1200GS? - MAKING A MISTAKE?

[Colban]

Picked up my 1200GS in Oct 05. I had previously owned a BMW R850 from new. This was an awful bike beset with problems (even though a model that's been in production for a while) but I thought I'd give BMW another chance.
-After 3 months with my GS the front headlight blew (a minor problem I know but what car would this happen on?).
-The battery died mysteriously one afternoon and I had ridden it over 50 miles that morning.
-After 6 months, I was riding along the motorway at 70mph when the engine just cut out forcing me to take rather hairy evasive action (only narrowly missed death). Apparently this was the fuel pump's fault which had become corroded with water and inactive. This is now a recall matter.
-After 9 months, the abs/servo pump died, leaving me with a modicum of braking power for my remaining journey.

BMW have lost it. Hate to say it but buy a Honda and it will never go wrong.

So you have had a few issues that a dealer should be sorting out.
I'm sorry you have had these problems but why are you digging up an old post and trolling over it before you have had the manners to introduce yourself in the noobs section?.
This is a good site for information and support as well as a few laughs.
I think you may have lost any forum sympathy for your situation with your first post.

"buy a Honda and it will never go wrong"
If you believe that you'll believe anything.

 

[Garryc]

...Have had two GS in three years and have racked up in excess of 80K, I think I'm in fair position to comment.....

....The GS is no more robust than any Jap bike but the quality is not up there with Honda.....Which is disappointing considering the cost.

...The dealers are supportive but I would prefer reliability.

...I think the quality issue is linked to the increase in sales and to new many models....

...They need to go back to basics and fix some of the simple stuff, like decent lights, which is a nonsense, and replace the engine with something a bit more modern...

If honda brings out a decent trailie, there will be in trouble, as there will be a mass exodus....

However - enjoy your new bike....

 

[Wicker]

Any issues that I have reported with my R1200ST have been dealt with at no charge within the warranty. The rear shock on my previous bike, R1100S failed at 3 1/2 years / 36k whilst on holiday in France. I was sufficently miffed at losing a week from the holiday that I wrote to BMW. The surprising thing was that they fully refunded the parts cost as a point of goodwill. There are a lot of people knocking BMW however they do appear to support the product where it matters by fixing faults.

I had KTM bikes out on demo where bits detached (side stand spring) and bulbs failed. It would be easy to knock KTM back-up and warranty; they certainly did not appear to stand by the product and deal with the type of issues I see on this forum such as corrosion.

A friend of mine used to sell KTM. Although he had the pick of bikes in the showroom (KTM, Suzuki and Ducati), he actually rode / owned an R1150GS and an R1100S.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

replace the engine with something a bit more modern...

I do hope not. One of the great joys of the Boxer is that it is not run of the mill, dates back to 1923 or thereabouts but has been modernised. After all the S puts out about 120bhp - not bad for an ancient layout. Its part of the character and long may it continue.

Wanting to change the engine seems to be rather missing the point.

Paul

 

[andyclift]

First Boxer

Akways wanted a Beemer and finally had the cash to buy my brand new GS12 a year ago.

Problems?

The gear indicator packed up the first time it rained (fixed in one hour by SLM), the brakes went into emergency mode in the Alps (BMW speak for NO brakes) sorted by BMW Rescue - the brake light switch had stuck on so the bike could not complete the tests), Immobiliser decided not to recognise any key (fixed by SLM after call to BMW Rescue). Top box came adrift on Stelvio Pass (SLM suppied complete new system without even asking how it happened.

That's the downside, the upside? It's abloody brilliant bike that has taken me all around Europe with grossly overloaded luggage and heavy wife on back (now on diet and bike goes a lot faster!!). After a year I still have to open the garage just to look at it and the weather has to be REALLY bad for me to get the car out.

Maybe things shouldn't go wrong but in 35 years of a nice new company car every two years I have never has one that has not had to go back for fixes under warranty. In the real world everything that is mass produced and complex is bound to have the occasional failure and as long as they are not too frequent and, more importantly, are fixed without hassle, I can live with it for the pleasure of owning and driving a fantastic bike.

 

[Ash]

Akways wanted a Beemer and finally had the cash to buy my brand new GS12 a year ago.

Problems?

It's abloody brilliant bike that has taken me all around Europe with grossly overloaded luggage and heavy wife on back (now on diet and bike goes a lot faster!!). After a year I still have to open the garage just to look at it and the weather has to be REALLY bad for me to get the car out.

im telling her what you posted.

 

[marcus]

Andy does your wife read this forum or are you looking to "offload"?

 

[Yoda]

I think Andy has just committed suicide .......

 

[andyclift]

Just being honest

On the Europe trip we were walking up a mountain and I pointed out to wife that if she dropped a couple of stone I may not spend most of the day waiting for her.

