New bikes aren’t all bad, just a lot of save the planet bullshit bolted on. Just need to recalibrate brain and accept shit water based paint
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Big pile of dogshit
- Thread starter Pukmeister
- Start date
New bikes aren’t all bad, just a lot of save the planet bullshit bolted on. Just need to recalibrate brain and accept shit water based paint
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The battery on my 1250 failed whilst still in the 3 year warranty, no problem thought I, still in warranty, BMW will sort it.
Unfortunately, they only cover the battery for 2 years, I was three weeks outside this limit. Bowker's, Preston tried to get BMW to do a goodwill replacement, but they were having none of it.
However, I had reported the failing battery to Bowker's before the two years were up when I took the bike in for a service, but they didn't have time to look at it so, a few days later, I booked it in for them to specifically check out the battery. Unfortunately, between the service and the battery appointment, the Service Manager had left and the new Manager had no knowledge of my previous conversations. Anyway, Bowker's decided to cover the cost of replacement despite this, as a result they have kept a customer.
I now carry a Noco GB40 just in case.
Other than the battery problem, the bike has been great and I'm very happy with it.
Unfortunately, they only cover the battery for 2 years, I was three weeks outside this limit. Bowker's, Preston tried to get BMW to do a goodwill replacement, but they were having none of it.
However, I had reported the failing battery to Bowker's before the two years were up when I took the bike in for a service, but they didn't have time to look at it so, a few days later, I booked it in for them to specifically check out the battery. Unfortunately, between the service and the battery appointment, the Service Manager had left and the new Manager had no knowledge of my previous conversations. Anyway, Bowker's decided to cover the cost of replacement despite this, as a result they have kept a customer.
I now carry a Noco GB40 just in case.
Other than the battery problem, the bike has been great and I'm very happy with it.
Thanks for all the generous offers of loan bikes, batteries and other help.
I now have a Motobatt MBYZ16HD on order for £77 including delivery from “Rex’s speed shop” which seems to be the only place I can find online with stock.
It must be the time of year when every man and his dog drags their bike out of the shed only to find a dead battery ?
I now have a Motobatt MBYZ16HD on order for £77 including delivery from “Rex’s speed shop” which seems to be the only place I can find online with stock.
It must be the time of year when every man and his dog drags their bike out of the shed only to find a dead battery ?
They do not officially become a turd until you have owned them for nearly three years , had numerous replacement suspension units, numerous ecu updates , numerous sets of switchgear and at least three GSAP units and numerous associated ecu updates . Oh and be back at the dealership for months whilst they run it around with telemetrics equipment sending data back to the factory .Why oh why did I trade my hex head for a 1250. Currently sat at my local Sainsburys petrol forecourt with a bike that yet again won’t restart, awaiting BMW assist to message me with a time to attend. I’ve only ridden the bloody thing twelve miles home, I wish I hadn’t stopped to get petrol. Got a euro trip planned next month, I have zero faith in this turd.
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Then sir you can officially refer to them as a TURD , your bike is I am afraid just being an inconvenient tw*t.
I got home at 17:30 after getting a jump start from the BMW Assist van around 17:15 ish.
At 19:30 I received a follow on (presumably automated) text message from BMW Assist saying their man is 13 minutes away and I should update my location for them.
I hope they didn’t dispatch some other poor sod to help.
At 19:30 I received a follow on (presumably automated) text message from BMW Assist saying their man is 13 minutes away and I should update my location for them.
I hope they didn’t dispatch some other poor sod to help.
J biker
Registered user
Just traded my 1250gs for a KTM, probably more risk!
But, I have owned three GS and an S1r. Done a lot of miles on them. Zero issues. Completely fault free and started first go every time.
Any bike is a risk. Most issues are battery related.
But, I have owned three GS and an S1r. Done a lot of miles on them. Zero issues. Completely fault free and started first go every time.
Any bike is a risk. Most issues are battery related.
Gotta ask, so why the switch to the Austrian, not keen on the 1300?
Side note, but I’ve been hankering for a Metisse last few years………..especially when drinking. Anyway, I digress 
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I have to say mate that battery didn't sort the problem for me....charged overnight when it arrived stuck on the bike and it struggled to start....sent it back and bought the Yuasa high performance battery and issue has been put to bed for now.
But after reading everyone else's horror stories and from your previous suggestion I now always carry the booster (even bought a bigger top box so I can still get my helmet in there with it).
Its a horrid feeling now every time I use the bike I wonder if it is going to start...I have never had this feeling on any previous bike I have owned.
