Any High Mileage FD's out there?

Not saying I don't think the bike will manage a trip, it is a later model with a mere 6k on the clock.

More interested if these bikes are long term prospects, or if I should use it this year and then buy something else. I really did think these bikes were good for 100k before I found this forum!

I thought a load of owners might have popped up and reported good mileages with no major problems. It seems the consensus is they are pretty unreliable and if anyone does not want an unreliable bike they should buy something else.

To ride the bike is spot on, maybe I should try out the new Super Tenere over the summer :nenau
 
I think some of this will depend upon the age of your bike, most of the 06-08 bikes have had their FPC's and EWS's changed on recall, and the later units seem to be more reliable. If you have a Twin Cam/10 onwards bike then the FD has been redesigned to be like the earlier FD's on Airheads onwards with breathers on the top, drain plugs on the bottom and crownwheel bearings running in the FD lubricant and not sealed bearings which are the ones that seem to fail. Mine '07, 20k, 3 European trips and not a single problem.............ever! If and when my FD gives problems I will modify it like the later ones.
 
yes pleeese do try the yamaha,i really do hope you like it better than the bm,then you can go to tenere.com and bore them with your pointless posts.

from all your worries and questions i wonder some times how you make it through the day.

i wouldnt change my 2010 gsa for anything else,my previous 2010 gsa blew the gearbox up at 1000 miles,dealer gave me a new bike(the g box bike was ex demo).i had no hesitation getting another,no other bike does what the bm does in the way it does it.my dealer is brill and sorts any probs i have quickly and without fuss.i dont worry about anything that hasnt happened yet.despite its internet reputation none of my previous 3 1200 bms have never left me stranded.
im not defending bmw,i like them and i spend my money accordingly:beerjug:

as others have said i really think you have the wrong bike,but its your choice matey.
 
Arkwright2007 said:
I think some of this will depend upon the age of your bike, most of the 06-08 bikes have had their FPC's and EWS's changed on recall, and the later units seem to be more reliable. If you have a Twin Cam/10 onwards bike then the FD has been redesigned to be like the earlier FD's on Airheads onwards with breathers on the top, drain plugs on the bottom and crownwheel bearings running in the FD lubricant and not sealed bearings which are the ones that seem to fail. Mine '07, 20k, 3 European trips and not a single problem.............ever! If and when my FD gives problems I will modify it like the later ones.
Click to expand...

:thumbthanks for this - i remember reading now how the 2010 had some modification s to the FD - you are well informed on the detail and it is reassuring - could never figure out why a basic component of the design bmw have been using for 80 years could be giving so much trouble
 
time it was gone Rasher, ur fd must be fecked by now and with all that corrosion id get rid of it, before the depreciation gets any worse,by the sound of things it will only be fit for breaking in another week or two:eek:
 
There are several reasons for you seeing what you are seeing and the main reason is the sheer number of 1200's BMW are selling. Its not just high numbers for BMW, its high numbers for any make or model.
1. So with that in mind to draw any meaningful figures you would need to know just how many fail against numbers sold. I have no idea what the figures are whether good bad or indifferent I am just trying to explain why you are seeing what you are.
2. The GS/GSA has sold to huge numbers of people that wouldn't normally buy BMW. This alone will probably bring the average mileage down considerably over older models. Original BMW fans all did massive miles, its what they do and always will. The bike isn't a toy or fashion accessory to them. For many of them it is their only form of transport and they go everywhere on it. The newer BMW owners have cars and use the bike as a bit of fun at the weekend. They have come from other marks typically Japanese and some from sports bikes and we all now how many of them get ridden into the ground as opposed of dying of old age. So this is why the not so many high mileage bikes with no problems on the go.
3. This forum is phenomenaly successful and for a bike forum is huge. Its standard practice that people moan a hell of a lot more than they praise so your always going to hear about problems.

So with all that in mind you have a bike that has outsold practically every other model bike from any other manufacturer and a big public soap box to shout from. Its hardly surprising that like any other machine they do fail and yes your going to hear about it in a place like UK GSers.
 
Marki_GSA said:
There are several reasons for you seeing what you are seeing and the main reason is the sheer number of 1200's BMW are selling. Its not just high numbers for BMW, its high numbers for any make or model.
1. So with that in mind to draw any meaningful figures you would need to know just how many fail against numbers sold. I have no idea what the figures are whether good bad or indifferent I am just trying to explain why you are seeing what you are.
2. The GS/GSA has sold to huge numbers of people that wouldn't normally buy BMW. This alone will probably bring the average mileage down considerably over older models. Original BMW fans all did massive miles, its what they do and always will. The bike isn't a toy or fashion accessory to them. For many of them it is their only form of transport and they go everywhere on it. The newer BMW owners have cars and use the bike as a bit of fun at the weekend. They have come from other marks typically Japanese and some from sports bikes and we all now how many of them get ridden into the ground as opposed of dying of old age. So this is why the not so many high mileage bikes with no problems on the go.
3. This forum is phenomenaly successful and for a bike forum is huge. Its standard practice that people moan a hell of a lot more than they praise so your always going to hear about problems.

