1200 vs UK winter riding?

[team duvet]

Hi all,

For those of you riding through this winter, how do you find “The 12” holding up re salt, dirt etc?

Just been looking and only thing noticeable is a little sign of rust around the bolts that hold the header pipes to the cylinder heads, all the rest seems fine, although desperate for a hugger to appear long enough to cover the whole shock, cannot believe where the road dirt gets to re rear wheel splatter etc!

Have to say been paranoid about the front fork brace as per my 1150 but so far so good, think it is powdered coated so should be okay? Is it me or is the 1200 harder to wash/clean than the 1150? or is it just new bike syndrome!

I always wash/spray with cold water first after returning from a ride then use a car shampoo (not washing up liquid!) so correct procedure followed?

So just interested in other peoples views re “Winter riding vs hold out” on the 1200.

Ride safe,

“TD”

 

[laughingBob]

Use mine most days on my 84 mile round trip to work. Completely covered it in ACF50 (and I do mean completely)at the begining of November and rode it everyday for a month then cleaned it with a pressure washer during the first week of December. Covered it again in ACF50 and rode it through most of December then cleaned and re-coated it about two weeks ago. There was absolutely no sign of corrosion anywhere at that time. I'll probably leave it for another couple of weeks then do the same again. I've noticed that the ACF50 doesn't seem to get washed off in the rain like some sprays but, I do re-apply it to the fork legs and under the sump guard if I've rdden through heavy rain.

Personaly, I think it does more harm than good to lay a bike up for long periods of time. Views anyone?

 

[Boz]

So just interested in other peoples views re “Winter riding vs hold out” on the 1200.

Hi Team Duvet!

I've been riding the bike since late October when I picked it up. Rode though some really bad crud, salt the lot and the bike seems to have come though it fine - the only area which has been effected is the metal cap on the tank under the right hand side panel, noly found out about this too late so the salt has had a bit of a chew! Only cosmetic, although I did think about having the dealer take a look at it.

Anyway bike is well and truly off the road now due to problems with the engine and waiting on BMW UK to agree to replacing it.

Like your self I've made sure I've cleaned it or at least sprayed it down with cold water after every ride out and then given it a spray of Bike Spray or Scotoiler. As long as there's a barrier between the bike and elements when its out and not in use is should be OK.

I know what you mean about the back end, most of the shit ends up on my left leg and boot, there's a few mods to try and keep it clean but with all things it's a balance between keepin it clean and keeep the original looks - tend to go for the last!

Cheers

 

[Joyseeker]

riding through winter since sept when i got the bike. only rust is on washer that holds the sensor on the pipe.... only on one pipe strangely but that was the one that landed on the sandy beach.

next week getting vines to do a winter wash where they wax the beast up...... i'm not to clean it till april even though it collects crud....... no cleaning is great news to me....

 

[Gonzo]

Hi TD

200+ miles a week to work and back on main roads with salt, all weathers. Through the collective wisdom of this forum I've learnt to rinse with cold water each night and I generally wash every fortnight and re-apply the Scottoiler stuff everywhere ('cept the brake discs - I learnt that one the hard way!).

So far so good - even the bolt heads look OK and no other signs of ageing (its 3 months old now). Don't like cleaning but the way I see it, it's a bonus not to have to do a chain so I don't mind the toothbrush work on the heads!

Know what you mean 'bout the back covered in crud - my boots are evidence of the bike's hugger shortfall. The NWS hugger is looking more attractive by the day (pictures notwithstanding)!

It's made for riding, not looking at so I don't feel the need to mollycoddle it toomuch in the winter!!

 

[TerryM]

So just interested in other peoples views re “Winter riding vs hold out” on the 1200.

Hi Team Duvet!

I've been riding the bike since late October when I picked it up. Rode though some really bad crud, salt the lot and the bike seems to have come though it fine - the only area which has been effected is the metal cap on the tank under the right hand side panel, noly found out about this too late so the salt has had a bit of a chew! Only cosmetic, although I did think about having the dealer take a look at it.

Anyway bike is well and truly off the road now due to problems with the engine and waiting on BMW UK to agree to replacing it.

Like your self I've made sure I've cleaned it or at least sprayed it down with cold water after every ride out and then given it a spray of Bike Spray or Scotoiler. As long as there's a barrier between the bike and elements when its out and not in use is should be OK.

I know what you mean about the back end, most of the shit ends up on my left leg and boot, there's a few mods to try and keep it clean but with all things it's a balance between keepin it clean and keeep the original looks - tend to go for the last!

Cheers

Boz, Having had gearbox problems I undertsand how you may feel about the motor going belly up. Would you mind telling the details of when/how and whey etc as you see it??

