Mine was year 2000. Brace rotted like a good 'un. Rest of the bike stood up well apart from the fork legs for 3 years or so and then started going horribly around the cylinder heads, throttle bodies, etc.
1200 reliability
- Thread starter Peter
- Start date
Mine was year 2000. Brace rotted like a good 'un. Rest of the bike stood up well apart from the fork legs for 3 years or so and then started going horribly around the cylinder heads, throttle bodies, etc.
It only affects 1150's from '99 to '04.......does it ? .....I don't remember any thread on this, what year ? I understood the 1150 to be much superior for rotting / corrosion all round .....
Good luck with that ......
....much superior to the 1200 then
Peter
Here's my twopence worth............
I own an 04 plate 1200 [one of the lemons] which has covered 34000 mls without any problems or breakdowns, excepting a plastic clip failure on the front of the side panel !!!!.
My bike is serviced by an independent [because I cant afford main dealer rates] who loves bikes and his job, and goes beyond a service check list to ensure the job is done properly,as opposed to a 9 till 5 tech who would rather be elsewhere.
Because I work in the motor trade I understand that parts break and faults occur, But I really believe that the driver/rider is often a contributing factor, if your constantly on the limiter, crunching gears, breaking hard,etc,etc it stands to reason that that you will encounter problems, I try to be mechanically sympathetic.
Lastly there are people around who's hobby is complaining and will find fault with just about anything, holidays, meals out, vehicles etc, to me this attitude spoils whatever it is your supposed to be enjoying. My buisiness is as a mobile car painter and i will tell you a little story that sums up the lot of a complainer.
Feller buys a brand new black car,upon collection is unhappy with swirl marks mainly on the bonnet and tailgate so the garage pay me to power polish the car, a week later I am booked to polish the car again as customer is still not happy, car is polished again, when car is collected customer gets down on his knees and points out a stone chip that is low down on the car and cant be seen without kneeling he complains that this occured whist vehicle was in the garage!!!. garage reluctantly accept blame and car is booked in for me to repair another day. After I repair the paintwork this car is accidently hit in the car park and then had to go to the body shop for more extensive repair.
As others have suggested ride your bike and enjoy.
Paintman.
Here's my twopence worth............
I own an 04 plate 1200 [one of the lemons] which has covered 34000 mls without any problems or breakdowns, excepting a plastic clip failure on the front of the side panel !!!!.
My bike is serviced by an independent [because I cant afford main dealer rates] who loves bikes and his job, and goes beyond a service check list to ensure the job is done properly,as opposed to a 9 till 5 tech who would rather be elsewhere.
Because I work in the motor trade I understand that parts break and faults occur, But I really believe that the driver/rider is often a contributing factor, if your constantly on the limiter, crunching gears, breaking hard,etc,etc it stands to reason that that you will encounter problems, I try to be mechanically sympathetic.
Lastly there are people around who's hobby is complaining and will find fault with just about anything, holidays, meals out, vehicles etc, to me this attitude spoils whatever it is your supposed to be enjoying. My buisiness is as a mobile car painter and i will tell you a little story that sums up the lot of a complainer.
Feller buys a brand new black car,upon collection is unhappy with swirl marks mainly on the bonnet and tailgate so the garage pay me to power polish the car, a week later I am booked to polish the car again as customer is still not happy, car is polished again, when car is collected customer gets down on his knees and points out a stone chip that is low down on the car and cant be seen without kneeling he complains that this occured whist vehicle was in the garage!!!. garage reluctantly accept blame and car is booked in for me to repair another day. After I repair the paintwork this car is accidently hit in the car park and then had to go to the body shop for more extensive repair.
As others have suggested ride your bike and enjoy.
Paintman.
Dahoum
Registered user
It was my usual "bull in a china shop" remark. Didn't really engage brain before typing
You Novice??? Nah
.
Dave, why "this section" ? youll probably get more ansewrs if you post in one of the travel/ride report sections
Dahoum[/QUOTE]
basically because there's a link in one of the above threads to enfield tours of india.
dave gs,
Dave, why "this section" ? youll probably get more ansewrs if you post in one of the travel/ride report sections
Dahoum[/QUOTE]basically because there's a link in one of the above threads to enfield tours of india.
dave gs,
deaninkl
Registered user
The fact that we are on this site generally means we ride or like the GS. The fact that there are so many people on this site telling stories of faults clearly shows there is a problem. However we can not gauge from this site the true volume as a perecentage of the whole production or even those sold in the UK.
I bought my bike based on the BMW name, the perceived quality and the fact that the GS is billed as a go antwhere bike. I live in a big country with only one BMW bike service center. And frankly what you read here is less that inspiring for someone like me that rides in an environment with often 60 07 70 miles between any kind of civilisation.
