2011 GSA: Love the bike, hate the build quality.

[Arsey]

At the 600 mile service, I reported the following...

Welcome to the forum !!

Good,well written post.

Can't help you myself but hope you get the feedback from the many sensible individuals that still linger on this forum.

Apologies for tossers such as :

No...........but sounds like yours is getting that rugged look that you so wanted.

P.S. Shouldn't this be in the rant section.........

Such posts becoming all too common here these days.

 

[BeamishTripleBlack]

I think hes right about the overall build quality but why oh why does everyone keep saying buy a Honda! They also have water based paint and yes it also rubs away wherever you have to touch the paint with a fabric /textile suit (my 2009 blade tank paint was dulled just riding home 60 miles from the dealer. As far as my 2011 GS is concerned.

1. The rear hub centre did discolour unbeliveably quick.
2. The fasteners are made of gorgonzola and use the same surface finish protection as used on the angel of the North.

but since learning these weak points on the GS I have paid particular attention on my GSA and they havent as yet shown signs of corrosion

Is it me or do the specials (BMW named) have a better paint depth? The triple black engine and the frame seem better, also the rallye frame and tank look like a better overall finish? The Aniversary also looks to be better finished
Could be wrong though.

Although i agree with the OP the bike is fantastic and any quality issues can be resolved by BMW or quickly and cheaply later on in its life by the owner. I doubt any of the direct competition would fare any better either.

 

[paintman]

1) the frame paint on later bmws is not as good as earlier bikes (i blame the tree huggers),

There is some truth in this, all manufacturers are having to regulate the amount of voc's (volatile organic compounds) they produce, voc's are the solvents released during spraying and paint drying processes.

In simple terms the less product used in this process the less voc's are discharged so the manufacturers can claim to have so called environmentally friendly paint plants, but your pride and joy will deteriorate way faster than it used to and presumably will need replacing more frequently. its all bollocks.

 

[GSTourer]

There is some truth in this, all manufacturers are having to regulate the amount of voc's (volatile organic compounds) they produce, voc's are the solvents released during spraying and paint drying processes.

In simple terms the less product used in this process the less voc's are discharged so the manufacturers can claim to have so called environmentally friendly paint plants, but your pride and joy will deteriorate way faster than it used to and presumably will need replacing more frequently. its all bollocks.

I bow to your better knowledge on this (especially as I know nothing whatsoever). Why is it though that car paintwork (I have an Audi A1) seems at least as good if not better than it was?

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

I don't know what type of paint is used on the frame but cars are painted with water based base coat and then clear coated with proper lacquer. It doesn't look like the frames have any clear coat on them and since the only coloured paint that is legal now barring industrial uses is water based, that may well be the problem. This is just a guess and happy to hear otherwise.

 

[casperfelix]

I keep mine in a humidity and temperature controlled garage. I never start it, ride it or do anything but admire it .................. and there's not a spot of rust or fading paintwork. Easy really!

 

[GSTourer]

I keep mine in a humidity and temperature controlled garage. I never start it, ride it or do anything but admire it .................. and there's not a spot of rust or fading paintwork. Easy really!

I think you (deliberately) miss the point of the OP somehow.

 

[grin factor]

I think hes right about the overall build quality but why oh why does everyone keep saying buy a Honda! They also have water based paint and yes it also rubs away wherever you have to touch the paint with a fabric /textile suit (my 2009 blade tank paint was dulled just riding home 60 miles from the dealer.

This is true, Honda build quality is not good any more. I had a blade too which corroded badly and wasn't used in wet/bad/cold weather.

Its a shame that Honda & BMW ride on their "quality" reputation from the past when these days it is rubbish. Yamaha has the best build quality according to a recent report in a bike mag.

 

[morty]

all manufacturers are at it,getting parts from fred in a shed and his mate to do the paintwork.use it, abuse it,occasionally wash it & a few years later chip it in for another.

 

[original_concept]

Re: rear axle / fd hole

I guess your bike has the gold flake paint? My 08 gold paint chipped and flaked away in varous places within 20k. It remained that lovely mix of rust and gold for another 68.

If you look at the 2012 bikes the gold paint is no longer there and, well mine does, its feels 'tacky'. This is the biggest improvement on the 2012s IMHO.