Risky but, hey,she was puffing like mad and I could still climb so survived the comment.

Didn't think much more about it 'till we got home and she started buying salad, saying no to the cream cakes, and drinking water instead of coke.

She's now 2 stone lighter, a lot fitter and the bike goes better when she's on the back. The only downside is that she's dropped two dress sizes (so far) which means loads of new clothes but she has finally been able to find some biking trousers that fit without making her look like a Michelin advert.

Sometimes honesty is the best policy!!

 

[MATKAT]

Big mistake

The biggest mistake you will ever make is to listen to all the negative stuff on here about the 1200 !!!

The next mistake will be not to buy what is the finest all round machine on the planet

Interestingly there are a lot more owners of 1200GS who have never heard of this site than who have !!
On my travels I have met many, many 1200's on the road, probably 1 in 10 of them have heard of this site or the GSClubUK site.
Almost without exception they are all riding round in blissful ignorance of any problems and love their bikes
As for me, i'm of course waiting for the big bang
The only issue is when do I sell my '04 bike for a new one, keep thinking about it but can't see what I will gain
One thing is for sure my next bike will be a 1200

 

[Yoda]

Commuting to work this morning in the dark through Warwickshire's finest flooded, leaf-strewn, potholed and muddy lanes I couldn't think of any other bike I'd have prefered to be on.

 

[rdover]

750 miles in 3 days on Ireland's dreadful roads and the heaviest rain I'd ever ridden in including hitting floods at 40mph on the A77 and my single biggest complaint was that the stretch to the spotlight switch was too far!

I've had it a week and nothing has gone wrong yet!!! Mind you, I had precious few problems wiht my 1150GS and 1150RT so I'm not expecting any serious problems on the 12GSA

 

[Jababobo]

It's undoubtedly a fine looking beast with the capability of dealing with just about anything thrown at it. I have a 12GS and my next bike will also be a 12GS.

However I think it's important to tell people that it is not by a long way the most reliable bike out there. In fact if it wasn't for BMW's superb warranty and roadside rescue service then I'd be in two minds about getting another one.

 

[GS TRV]

750 miles in 3 days on Ireland's dreadful roads and the heaviest rain I'd ever ridden in

I did tell you so

 

[SkyGod]

DOnt listen to all the negative comments, we all have a horror story about something which everyone else raves about.
Had mine 4 month and it hasnt missed a beat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wurzel]

After reading all these replies I don't care what anyone says. I'm selling my R1100GS and buying a brand new 1200 Adventure. So there

 

[Welshman]

Nothing you do will prise my 09/09/99 R1150GS out of my hands, but maybe a 1200 as a second bike? Its a bit like bigamy?

Welsh

 

[rdover]

Trev
The description of dreadful roads was not a complaint, merely a description. The roads are not much different to other rural areas only busier and the Irish driver are properly bike friendly. Getting out the way quickly and making room so bikes can slip past seems to be the norm. UK drivers could learn a thing or two.

The weather , however, was spectacularly shite but that is a UK wide phenomenon and didn't get to be truly sea like unitl I hit Cairnryan.

The bike made it all easy, by RT would have become a barge. All hail the 12GSA

 

[BIGMARKY]

Hi Guys,
have had BMW's for years, mainly airheads but oilhead GS's as well. Just put a deposit on a 1200 GS for 1st Sept, and have been reading some of these threads! Am I making a huge mistake, are they really that bad and such poor quality? I feel totally deflated, and like I should go to the dealers and take back my deposit!! I know that they have had axle, clutch and drivetrain problems at the start, but surely they are all ironed out now? As for poor dealers, my dealer, Astle Grimsby are superb in every respect!! Please convince me to keep the order, especially as I very nearly ordered a 990 KTM instead! (only the lack of luggage and £250 first service for the final price stopped me!)
Regards Andy B

I HAVE ONLY HEARD OF MINOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH BMWS...SAME WITH TRIUMPH TIGERS....BUT NEVER ANTHING WITH KTMS EXCEPT FOR THE PRICE OF A SERVICE....IF YOU WANT POWER AND BUILD QUALITY GO FOR A KTM...IF YOU WANT FAST TOURING TWO UP AND ECONOMY GO FOR THR TRIUMPH TIGER 955I BUT IF YOU WANT EASY SAFE RIDES UP TO 200.000 MILES BEFORE ANYTHING MAJOR GOES WRONG GET A BEEMER AND WHEN ITS 12 YEARS OLD AND WITH MANY MILES ON THE CLOCK YOU WILL STILL GET £2000 FOR IT.AND IT WILL GO ON AND ON AND ON...JUST LIKE THEIR OWNERS!