The main culprits of failure seem to be well known and there are many threads attesting to the problems. The fuel pump relay appears to have been arround for a long while, yet I read that the componant is still being put on 08 bikes and even the new 800.
I also drive BMW cars, and I can tell you they also breakdown, luckily not always in ways that leave me stranded but they are annoyingly regular, and I seem to have small problems every couple of months.
I've been lucky with my GS, a new battery on the first day of ownership... and a second one after 8 months, frankly not really very good in this day and age, with the sencond one the canbus shut down and only the dealer could get it up and running again.
I have ridden for 32 years and have owned a TS 90, CB 250 G5, CB 400/4, CX 500, C90, Z 200, BSA B31, Sportster 883, Heritage Soft Tail, R 1200 C, and now the GS. I can tell you I have never been let down at the side of the road by any of my bikes, even the 1954 BSA always go me where I was going, and didn't need much looking after in between journeys either. I did have the normal battery problems associated with english winters and 3 year old batteries on my 400/4 but they were cheap and old bateries, not an 8 month old German battery.
What I'm getting at here, is that BMW should at least be takling the common known problems and putting them right. And then making it known that the fault has been sorted, so that new bike buyers known that its sorted.
I bought my bike based on the BMW name, the perceived quality and the fact that the GS is billed as a go antwhere bike. I live in a big country with only one BMW bike service center. And frankly what you read here is less that inspiring for someone like me that rides in an environment with often 60 07 70 miles between any kind of civilisation.
The main culprits of failure seem to be well known and there are many threads attesting to the problems. The fuel pump relay appears to have been arround for a long while, yet I read that the componant is still being put on 08 bikes and even the new 800.
I also drive BMW cars, and I can tell you they also breakdown, luckily not always in ways that leave me stranded but they are annoyingly regular, and I seem to have small problems every couple of months.
I've been lucky with my GS, a new battery on the first day of ownership... and a second one after 8 months, frankly not really very good in this day and age, with the sencond one the canbus shut down and only the dealer could get it up and running again.
I have ridden for 32 years and have owned a TS 90, CB 250 G5, CB 400/4, CX 500, C90, Z 200, BSA B31, Sportster 883, Heritage Soft Tail, R 1200 C, and now the GS. I can tell you I have never been let down at the side of the road by any of my bikes, even the 1954 BSA always go me where I was going, and didn't need much looking after in between journeys either. I did have the normal battery problems associated with english winters and 3 year old batteries on my 400/4 but they were cheap and old bateries, not an 8 month old German battery.
What I'm getting at here, is that BMW should at least be takling the common known problems and putting them right. And then making it known that the fault has been sorted, so that new bike buyers known that its sorted.
ExpatinIstanbul
Registered user
So far, on my '05 GS, the only problems I've had have been what appear to be common issues; the battery and the fuel pump relay. There do appear to be other common faults, but I don't think I know of a bike without any at all. I use this forum to gather knowledge on what may go wrong, so I can pre-emptively deal with it or at least be prepared. In the past I used several K series BMWs, as well as a few Rs, all of which ended up with 100,000+ miles on them. I had a few breakdowns but no more than I would have expected from any other brand.
I think you will find that some individuals who have had a problem are very prolific in their postings and generate a lot of "noise".
Some of these characters will have their bike recovered for an intermittant indicators switch then write columns on it.
I've had four 1200 bikes no issues......... but I do carry spares and tools when I go out - especially to far away places. I would do this with any bike. Just seems sensible.
If you want to go "adventure" riding then take precautions
Some of these characters will have their bike recovered for an intermittant indicators switch then write columns on it.
I've had four 1200 bikes no issues......... but I do carry spares and tools when I go out - especially to far away places. I would do this with any bike. Just seems sensible.
If you want to go "adventure" riding then take precautions
seanred
Guest
I been to the corner shop and no problems.
Done 19484k's. My bikes 1st BD on 11th April.
Nothing bad to mention. Just a great bike.
Done 19484k's. My bikes 1st BD on 11th April.
Nothing bad to mention. Just a great bike.
sidd
Guest
Well, the people who hang around here do so because they love their bikes in general, and they put up with any problems. The people who don't aren't here for long. There's more negative stuff than many people think. The mods have already been deleting bad press (I wonder how long it is before my post count goes back down to zero again).