Terry

 

[Boz]

Boz, Having had gearbox problems I undertsand how you may feel about the motor going belly up. Would you mind telling the details of when/how and whey etc as you see it??

Terry

Hi Terry,

Yea, the problem started at around 1400 miles. Been out the day before for a good run so the bike was being used, and the run in had been OK.

I had ridden about a mile when I lost power very briefly, it then picked up again but I thought it wasn't 100%. As I was riding I could hear this tapping sound coming form the engine, thinking I was paranoid, I woundered if it had always been there, but when I stopped, got off the bike back home the noise was really loud, comig from the right hand cyclinder.

Took it in to the dealer, thinking it may be a loss items which can happen, but after taking of the right hand cyclinder it turned out the piston had lost compression, jumped in the cyclinder and started to rub the coating of the inside of cyclinder.

This was replaced, but I've never felt the power was the same and my trust in the engine has been lost. I mean if I go travelling I want to be able to have total faith it's OK. I have other issues with the bike, but these may not be throught of as a big deal by BM, but it's all added up. You name it, it's gone wrong!!

Anyway I asked BMW UK for a new bike and its being looked at, I can't at this stage say there give me one, seems to be between the dealer and BMW UK...watch this space.

So the bike is layed up at moment, as I don't want to use it. I'm getting to the stage where I'm thinking about just selling it and getting a KTM or ADV.

So what happened with yours?

Nik

 

[unhinged]

Hello, new here, just bought an Adventure.

next week getting vines to do a winter wash where they wax the beast up...... i'm not to clean it till april even though it collects crud....... no cleaning is great news to me....

How much does this cost and (silly question coming right up) does it work? What if they miss a bit?

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Well mine's been waxed (foc as it was done at the same time as some warranty work - thanks NOG), I've ACF50'd it and I Scottoil it. So fingers crossed.

I'm twitchy about how the wheels and nearby areas will survive as I am so paranoid about getting the ACF/FS365 on the brakes/tyres I go fairly easy around these bits.

I try to rinse it or give it a quick wash with cold water every so often - I can't face it every day. Getting back home at night tired and/or cold rather puts me off digging out the hose and anyway trying to clean a bike in the dark is just too much of a challenge!

There is a tiny bit of corrosion on the plate at the front wheel which mounts the speedo cable.

If they miss a bit with the wax - well ask them to fix it. More seriously you can get the can of wax from BM (dealer may even give you the leftover) and touch it up yourself. Do NOT get wax on the discs - it is VERY scary (speaks from bitter experience).

The only other snag with wax (apart from the fact that it looks ghastly after its collected a few weeks of crud) is getting it off in the Spring.

Paul

 

[RobC]

For winter I make up a mixture of paint thinners and WaxOyl - 50/50 mix. I then use an ordinary plant spray bottle to coat all the bits I think will rust. The thinners will evaporate - a warm day or a well ventilated garage is vital - and leave a nice coat of wax.

So far so good. It will collect all the dirt but in the spring just use a paint brush to brush thinners over the wax and off it comes and all the shiney bits are shiney again.

 

[Mouse]

All I've done to my 12 is wash it and casually spray on some Scottoiler stuff. I've used it pretty much constantly since September and it's holding up pretty well so far!

 

[The Machine Cat]

I ACF50ed it 2 weeks ago. I will cold wash it this week.
Once every three weeks seems to be an ok wash rythm for the type of weather we have around here..
So far no rust. But I did not check yet behind the panels

 

[Shep]

9500 mls

Heavy corrosion on front engine cover (to be replaced under warrantee) This had started to occur before the salt had a chance to attack it, now the salt is on teh roads the corrosion is really taking hold despite a cold shower and F365 every other trip (the bike is used daily)

Some corrosion under rh plastic tank cover on the fuel tank access plate.

The rear axle was replaced under warrantee when rust became apparent in the hollow rear spindle.

One of the reasons for choosing the BMW was the great warrantee, so far I hav'nt been disapointed with their response to
any claim!

Regards Shep

 

[Cone Bolt]

First raised the issue of my corrosion here Tank unit, cylinder heads, front case all corroding to varying degrees despite all the usual treatments. At the moment the issues are with BMW warranty department awaiting their reply as to a course of action.
Bike is 7 weeks old now and I guess this much corrosion isn't very good. I hope for the sake of the rest of you these posted occurances of corrosion are isolated cases. Dealers advice is to carry on riding it taking reasonable precautions and see what develops then the ball will be firmly in BMWs court.

 

[GSmonkey]

I've got an 10 month old, 8.5k model and cannot see any noticable corrosion. The only exception is the stamping on the VIN plate on the headstock, which I cannot say I'm worried about.

Bike was ex-demo, now used daily.

 

[andy1200]

No probs. Just do it.