 

[Mr K]

2004 jobbie here from new.Although I'm on my 3rd FPC on my 54 plate I have yet to wear through the paint anywhere on the frame of my bike.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[Roymondo]

Have to say I am also somewhat disappointed with the general durability etc of the painted bits. My bike is used on a daily basis all year round, so any idea of washing/drying/protecting it after every ride is risible. But I have the flaking paint/corrosion/pitting on one of the cam covers, and rusting is apparent on the engine bars, and that's not really good enough on a 14 grand bike that is not even a year old. But will I do anything about it? I don't know TBH - I'm crap at complaining and I can't see the problem bits while I'm riding it

 

[Reddivedog]

Thanks for your replies!

The main objective of my original posting was to get some sense about how common these paint/corrosion problems are. The answer to such questions tend to suffer from bias as those with grievances tend to rush to give them an airing, so I’m pleased that there are a number of responses from those who have not had any problems.

That said, it seems clear that there are underlying manufacturing defects which BMW UK are failing/unwilling to recognise. As Ferret has demonstrated, meticulous washing doesn’t necessarily prevent the problems. Undoubtedly, manufacturers (even Honda) are looking for ways to build products for less whilst meeting increasingly demanding environmental targets (as pointed out by Paintman) and that quality might be suffering all around. That said, Honda provides my personal benchmark since I have personal experience of their products.

The bad news for BMW, though, is that the competition is hotting up with almost every other major manufacturer wanting a slice of the Adventure Bike pie. BMW has the pedigree, but if it is going to charge top dollar, its products must deliver. Poor quality, expensive products backed up by customer service which won’t recognise a customer’s genuine problems is surely a recipe for trouble. As the Comic recently concluded: “time isn’t up for the GS, but it is running out fast”.

I remain astonished that BMW aren’t concerned that a BMW trouser is able to run through BMW paint within 600 miles to the extent that it will rust. I am also amazed that BMW UK has missed a trick in keeping a long-standing customer happy. So, I’ll buy a tin of Hammerite, the protective file arrived this morning, and I’ll fix it myself – total cost about a tenner.

I’ll decide about the brake lines in due course.

So what are relatively trivial cosmetic problems have converted me from a strong proponent of BMW products, to one who is telling the world of this unfortunate experience when discussing the GSA. I don’t go out of my way to raise this issue, but this topic must have already come up in conversation 20 times, and with 1000+ views of this posting…

Anyway, I hope this hasn’t strayed into “rant” territory but I think we all agree that £15k should deliver a product which is built to a reasonable standard.

Now off to pay my forum subs! See you around.

Reddivedog

 

[APE]

Shame you've had a bad experience - my 2010 GS with 12k on the clock has had no such issues.

Regarding premium pricing I paid 10.5 k for mine and I don't think I could have bought the equivalent KTM for any less and not sure the competition is really much cheaper.

I think this 'premium pricing' theory is a myth - agree it was true a few years back but no longer. Splashing out on all the bells and whistles and going for the more expensive GSA model is your choice - you're paying extra for the gadgets.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Oh, I’ve also spent a small fortune keeping my M sport car on the road. In short, I’ve been a BMW supporter.

As one-time chair of the BMW Club's Z Register I too expected the motorrad section to be as customer-oriented as the car side, and I too was disappointed.

Tim

 

[Paul S]

I agree R1200GS's are not premium priced products.
Very simular prices compared with Triumph, Honda and Yamaha and cheap compared to Ducati
........and have you seen the residuals on Yamaha's

 

[DrogoNevets]

my o8 has the same issues with paint rub and rear axle tunnel rust

the paint again is cloth of richa adventure trousers

EDIT: worth mentioning I have done 16k miles on it since i bought it in November

 

[ppgser]

I have wondered why the paint and chrome was ok for many years and tens of thousands of miles on a BMW car yet it falls off a BMW bike within days.

Over the years on BMW GS's I have had frames, stands, wheels, engine covers, petrol tank, exhaust parts, sundry nuts and bolts and I am sure other parts I cant remember replaced under warranty.

That's great service from the warranty department but some crap manufacturing!

 

[Engineer]

I have to say that I think that the 1200GG is well made - I have never had any corrosion or paint rubbing issues on either my 2005 1200GS or 2010 1200GS. They have both been ridden through Winter BUT I do wash and polish my bike regularly, so if salt does get on the bike it doesn't stay there long enough to do any significant damage. The 2005 45,000 mile bike looked almost new when I traded it in and my current 20,000 mile 2010 bike is looking good too.

My only sight concern, which I noticed on both bikes is a very slight crazing of the rocker cover paint which can just been seen when the light is at the right angle - but nothing has ever flaked off.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I have wondered why the paint and chrome was ok for many years and tens of thousands of miles on a BMW car yet it falls off a BMW bike within days.

It's a totally different process