After 23 months and 18500 miles in all weather, but never off road, I have had:
6 callouts for 2 incidents (+one for a puncture, but that doesn't count)
2 new batteries
1 right hand switchgear
1 starter wiring contact problem
lots of rusting nuts replaced
corroded fuel tank filler cap
corroded gearbox cover front
Refusal to start if it gets cold
How do I feel now? I haven't had a breakdown for a while, and getting the warranty work done for the corroded parts was a nightmare, but I stood my ground, and wasted quite a lot of time stamping my feet. BUT It's still a great bike, and I think one of the key things I bought it for can still pretty much not be matched by anyone else. That's the road presence: its so huge people can hardly fail to notice you. And that is safety.
I was definitely going to sell it until I discovered that the extended warranty price had been brought down. Now I'm only perhaps going to sell it.
After 23 months and 18500 miles in all weather, but never off road, I have had:
6 callouts for 2 incidents (+one for a puncture, but that doesn't count)
2 new batteries
1 right hand switchgear
1 starter wiring contact problem
lots of rusting nuts replaced
corroded fuel tank filler cap
corroded gearbox cover front
Refusal to start if it gets cold
How do I feel now? I haven't had a breakdown for a while, and getting the warranty work done for the corroded parts was a nightmare, but I stood my ground, and wasted quite a lot of time stamping my feet. BUT It's still a great bike, and I think one of the key things I bought it for can still pretty much not be matched by anyone else. That's the road presence: its so huge people can hardly fail to notice you. And that is safety.
I was definitely going to sell it until I discovered that the extended warranty price had been brought down. Now I'm only perhaps going to sell it.
News to me, who's threads have been deleted? ............seems the entire 1200 technical section is 'bad press' and that is still here
Had my 1200 GS for nearly 3 years and I have to say that although I had a few things replaced under warranty I think it is a great bike.
Stuff replaced was -
Battery (the original wasn't charging properly with BMW charger during last winter)
Fuel filler cap and front crankcase cover replaced (slightly corroded) just before 2 year warranty expired.
And OK, I admit there is the odd spec of rust on one or two of the bolts. And I've worn the paint of part of the frame on the left hand side (clumsy boot work?).
I use the bike 4 days a week for a short commute (~ 15 miles round trip) plus one or two longer trips per year - the total mileage is only now approaching 10k. The bike has always started (though one scary moment when it was sub-zero and snowing).
Given that I live in an island surrounded by salt water, the bike occasionally gets a shower of sea water on the way back from work, and I wash it regularly without fail each month (certainly not daily) - I reckon it's doing all right!
Stuff replaced was -
Battery (the original wasn't charging properly with BMW charger during last winter)
Fuel filler cap and front crankcase cover replaced (slightly corroded) just before 2 year warranty expired.
And OK, I admit there is the odd spec of rust on one or two of the bolts. And I've worn the paint of part of the frame on the left hand side (clumsy boot work?).
I use the bike 4 days a week for a short commute (~ 15 miles round trip) plus one or two longer trips per year - the total mileage is only now approaching 10k. The bike has always started (though one scary moment when it was sub-zero and snowing).
Given that I live in an island surrounded by salt water, the bike occasionally gets a shower of sea water on the way back from work, and I wash it regularly without fail each month (certainly not daily) - I reckon it's doing all right!
My '06 GSA......born on the 4th of July....took me on a round trip that year of 7,800miles.......in 7 weeks........
Yes the rear shock failed whilst in West Africa, yes my battery failed this year....
IMHO, I wouldn't change it for another bike/brand.........
There is no bike on the planet that comes near what this bike is capable of.
Rusty bolts, -yes a little, alu panniers pitted/discoloured-yes a little.
The bike goes round twisties like stink, goes on the rough a lot better than you think once you have the confidence to ride it.
The best bike ever made? IMHO....Well hell yeah...
Yes the rear shock failed whilst in West Africa, yes my battery failed this year....
IMHO, I wouldn't change it for another bike/brand.........
There is no bike on the planet that comes near what this bike is capable of.
Rusty bolts, -yes a little, alu panniers pitted/discoloured-yes a little.
The bike goes round twisties like stink, goes on the rough a lot better than you think once you have the confidence to ride it.
The best bike ever made? IMHO....Well hell yeah...
Absolute bollox.
Nate
Registered user
Mmmmmmm
I didn't think the Mods had discovered how to do that yet... Though they are practising with moving the buttons around
Oh the bike is ace... Mines over 2 yrs old now and I have had the usual fauly with the indicators coming on... BMW fixed it straight away, no quibblles
The only other problem I have is its waaaaaaaayyyyyyy too much fun
The Bede
Registered user
Getting real for a moment
... Of all the shit that could go wrong I'm gobsmacked to find people complaining of 'rusty nuts and bolts.' I reckon a quick back of the fag packet survey will reveal them all to be UK riders
... Wot a whinge
... Damp, dank, grey, 'orrible British weather, seasonally salted = potentially rotten fasteners
... The merest autumnal breath of WD-40, a squirtette of FS365 (or whatever that Scottoiler protective spray is), a modest smear of grease here, a brushfull of waxoyl there, or perhaps the odd hi-tech whiff of ACF-50 and most of this entirely natural oxidation can be mitigated or even prevented
... Perhaps the occasional and judicious use of a bit of detergent and a sponge, or a brush, and a bucket of water are in order. All of that nasty corrosive shit can be easily removed before you ever need retain Sue Grabbit & Runne to sort such whinge-worthy, deal breaking, major warranty issues as the odd mildly discoloured cap-screw.
