Strange wiggle

[Vegasrandall]

When I am stopped my bike has a strange shake that I have never felt on my other beemers. I try to balance the bike and it has a off center wiggle.maybe it's just me?

[Barry]

Do you mean it shakes side to side at idle ?

If severe that means one cylinder is misfiring or not firing or at all.
Maybe a blocked idle passage in the carb.  

[darrylri]

If your carbs aren't balanced well at idle, then one side will be stronger than the other and you will feel that.  

I don't know if your bike has points, and I don't know if this applies to the 70-on BMWs, but on the pre-70 bikes with points, the cam that opens the points has two lobes, and they have a tendency to wear differently (especially when they don't get the magic Bosch lube).  You end up with differential timing, and it can be significant.  One symptom of this is that the bike moves back and forth at idle, and it can't be tuned out.  

[Bob_Roller]

What's your engine idle speed ?

A little higher idle speed than what's in the owners manual, will smooth out the idle, if you don't have any other issues .

A lot of owners set it at 1100 rpm, instead of the 900 rpm that stated in manuals .

[Vegasrandall]

It idles ok,it's just like a strange oscillation when i'm stopped,like the bike doesn't want to balance Vertically.

[Semper Gumby]

Immediately -- Inspect the frame for cracks right now!
Might want to check the two motor mounts properly torqued.
Also check the rear swing arm pivot pins and see that they are torqued down properly (it's not very much BTW).  
After that check the shock mounts and then the steering bearings.
Make sure the tranny is tight against the back of the motor.
Also check the front and rear wheel bearings.  When my bike started "wandering" on its own I found the front wheel bearings were wornout loose!   (scary)

If the carb stuff previously mentioned and all this turns up nothing then I have one last bullet.

Loosen up the two motor mounts.  Get where you can look underneath the bike and see if there is space between frame and the motor mounts.  Even if there is no space try pushing in some fender washers to take up the space/slack between the frame and the motor.  Bolt up the motor mounts and torque to the proper setting.  This helps to quell vibration on BSAs -- might also work on BMWs.

Good luck.

[tvrla]

A common vibration 'fix' in the 80s was rubber spacers between the frame and engine - on the front motor mount - if I recall correctly. Those things are bad news! If yours has them get rid of them and put the proper spacers in there.

The frame can crack because of them, so do check. I've pulled them out of both R65s I've had and luckily the frame wasn't damaged.

Handling improves getting them gone!