Are they as unreliable as the rumours suggest?

Arfamow

Arfamow

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Hi,
I'm so new to the GS scene I haven't even got one yet - but I'm very close to taking the plunge. My only real concern is the multitude of stories around final drive and shock/ESA failures - are these blown out of proportion or is there really a risk of continuing big expense in keeping the bike on the road. My budget says a 2008/09 GSA with <15000 miles. Am I likely to be better off with a 2010/11 bike with 30k on the clock? I REALLY want a GS, but I intend to commute 52 weeks a year on it so I don't intend to have it sat in the garage while I save up for expensive repairs. And before anyone says 'buy one without ESA' you're right, that is an option and makes sense, but as for the final drive issues I'm not sure BMW list a GS1200 without a rear diff!!
 
My answer would be a general No, they are not as unreliable as you might have read.

There are without doubt some issues but these have mainly been rectified during services (updates) and recalls.

The FD failure was predominantly on older bikes 2006-2008
similarly
EPC failures (ignition block)
Fuel pump controllers failure

I was fortunate enough to accompany 11 tossers on a tour across the USA West to East.
9 1200's and 2 1150's, we did aprox 6000 miles each (do the maths)
the only serious failing was a rear wheel bearing on an 1150 :aidan
BUT we had 2 battery failures on 2007 1200's.

I would look for a good service history to be comforted :comfort that any issues\recalls have been sorted by the dealer.

Hope my twopenneth helps :rob
 
Yes they are likely to fall apart at any time, electrics will pack in, the rear diff will fall apart, the shocks are a joke.
However I would be happy to swap for a KTM640 adventure, out of the goodness of heart of course, and as a special favour I wont even ask you to put any money towards the swap.
 
bowser said:
Yes they are likely to fall apart at any time, electrics will pack in, the rear diff will fall apart, the shocks are a joke.
However I would be happy to swap for a KTM640 adventure, out of the goodness of heart of course, and as a special favour I wont even ask you to put any money towards the swap.
Click to expand...

Why the hell did i just read that in a Nigerian accent? :confused: :blast :eek
 
Only had mine for 13 months but no issues found so far. There was a problem with the head gasket and tiny gearbox leak but these were build problems from new. I asked the dealer on my second service about the FD and he said, just get it checked at the service intervals and you can catch it early and save some grief at least.

But I did the same as you and checked out the FD problems before I bought and it is mostly a problem with the older versions.

However, I love the bike so will pay for these rare issues if they arise. I've forked out for extended warranty anyway.
 
For every 10 tales of woe, there are hundreds if not thousands of fault free bikes.:rob As said already, most issues are on the earlier 1200's. Yes, some TC owners have had the odd issue, but not anywhere near as many as you'd think.

Do it, you won't regret it.:beerjug:
 
They're crap.
That's why I kept mine for 8 years and 64, 500 miles and counting..

:beerjug:
 
yeah but....

Mine is an 04 in yellow (the best colour!!!!) with 38k on it, and it hasnt so much as coughed. Mind you it did need brake discs at the front as they were slightly warped but thats it.Mine has the servo brakes too, and they work perfectly.
 
Before I traded it in, my '08 GS had done 45,000 from new in a lot of different weather conditions and down the odd fire trail.

Only failure not attributable to a 4 legged impact was a lambda sensor

FPC was original
Final drive was original and had never needed seal replacement
Antenna Ring was original
Fuel strip sensor worked (but could only be used a a guide as it was never linear)
Battery was original

There was a small amount of corrosion in places on frame and stands
 
I commute and have had no reliability issues apart from a dodgy FPC. I'd go for a clean higher mileage 08/09...poss earlier year...and set aside some money to get a Hilltop remap and Wilbers suspension from Revs Racing...that'll cost you £1,700 (assuming ESA) but the resulting bike will be magnificent. I saw a nice non ESA 07 model go for £4,820 last week...helluva bike for the price incl mods.

The 1200GS is a great bike to commute on...although it has to be said I don't have too many City roads on my trip. I'd really recommend the Adventure screen+ winglets for winter.

Just my 2p worth.
 
A few small things on my '08 between 6k (when I bought it) and 20k (When I sold it) but at BMW prices it was over £1500 worth of parts and labour.

Loved the bike to ride, but chose a Super Tenere instead of the new GS despite preferring the GS.

Regardless of "most" bikes being OK they do have a lot of common faults, did not see why I should carry FPC's and EWS parts around and either pay to extend the warranty each year (or run the risk of a huge FD bill) when there is no need to do this with Jap bikes.

Servicing costs are much higher than you may imagine on a GS, don't be fooled by the aircooled twin, services are £250 - £500 a pop!
 
bowser said:
Yes they are likely to fall apart at any time, electrics will pack in, the rear diff will fall apart, the shocks are a joke.
However I would be happy to swap for a KTM640 adventure, out of the goodness of heart of course, and as a special favour I wont even ask you to put any money towards the swap.
Click to expand...

That's very kind of - let me think about it for a while.

Right, I've thought about it.....NO! But thanks for trying to help!!!!!!:)
 
Someone told me that if I was interested in one not to test drive it as that might put me off, get one and you will soon get used to it. I test rode two 1200GS's and then bought a F800GS never regretted it. But I'm not going intercontinental or global, about 6000 miles a year mainly in Wiltshire/Hampshire and only on the roads.

On the other hand they can't be all bad, just look how many there are on the road and the dealers show rooms are full of them as they keep selling.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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