1200GSA 'Fettling List'

[h0wz3r]

Having just bought myself my dream bike, an 08 reg R1200GSA from the smashing chaps up at Rainbows, it's going into the workshop on Friday for a few bits and pieces that need sorting.

The full list of things that need sorting are:

• Missing rear plastic shock protector (previous owner had a hugger so took it off)
• Excessive play in side stand
• Deep scratches to fuel tank panel on right hand side where seat has rubbed. Previous owner had seat on high setting and the bars under the seat can rub sometimes in this config
• Sticky fuel guage - goes from full to nearly empty in around 50 - 100 miles! A common problem apparently
• Intermittent accessory socket under rider's seat
• Clicking / knocking on front compression with front brake on (could be nothing - possibly due to floating brake discs?)
• Rubber boot on one of the ESA pipes is worn away


Although I've agreed with them all the above work that needs doing, I noticed while washing it down yesterday that one of the cylinder heads is a different colour to the one on the other side. This is because they replaced one of the cylinder heads prior to delivery as the one that was on it had scratch and score marks although how they got there is anyone's guess as the bike obviously has never been in a spill of any description.

The head cover they replaced was the right hand one (the silver coloured one)

Here's a couple of pictures:

Left Side (Bronze colour):

Right Side (Silver/Grey colour):

Just tell me am I being pedantic now or would you get them to change the head cover?

A final thing, should the crashbars have the same amount of clearance both from the heads and the pipes on each side as the left hand side seems much closer to the pipe i.e. I can't get my fingers under it whereas the right hand side I can fit my whole hand under there?

Left:

Right:

Thanks for the replies, I've already prepared myself for plenty of michael taking!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

One cylinder is further forward than the other, so that's why there is different crashbar clearance on each side

I would want my rocker covers to be the same colour too

Can the 1200 Mod......................resize the pics too

 

[h0wz3r]

One cylinder is further forward than the other, so that's why there is different crashbar clearance on each side

I know the cylinders are staggered which explains why one is much further forward than the other but that shouldn't affect clearance above the pipe should it? Or am I being thick again?

Being such a perfectionist isn't all it's cracked up to be you know!

 

[ncpierce]

The only other R1200GSA 2008 I have seen with non-matching cylinder heads belongs to autogs and was an ex-BMW off road school bike!

 

[Toad]

One cylinder is further forward than the other, so that's why there is different crashbar clearance on each side

I would want my rocker covers to be the same colour too

Can the 1200 Mod......................resize the pics too

I wish

As they are privately hosted there isn't a size option.

Unless I download all of them, and then host them personally, and then upload them all.

 

[h0wz3r]

Pictures re-sized, hope that's a bit better!

I'm going to ring Rainbows today and mention about the covers anyway. As I say, they swapped the right hand cover out before I took delivery as the original one was marked. When I say marked, it looked like the cover had score marks all over it, almost as if a thorny bush had been rubbed against it.

The bike has obviously never been on its side as there's no other damage whatsoever to suggest that it has. As it was supplied from new by Rainbows and having had only 1 owner from new, I trust their judgement.

My name will be mud on their walls by the time I'm finished with this seemingly never ending list!

 

[Toad]

Pictures re-sized, hope that's a bit better!

Nice one - thanks.

 

[pagibbo]

Well I know if I bought a nice polished 08 Plate BMW X5 I would want the nearside wing to be the same colour as the off side wing

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

I would totaly expect the rocker covers to be the same colour. they are such a big cosmetic feature of the bike, and they have replaced it with the wrong colour (effectively the wrong year) and should change it. I'm sure they will be fine about it though, but I don't think you are being anal.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I warned them this morning, that you were on your way

 

[twizzle]

that would drive me mad.... OCD and all that.... must have them the same.... and the relevant colour for year / model....

 

[h0wz3r]

I warned them this morning, that you were on your way

LOL. I rang earlier to speak to Ian but he wasn't there so left a message with the receptionist.

I joked with her that he'll be throwing curses in my direction at having to add yet something else to the list!

Seriously though, Ian in particular has been absolutely great since I bought the bike and I can't speak highly enough of him. Rainbow will certainly be getting plenty of business from me in the future if the standard remains so high.

 

[Big Derek]

LOL. future if the standard remains so high.

makes you wonder though why it was sold like that it would have been higher standards if it was not allowed out till covers matched

 

[h0wz3r]

makes you wonder though why it was sold like that it would have been higher standards if it was not allowed out till covers matched

It would but to be fair they did turn the bike round for me very quickly as I needed it in a hurry for a trip.

The original cover they took off was the same colour as far as I remember, they obviously just didn't check properly that the colour matched on the replacement.

Customer service has been excellent though in every respect.

 

[h0wz3r]

*UPDATE*

I spoke to Steve in parts & service yesterday and he's ordering a replacement rocker cover for me (in the right colour this time!)

Told him I'm not bothered what colour they are as long as they're both the same but I'd prefer the original bronze colour. To that he told me 'well we'd better order a bronze one then hadn't we?'

Top service as ever