Well I now have a 67 plate GSA Rallye TE and the rust has started to come through the paint on the rear subframe, its in the usual places around the rear footpeg hangers and along the seat rails. So I will be once again be getting a subframe replaced under warranty. You would have thought that by now BMW would have sorted out a hard wearing paint finish for this part of the GS!
No need, we all keep going back for yet another purchase !

The triples tend to suffer from alloy corrosion and bubbling at the front of the engine block, particularly around the headers where it's difficult to clean properly. I've had a few and they've had some minor corrosion issues in the same place with some bubbling of the finish. However, the frame on my Explorer saw 6 winters out, corrosion free and the bike looked almost show-room when I traded it in for my current 2016 GSA. I've worryingly now found corrosion bubbling the finish close to the exhaust headers on that despite lathering it in ACF50. The frame has a few pin-pricks of rust above the rear footpegs where it has been stone-chipped or something. After reading the horror stories on this forum and seeing some of the photos, it will be my last BMW unless they get their act together. Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!
Paint was hanging off my Tiger, however the previous speed triples, not an issue, apart from the perpetual engine management light being on![]()
Got a mate who's Africa twin disintegrated, luggage locks fell apart, It's all a bit of a lottery, and it should not happen, but it's how the dealer and manufacturer deal with it if it does go wrong that really counts. BMW have been great in my experiences.
Any naked engine bike will suffer a degree of corrosion , annoying but an on going problem , I would hazard a guess that any other bike with a fairing would also have the same corrosion issues but as its unseen it is not mentioned.
Pisser tho I must admit , good service again from BM , as other maunfactures would say fcu off.
I have had my fair share of corrosion on my bikes. It seems that Ireland and the UK suffer most in this regard. Probably due to our mild winters allowing us to ride all year.
I have seen so many GSs on the continent, 5 or 6 years old, that are in amazing condition.
BMWs paper thin paint and our climate don’t mix.
Therein may lay much of the problem...that and lack of adequate undercoat, or adequate topcoat thickness. Never had my ktm engine cases corroding although I kept that regularly cleaned and that was ridden year round for 4 or 5 years.
KTM certainly know how to paint a bike properly. BMW should be ashamed of themselves.