... FFS ladies, a nifty and highly effective little pressure washer cost all of £15 in Woolies, post Christmas, a year or so ago and the only rotten nuts on this Bede's bike have been the ones in the saddle.
... Of all the shit that could go wrong I'm gobsmacked to find people complaining of 'rusty nuts and bolts.' I reckon a quick back of the fag packet survey will reveal them all to be UK riders
... Wot a whinge
... Damp, dank, grey, 'orrible British weather, seasonally salted = potentially rotten fasteners
... The merest autumnal breath of WD-40, a squirtette of FS365 (or whatever that Scottoiler protective spray is), a modest smear of grease here, a brushfull of waxoyl there, or perhaps the odd hi-tech whiff of ACF-50 and most of this entirely natural oxidation can be mitigated or even prevented
... Perhaps the occasional and judicious use of a bit of detergent and a sponge, or a brush, and a bucket of water are in order. All of that nasty corrosive shit can be easily removed before you ever need retain Sue Grabbit & Runne to sort such whinge-worthy, deal breaking, major warranty issues as the odd mildly discoloured cap-screw.
... FFS ladies, a nifty and highly effective little pressure washer cost all of £15 in Woolies, post Christmas, a year or so ago and the only rotten nuts on this Bede's bike have been the ones in the saddle.
mcn5
Guest
Unstoppable Unstartable
Hi All,
I picked up my 08 GSA about 2 weeks ago, had the first service at 600 miles then went to France for a ride with 7 mates. Arrived at the hotel in Brittany went to go and get fuel then the bike wouldnt start. Spoke to BMW emergency service who where most unhelpful but sent a recovery truck and mechanic (non BMW) he basically left me with a live cable to press onto the starter motor when i wanted to start the bike.
When i returned to the UK i emailed Vines they had collected the bike from my house within 2 hours, they called me in the afternoon to say they had fitted a new starter motor relay they had also valeted the bike, and put £36 of fuel in. The bike was returned the bike the following morning. Yes i know i shouldnt have had any problems, however the service from Vines was superb.
I complained to BMW UK they called me yesterday to apoligies and offer me £250 credit to use at a BMW dealers.
Hi All,
I picked up my 08 GSA about 2 weeks ago, had the first service at 600 miles then went to France for a ride with 7 mates. Arrived at the hotel in Brittany went to go and get fuel then the bike wouldnt start. Spoke to BMW emergency service who where most unhelpful but sent a recovery truck and mechanic (non BMW) he basically left me with a live cable to press onto the starter motor when i wanted to start the bike.
When i returned to the UK i emailed Vines they had collected the bike from my house within 2 hours, they called me in the afternoon to say they had fitted a new starter motor relay they had also valeted the bike, and put £36 of fuel in. The bike was returned the bike the following morning. Yes i know i shouldnt have had any problems, however the service from Vines was superb.
I complained to BMW UK they called me yesterday to apoligies and offer me £250 credit to use at a BMW dealers.
zico
Registered user
APOLOGIES TO ONE AND ALL.
You were right to delete my post re buy a Honda. If I have offended anyone on this site re my negative comments then I apologise profusely. Yes I've had problems with my bike 54 plate. Im the second owner and was really really looking forward to GS ownership. The reliability has indeed disappointed me. However despite this I still have the GS. The faults annoy me because of the cost of the bike in the first place, but more probably because I am mechanically inept. What can I say. Its still a great bike. Cant see me changing just yet.
You were right to delete my post re buy a Honda. If I have offended anyone on this site re my negative comments then I apologise profusely. Yes I've had problems with my bike 54 plate. Im the second owner and was really really looking forward to GS ownership. The reliability has indeed disappointed me. However despite this I still have the GS. The faults annoy me because of the cost of the bike in the first place, but more probably because I am mechanically inept. What can I say. Its still a great bike. Cant see me changing just yet.
, differing opinions stimulate debate
deaninkl
Registered user
So its true then! Trying to put spin on it won't help steptoe.
Rumours that BMW have supplied all Mods with new 6 series cars in order to delete the bad threads are confirmed.
Steptoe denied it what more proof do we need....
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