2005 Hexhead Import model. Working ABS and traction control but no servo brakes fitted?
- Thread starter Jakester
- Start date
AJJCornish
Registered user
True...I've had singles, twins, v twins, triples, v 4's, inline 4's and they are all different. The Boxer has a character all of it's own 
Hi all, well the GS model mystery is solved, it was a ringer!!
So, to recap this was supposed to be a 2005 Japanese import, the frame number matched the logbook and checked out as a Japanese market bike.
But, the more I looked into this the more it was obviously a later bike (probably a 2008) with the front frame loop from the 2005 bike (with it's associated number) fitted.
Clues were the 2008 bodywork, ABSII/ASC non-servo brakes with switchable traction control (which should have been ABSI and servo brakes). Drain plug on rear drive (2005 should not have the drainplug), later (UK) instrument cluster and the complete absence of any Japanese characters anywhere else on the bike (despite there being Japanese characters on the front frame loop), plus a few other clues, e.g. the colour of the rocker covers was different to the 2005 models (a sort of greenish hue), the front telelever arm was black and looked a bit different to the earlier models, and finally the engine number was very difficult to read but the numbers I could see did not match the 2005 logbook and contained EE instead of ED (which I assume also suggests a later bike).
I want to give a good reference to the guys who sold me the bike here (MotorBikes4all in Malvern), it took me a couple of months to learn enough about GSs to realise the issues here so it was a long time before I got back in touch with them to raise the alarm. Fair play, absolutely no quibble from them, they had mentioned the 'updated' bodywork in the listing and assumed that this was just a facelifted import (as did I when I bought it) but as soon as I pointed out the issues they agreed to take the bike back immediately and offered me to choose any other bike from their stock to the same value (or more if I wanted to make up the difference).
So, I now have a genuine 2008 bike (lovely orange colour 'special edition', 53k miles) with all the bells and whistles available at the time (included ESA which I am really loving). In addition, they had all this sorted over the phone for me within a week (which included preparing the bike, fitting new tyres and putting a fresh 12 months MOT), I was rushing them because I was booked onto a ferry for a tour of France and Northern Spain.
The only slight shame is the 'ringer' was a bit nicer than this genuine one, this one has a very rattily clutch when ticking over in neutral that I will probably end up changing next winter (for now it's just part of the 'rich BMW sound environment') doesn't have quite as nice a gear change (the 'ringer' gearbox was amazingly smooth) and has an annoying vibration at 80mph (where the ringer was again much smoother). However, I'd rather have a slightly more 'agricultural' genuine bike than a super smooth ringer that I can never sell on so I'm happy. As you might have seen from my other post, my first test ride on this replacement GS was a 2700 mile ride through France and Spain in 7 days. Absolutely no problems with the bike at all (apart from the racket from the clutch when waiting at lights) so I'm very happy. I'm a competent mechanic (after 40 years of riding) and have a pretty good workshop so changing the clutch, pushrod, etc. shouldn't be a big deal (apart from the painful cost of parts). Looks like a lot of work but pretty straightforward and no more than doing front wheel drive cars and I've done more of those than I care to remember. From what I've been reading the noisy clutch is pretty typical on higher mileage bikes and not an urgent problem. Likely a combination of felt damper worn off the pushrod and play in the clutch plate centre (hopefully not wear on the input shaft but I'll take a look at that when I get round to doing the clutch). I'll probably start by fitting a new pushrod in the next couple of weeks anyway as this looks easy enough to do and see if that makes much difference.
So, to recap this was supposed to be a 2005 Japanese import, the frame number matched the logbook and checked out as a Japanese market bike.
But, the more I looked into this the more it was obviously a later bike (probably a 2008) with the front frame loop from the 2005 bike (with it's associated number) fitted.
Clues were the 2008 bodywork, ABSII/ASC non-servo brakes with switchable traction control (which should have been ABSI and servo brakes). Drain plug on rear drive (2005 should not have the drainplug), later (UK) instrument cluster and the complete absence of any Japanese characters anywhere else on the bike (despite there being Japanese characters on the front frame loop), plus a few other clues, e.g. the colour of the rocker covers was different to the 2005 models (a sort of greenish hue), the front telelever arm was black and looked a bit different to the earlier models, and finally the engine number was very difficult to read but the numbers I could see did not match the 2005 logbook and contained EE instead of ED (which I assume also suggests a later bike).
