Advise on a 2005 non-ABS R1200GS

[Red 5]

Hello, I’m new to the site and this is my first post. I’m seriously considering the purchase of a 2005 non-ABS R1200GS with 31,000 km. It seems like a great deal, private sale, a full set of BMW luggage, tank bag, and wire wheels. I’ve looked around a bit and leaned a lot from your site (thank you!), just wondering if you have any further suggestions on what I should be looking out for. What makes a good R1200 and when should I walk away? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

 

[blackbird]

Advice i recived from two BMW main dealers before i ordered my bike was if you have never had ABS dont bother and at that time one of the dealers had a 1200 ABS in the workshop with a failed ABS pump and the bill was over £1000 if you go for this 05 bike it will be out of warranty and it will be one less thing to worry about

 

[Engineer]

Hello, I’m new to the site and this is my first post. I’m seriously considering the purchase of a 2005 non-ABS R1200GS with 31,000 km. It seems like a great deal, private sale, a full set of BMW luggage, tank bag, and wire wheels. I’ve looked around a bit and leaned a lot from your site (thank you!), just wondering if you have any further suggestions on what I should be looking out for. What makes a good R1200 and when should I walk away? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

One thing that you MUST check for is the tell-tale oily line at the engine/gearbox join on the right hand side. If there is a dark, dusty,oily line running down the join then you may have leaking gearbox/engine shaft seals. Even on an out of warranty bike BMW may repair this f.o.c. as it is a common well known issue on all years from 2004 to the present.

 

[Navy Boy]

I would agree about not having the ABS giving you one less thing to worry about. My late 2004 model also had to have a new instrument panel fitted however I've not heard of many others having the same snag.

 

[Red 5]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I'll try and keep them in mind and not get caught up in all the excitement.

 

[patzx12]

I have an 05 Non ABS and would recomend it.
It makes the bike much easier to work on and if you were anyway handy and had to pull the gearbox for any reason it is an easy job.
Brake performance is exelent.
The GS is very stable on the brakes anyway just like any other bike ABS on not gentle smooth use of the brakes on damp on bad surfaces does the job.
I was telling a service manager at a unnamed BMW dealership that I planned a long trip to the far reaches of Europe and he told me: Quote{ if you are going on a trip like that take a non ABS BMW}

 

[jonnie comet]

I have an 05 Non ABS and would recomend it.
It makes the bike much easier to work on and if you were anyway handy and had to pull the gearbox for any reason it is an easy job.
Brake performance is exelent.
The GS is very stable on the brakes anyway just like any other bike ABS on not gentle smooth use of the brakes on damp on bad surfaces does the job.
I was telling a service manager at a unnamed BMW dealership that I planned a long trip to the far reaches of Europe and he told me: Quote{ if you are going on a trip like that take a non ABS BMW}

Me...2006 non ABS 1200 bought from new.....previously had an 1150 with ABS. I didn't like it, so didn't buy it again.

FWIW....Completely agree with all the above......

 

[Phil Clarke]

Same year and spec as mine - apart from the luggage anyway
Top bike and nice simple conventional brakes with lots of power and feel - no linked brakes no leccy servo, no worries.

Now a load of people will be on to tell you how many times ABS has saved their lives and that it is absolutely essential....

 

[Dave Barrett]

Me...2006 non ABS 1200 bought from new.....previously had an 1150 with ABS. I didn't like it, so didn't buy it again.

Funnily enough, exactly the same here, although I had 2 1150's with ABS - one non-servo and one with servo. Experiences with the latter made me buy a non-ABS bike.

 

[PLODER]

if the ABS works once and keeps you upright its worth every penny

 

[Summer]

Two 1150gs's in our household, one with ABS and the other without, if riding the one with I am a lot more confident if I have approached a corner a tad too fast