[JLHmechengineer]

Hello All...
I have a 2006 k1200 R, and besides the fuel guage issue it hasn't missed a beat! I bought it used from a dealer and they sold me a clean safe bike. I got it some time in October and have put close to 2000 miles on it.

With a hot engine in neutral and at idle, rpm about 1000, I get a rattle noise and the rpm drops slightly. Rattle sounds like a stalling engine. Quick short snap of the throttle and it clears. Pull in the clutch and it does not happen. Clutch feels good and grabs with no slipping.
I bought it with a power Commander installed and have no experience with them. Could the power Commander lean it out to much at idle?

Thank in advance
Jason

 

[JLHmechengineer]

Thanks! I can post a video, I get it warm and see if I can get it to happen. Now that you mention it, it does sound possibly like a chain rattle. When it did it today at a stop light I put my hand on the clutch housing but couldn't feel any thing. I will post a video as soon.

 

[JLHmechengineer]

Again it is sporadic, not a constant noise.

 

[JLHmechengineer]

I'd have to say that, yes, the Power Commander could be the issue. My thinking is at that RPM it wants to transition from one set of fuel mapping to another and holding it there it's going back and forth between the different settings. At least I see it as possible. What the rattle is, could be anything. Even an exhaust baffle. I'd take it to the dealer that sold it and let them hear it. Trying to diagnose something like this over the internet is near impossible. Or at the very least time consuming and frustrating. Live ears is much better. They don't have to work on it just use their ears.

Your right, I was a European / German car mechanic for years before I got out of the business. Noises are a hard to diagnose, but everyone's replies have got me on the right track. Your example is exactly what it sounds like, the idle is fishing and goes low, loss of oil pressure and rattle takes place.

 

[JLHmechengineer]

You may not be alone.. check out this google search.

https://www.google.com/search?q=k1200+R+rattle+at+idle

Excellent! This person had a more severe issue, bit this thread had examples of the same simptoms.. happens when the ECM is in closed loop, that's when the engine is at operating temp and the control module is using sensor data instead of a cold running map. Seems to be a common issue.

 

[JLHmechengineer]

Went for a ride yesterday and it did the rattle once. Had it idle in the drive way for a while and it didn't do it. Below 20 degrees here today, so no ride ! When it happens though there is an idle drop. I thank everyone for there input and advice.