I want to give a good reference to the guys who sold me the bike here (MotorBikes4all in Malvern), it took me a couple of months to learn enough about GSs to realise the issues here so it was a long time before I got back in touch with them to raise the alarm. Fair play, absolutely no quibble from them, they had mentioned the 'updated' bodywork in the listing and assumed that this was just a facelifted import (as did I when I bought it) but as soon as I pointed out the issues they agreed to take the bike back immediately and offered me to choose any other bike from their stock to the same value (or more if I wanted to make up the difference).
So, I now have a genuine 2008 bike (lovely orange colour 'special edition', 53k miles) with all the bells and whistles available at the time (included ESA which I am really loving). In addition, they had all this sorted over the phone for me within a week (which included preparing the bike, fitting new tyres and putting a fresh 12 months MOT), I was rushing them because I was booked onto a ferry for a tour of France and Northern Spain.
The only slight shame is the 'ringer' was a bit nicer than this genuine one, this one has a very rattily clutch when ticking over in neutral that I will probably end up changing next winter (for now it's just part of the 'rich BMW sound environment') doesn't have quite as nice a gear change (the 'ringer' gearbox was amazingly smooth) and has an annoying vibration at 80mph (where the ringer was again much smoother). However, I'd rather have a slightly more 'agricultural' genuine bike than a super smooth ringer that I can never sell on so I'm happy. As you might have seen from my other post, my first test ride on this replacement GS was a 2700 mile ride through France and Spain in 7 days. Absolutely no problems with the bike at all (apart from the racket from the clutch when waiting at lights) so I'm very happy. I'm a competent mechanic (after 40 years of riding) and have a pretty good workshop so changing the clutch, pushrod, etc. shouldn't be a big deal (apart from the painful cost of parts). Looks like a lot of work but pretty straightforward and no more than doing front wheel drive cars and I've done more of those than I care to remember. From what I've been reading the noisy clutch is pretty typical on higher mileage bikes and not an urgent problem. Likely a combination of felt damper worn off the pushrod and play in the clutch plate centre (hopefully not wear on the input shaft but I'll take a look at that when I get round to doing the clutch). I'll probably start by fitting a new pushrod in the next couple of weeks anyway as this looks easy enough to do and see if that makes much difference.
I never realised the starter motor cover was removed from all bikes from 2008 on.
I thought it was just on the HPs.
I thought it was just on the HPs.
Definitely not twin cam (I did the valve clearances). Had black cylinder barrels and that greenish cam cover colour plus no cover over the starter (that was one I missed). Pretty definitively a 2008 in my opinion. Anyway, gone back now, and missed, it was actually a lovely example, smooth power, excellent gearbox (much better than I expected) and in really nice condition, just unfortunately a total ringerever take photos of the engine covers?
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The cover if you have one will fit most of the starter motors ,
The issue on later bikes is the exhaust flap servo box makes it very tight to a std length starter- so no cover
The Bosch unit is a stubby, and there is no cover, yet one could be fitted
Twin cam came out in 2010 afaik.
There was a kind of performance upgrade and a few other electrical farkles in 2008. But definitely not upgraded to the twin cam engine.
I was shocked the search engine seemed to work....
I just wrote "R1200GS 2007" and go the right one - which is a 307
then "R1200GS 2008" and got the right one - a 303, made allegedly till 09 2009 - but I guess stopped July and they some lying around till Sept
then it gave the twin cam when I typed "R1200GS 2009" - a 470, which should mean the 2010 bikes started to get made Aug 2009 ...the ideas the same, somewhere around 2010 they changed the engine
I'm amazed the parts place seems to give such significant overlap on the timeline some models stopped and new ones allegedly started - its claims the 450 GS were available in Oct 2008 - which would have to mean dev bikes, made in another factory, or the parts chumps messed up
the R1300GS is the first one that to me, feels like it makes enough power down the bottom like the original does - then it has a bit more grunt all the way up that should be enough for most people / occasions - its not a KTM 1290 that's been mapped correctly (these will eat the R1300 and spit it out at around 60% throttle) - but you don't "have to have" more than the R1300 puts out
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TC engine was early 2010. My single cam was manufactured in early 2009.
After reading this thread, the only thing I am surprised about is you getting the dealer ( local to me unfortunately) to stand by the sale and to sort you out. I think you were lucky to be honest, they have an awful reputation (rightly or wrongly) in general, as one or two people and ex customers of theirs of my acquaintance will attest.
