I thought my newly balanced and rebuilt lemans mk1 was smooth...

[amamet]

  I’ve put on about 350 miles on the newly rebuilt bike and runs great with no issues or leaks. Good power from the gilaronis and mega cycle cam. All rotating parts were balanced. No flat spots and pulls like a train. Feels nice and smooth too, a little lumpy at low Rpms but smooths out nicely once it opens up a bit. Feels like it’ll be sweet once I can ride it in anger.
  That being said, I just jumped on my 1990 r100gspd for the first time since I put the lemans back on the road. Geez, that airhead engine is smooth with a capital S.  I can’t believe the difference. Is it just the characteristics of each engine?  I’m not even going to mention how easy the bmw clutch action is. That airhead engine is beat on too. Can’t imagine how much smoother it can be once it rebuilt, which will happen sooner or later, then again it only has 50k miles on it

[PeteS]

They must have rebalanced the cranks on the later R100s. My '84 wasn't particularly smooth at all. Tooks a lot of work to get the worst vibes out. Rods and pistons balanced to within 10 milligrams, lead shot in the handlebars and it was still not as smooth as an R90s which was the smoothest airhead I had the chance to ride.

Pete

[amamet]

My bike has a 10 spring lightened flywheel out of the v11 I think too. Don’t know if that makes a difference compared to say a heavier flywheel other guzzis have, haven’t had my hands on an airhead one either. Does a heavier flywheel takes out buzz or vibrations or visa versa?

[wymple]

They must have rebalanced the cranks on the later R100s. My '84 wasn't particularly smooth at all. Tooks a lot of work to get the worst vibes out. Rods and pistons balanced to within 10 milligrams, lead shot in the handlebars and it was still not as smooth as an R90s which was the smoothest airhead I had the chance to ride.

Pete

I'm pretty sure most airhead riders will tell you the R90 was the best engine of them all.

[wirespokes]

Yeah - the R90 was special. Smooth, strong and got great mileage. The newer airheads can have vibrations. A long-time tech noticed the same thing and his thought was that airheads weren't the factory's main focus anymore so didn't get the balancing they had before. He even though the alternator rotors weren't getting balanced. I do like how much better they shifted with the  new lighter flywheel and clutch.

Did the V11 flywheel bolt right up to the LeMans? Were new timing marks required?

Yes, a heavier flywheel (if balanced) gets rid of, or reduces, engine vibrations.

[moto-uno]

  And if my memory serves me ( scary thought ) my new Le Mans 2 took at least 5000km before it completely smoothed out , and it was smooth . As
a motorcycle mech at the time I had lots to compare it to .  Peter

[wirespokes]

My Guzzis (LM3, LM1000) are every bit as smooth as the beemers. Get em going and they're turbine smooth.

[amamet]

Hmm, wish I had something to compare it to besides an old airhead adventure bike. Oh well. It runs really well. Maybe it’s just me. The flywheel didn’t have static or advance marks. That I had to do with my degree wheel. I was told it was the lightened flywheel from a V11 lemans. At least that is what it looks like if I search google. It bolted up with no issues

[mechanicsavant]

Don’t ride a R1200 . I had a few 1150R’s .one test ride on a 1200 was an epiphany. I don’t dare test ride a wet head.

[Perazzimx14]

Don’t ride a R1200 . I had a few 1150R’s .one test ride on a 1200 was an epiphany. I don’t dare test ride a wet head.

Love the 1200 oil cooled Hexheads. Held off for quite a while riding the new 1250 as I didn't want to be tempted. As it turns out after test riding one I had no problem giving the keys back. I'll keep my hexheads thank you very much.