regular gas a no brainer too and I run it most of the time, no issues. 87octane.

Cause and effect? When folks say "marbles" I usually think knocking or pinging.

[hintzir09]

Randy, at aroudn 4500-5000rmps my 07GSA sounds just like you described...especially when I'm going around 65-70mph in 6th gear up the mountain.

It drives me crazy as I think something is wrong...is there or is this just normal?

[cookie]

Since I started wearing a full Arai helmet I enjoy the ride better. These Boxer engines are noisy. If all your maintenance is right and it runs great you have to concede. It's funny though when you listen to a boxer ride by it sounds like a sewing machine. Only the rider hears the marbles.

[Polarbear]

I wear an Arai XD also and no pinging in this engine to 64000miles so far and I use regular, middle and supreme, depending on my pick at the moment. All have the same effect. Exact same speeds here with rattles, 65-75ish. Guess its normal, but had wondered if any other motor oils were quieter, made this go away? The noise does bother me slightly, but love the bike and get over it. Randy

[SHOOTER55520]

Have you checked the rockershaft endplay? Maybe time to adjust if the engine is rattling under load as you describe? Clearance at the top or beyond BMW spec. may make a little noise and I suspect the better your hearing the more bothersome it would be. Perhaps riding faster will help, good luck explaining that one to the law.

[tvtommy]

My 2009 GSA does the same thing, told its normal.

[Polarbear]

Rockers got adjusted to tighter spec. some time ago by me and all is well there. The rocker end play on the '07 has a huge window within spec by BMW standards, according to my BMW Master Tech..I think it may well be a normal phenom for this motor too, but had to ask the oil question. I may run a few tanks of premium only to see again if any difference is obvious. Hasn't been in the past, as it burns anything put in it with no change in mileage or performance I can tell. .006 and .012 are my valves settings and I don't think this has changed by BMW specs, has it? This is the largest exhaust setting I've had on any bikes in 20+ years(or ever) and this would be noisy on most engines I feel. Anybody go tighter here. say .010 etc on the exhaust side??? I won't try that unless I here its been done acceptably so by many. Randy