I’ve been doing some reading, there is a HUGE thread on Advrider about 1250 starting issues, it seems the culprit is likely to be the starter relay, which can cause a 6 volt drop across its contacts when hot, dragging down the starter voltage.
Its fricking £25
Hold on thats a used part!!
Starter relay
Starter relay available from Motorworks, the UKs number 1 for BMW motorcycle parts
Its £61
Starter Relay
Starter Relay available from Motorworks, the UKs number 1 for BMW motorcycle parts
On many BMWs
And its located on the bike for those of us that don't have a clue.
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Should have got your self a jump pack in anticipation for when the 1250 refuses to start .
That's what one of my friends was told by a BMW main dealer when he went to collect his used approved 1250 !
That's what one of my friends was told by a BMW main dealer when he went to collect his used approved 1250 !
Is that what the BMW GS has become with the 1250/1300……unreal
I bought myself a Noco GB40 last year when it failed to restart on the way to the channel tunnel for a tour of Italy.
Unfortunately for me yesterday I had recently put my booster pack in the boot of the wifes car and forgot to return it to the bike.
As Bigcats says, ride with one in the top box wherever you go.
Sadly thats a firm YES !.
My old Hexhead GSA would grumble a bit sometimes on a hot start but never let me down, whereas the 1250 has failed on me four times now with two different batteries.
The BMW recovery guy restarts many of these ( mostly after a short ride to a petrol forecourt like me) and reckons the battery gets depleted on cold start and needs a long ride to recover enough for a second hot start. I had just ridden ten motorway miles/fifteen minutes on my journey which should have been enough IMO.
I hardly ride my 1250, not even a commute work as I can't trust it, luckily I have my old Tmax.
I have lost faith in the BMW brand after enjoying many of them. I don't enjoy this bike at all, the ownership experience is soiled.
My next bike will be Japanese again.
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Before giving up on bike, I’d try harassing Motorrad to replace relay switch or even just buy self from good guys at Motor Works. Lithium battery option, but suspect totally unnecessary
If you do decide on lithium option - JMT works well and’s at least German not Chinese (or worse). I already bought cause original giving up ghost after 6 years or so.
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………….or even just tightening/ greasing relay and battery terminals 
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Having read the Advrider thread fully, all 41 pages of it, a guy reckons the starter positive terminal insulation to its casing is just an O ring when you remove the power leads. He disconnected his battery, undid the starter terminals and added some heatshrink to back up the O ring and his bike seems to be fine ever since. He says you can do this check/mod in-situ so I might take a look myself this weekend with a view to modifying the starter terminal with a fibre washer or similar insulator.
I may also replace the starter relay as some folk have success with this.
Other guys have fitted a new starter motor with an -01 suffix which suggests BMW have modified the starter motor on later bikes, this has also cured their hot start problems.
I'm fitting a 240 CCA AGM battery to improve cranking but a Lithium cell is a future option, thanks for that link provided its noted for future reference.
I may also replace the starter relay as some folk have success with this.
Other guys have fitted a new starter motor with an -01 suffix which suggests BMW have modified the starter motor on later bikes, this has also cured their hot start problems.
I'm fitting a 240 CCA AGM battery to improve cranking but a Lithium cell is a future option, thanks for that link provided its noted for future reference.
Some of you really do seem to be slaves to the BMW brand .
Spend around £20k on a bike then be forced to find room in your luggage for a Noco jump starter as you don’t trust the bike to start when out and about .
Sod that !!! Ditch the blinkers and buy a reliable bike - anything Japanese for instance .
Spend around £20k on a bike then be forced to find room in your luggage for a Noco jump starter as you don’t trust the bike to start when out and about .
Sod that !!! Ditch the blinkers and buy a reliable bike - anything Japanese for instance .
It’s a Pearl Harbour thing - you’d never understand?! lol
Jokes, I stopped buying Japanese years ago cause resale values in toilet! They also fall to bits on some Eastern European roads
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Don't worry Adam- it even happens with diddy 650cc bikes.
.. I just had to buy another Yuasa.
With a full battery showing me 12.74V and a sticker on the battery warning that a voltage of 12.4 V means that the battery must be recharged, I've carried a jumper pack for years now. Best safe than sorry.
.. I just had to buy another Yuasa.With a full battery showing me 12.74V and a sticker on the battery warning that a voltage of 12.4 V means that the battery must be recharged, I've carried a jumper pack for years now. Best safe than sorry.
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