So with all that in mind you have a bike that has outsold practically every other model bike from any other manufacturer and a big public soap box to shout from. Its hardly surprising that like any other machine they do fail and yes your going to hear about it in a place like UK GSers.
Click to expand...

What he said :thumb2
 
Marki_GSA said:
There are several reasons for you seeing what you are seeing and the main reason is the sheer number of 1200's BMW are selling. Its not just high numbers for BMW, its high numbers for any make or model.
1. So with that in mind to draw any meaningful figures you would need to know just how many fail against numbers sold. I have no idea what the figures are whether good bad or indifferent I am just trying to explain why you are seeing what you are.
2. The GS/GSA has sold to huge numbers of people that wouldn't normally buy BMW. This alone will probably bring the average mileage down considerably over older models. Original BMW fans all did massive miles, its what they do and always will. The bike isn't a toy or fashion accessory to them. For many of them it is their only form of transport and they go everywhere on it. The newer BMW owners have cars and use the bike as a bit of fun at the weekend. They have come from other marks typically Japanese and some from sports bikes and we all now how many of them get ridden into the ground as opposed of dying of old age. So this is why the not so many high mileage bikes with no problems on the go.
3. This forum is phenomenaly successful and for a bike forum is huge. Its standard practice that people moan a hell of a lot more than they praise so your always going to hear about problems.

So with all that in mind you have a bike that has outsold practically every other model bike from any other manufacturer and a big public soap box to shout from. Its hardly surprising that like any other machine they do fail and yes your going to hear about it in a place like UK GSers.
Click to expand...

+1:thumb

FP.
 
Arkwright2007 said:
I think some of this will depend upon the age of your bike, most of the 06-08 bikes have had their FPC's and EWS's changed on recall,
Click to expand...

Think it's only right to point out BMW never did a recall for the above, they just waited for them to go wrong.
 
Cheers Marki, a sensible reply :thumb2

Thing is around here so many people slag the bike off, or slag of those who slag the bike off - is it something like 387 FPC failures on one topic?

If you ask if generally most people have not had failures you get told to f*** off and buy something else. What a great forum!
 
21.000Km on mine (R1200GS 5/09), on 20.000Km service, dealer changed the outer seal under warranty beacause of very little leak.

So far no problems.
 
Arkwright2007 said:
If you have a Twin Cam/10 onwards bike then the FD has been redesigned to be like the earlier FD's on Airheads onwards with breathers on the top, drain plugs on the bottom and crownwheel bearings running in the FD lubricant and not sealed bearings which are the ones that seem to fail. Mine '07, 20k, 3 European trips and not a single problem.............ever! If and when my FD gives problems I will modify it like the later ones.
Click to expand...

Only the large crownwheel bearing was ever sealed in the FD, all the others have always run in FD oil and in my experience it's the pinion bearings that fail. I hope the new large magnet in the drain plug will collect most of the crud and stop it circulating but I can't see the breather doing anything other than possibly reducing wear on the oil seals.

It'll be intersting to discover if anything more fundamental has been done in the redesign.

It's important to reiterate that not all FD's are doomed to fail at low milages, most tossers will sell their bikes after thousands of happy miles well before any wear becomes evident and remain totally oblivious to the existence of this issue. This forum is great but if you are a worrier then only reading about problems and forgetting the thousands of trouble free miles already under your belt could put you off even taking the bike out of the garage.
 
Wapping said:
It's an EU requirement.
Click to expand...

Why do I need an extended warranty on my GSA when the other 33 bikes I owned never had one, I never even thought about it, is it because now I have bought myself an inferior less reliable motorcycle. :blast
Could understand if it was an EU requirement. :D:D

Best regards Stetch :)
 
Mines on 52k and no major problems so far.....

However whilst preparing for a trip into Africa last year I got a bit nervous having read so many post HERE about 1200 failures, I discussed these concerns with Motoscot of this parish (who fettles my bike) his advice........
stop reading posts on ukgser about 1200 problems, and sure enough the bike cracked off another 5k without problem ( not quite true I blew a headlight bulb.:blast
 
Give it some stick man.

So you will take the risk of getting hurt by riding it,but are worried about it keaving you stranded by a breakdown? it's an adventure bike,enjoy the adventure!

My 05 got 60k on original drive,had it from new abuse it regular,had a bit of play in the pinion drive for last
30k or so,
I have thought about changing to a twin cam later bike loads of times but until they wheelie of the throttle in 2nd gear:eek: Im sticking with old faithful and gona just fix it when it gos wrong:thumb2
 
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