OK I a new owner and bought the bike thinking BMW well this will never go wrong! I have owned it but a week and I would say I have had more angst in that week than I have had in all of my previous bike owning history which goes back to 1977. I will say all my other bikes were /are Japanese. I think that the problem for me stems from the fact that all the problems/ faults I have read of so far over this past few days result in mega cost repairs and, of course, I bought the bike without researching possible faults. Do you stop worrying eventually and just enjoy the bike. I must say I have absolutely loved the riding experience when I had it out but I have had problems on two of the three times I went out! Bikes like BMW's with only 27km on the clock, costing a load of money,should not really be causing owner to be worried that something is about to happen. Or have I got the wrong end of the stick and the problems are not as common as searching the internet might lead you to think?
BMW ownership does it make you worry ?
- Thread starter jwpzx9r
- Start date
st247
Registered user
Calling Rasher, Rasher to the 1200 forum please 
ironandsteel
Registered user
Don't worry about it - all forums show up loads of faults and hardly ever show the vast majority of satisfied customers with no problems........
I've only ever had one breakdown in three modern BM's (and that was when I stupidly ran out of fuel!).
I've only ever had one breakdown in three modern BM's (and that was when I stupidly ran out of fuel!).
leftofcentre
Registered user
Stonker
Registered user
It's certainly not something that I ever intend to endure again
The problems are a slippng clutch and then an ABS warning, I have been thinking about the ABS warning could it have been my fault? I was on a incline in a carpark when I started the bike. I can't remember but I may have had the brake non when I turned on the ignition would that cause the problem?? I would add I did stop the bike a couple of time to try and clear the problem but it did persist. I bought it from a dealership who were selling it for a customer so its really kind of private, but the dealer has asked me to take the bike back to him about the clutch slip and the ABS problem was resolved... don't know what the reason was.
Ironandsteel
Thats what I want to hear not duff FD's and knackerd ABS pumps, but going onto a lot of the forums thats what you read!
Ironandsteel
Thats what I want to hear
not duff FD's and knackerd ABS pumps, but going onto a lot of the forums thats what you read!
Mr K
Registered user
Bought me current 1200GS brand spankers in 2004.
7 years later and circa 60,000 miles I am not worrying. Best bike I ever rode and even if I had unlimited wedge...would probably go for the latest version.
I like the boxer motor.
I like the "witchcraft" front suspension combined with ABS.
I like shaft drive.
I like made to measure luggage.
............and I quite like these eeejits in here.
7 years later and circa 60,000 miles I am not worrying. Best bike I ever rode and even if I had unlimited wedge...would probably go for the latest version.
I like the boxer motor.
I like the "witchcraft" front suspension combined with ABS.
I like shaft drive.
I like made to measure luggage.
............and I quite like these eeejits in here.
Country Bumpkin
Registered user
OMG
where are moderators/invigilators/censors/brown shirts when you need them. surely this does not qualify as a technical question. this should be moved to the newbie/indecisive/disappointed section - (do we have one of those, if not, why not).
thats me firmly on the band wagon following on from the shambolic episode that was the 'Basket of washing dropped' fiasco and the subsequent lambasting that generated, would anyone care to join me. be warned though the air is thinner up here on the moral high ground.
CB
where are moderators/invigilators/censors/brown shirts when you need them. surely this does not qualify as a technical question. this should be moved to the newbie/indecisive/disappointed section - (do we have one of those, if not, why not).
thats me firmly on the band wagon following on from the shambolic episode that was the 'Basket of washing dropped' fiasco and the subsequent lambasting that generated, would anyone care to join me. be warned though the air is thinner up here on the moral high ground.
CB
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Bought me current 1200GS brand spankers in 2004.
7 years later and circa 60,000 miles I am not worrying. Best bike I ever rode and even if I had unlimited wedge...would probably go for the latest version.
I like the boxer motor.
I like the "witchcraft" front suspension combined with ABS.
I like shaft drive.
I like made to measure luggage.
............and I quite like these eeejits in here.
That's what I like to hear!
The bike I have is a 2005 and I think 27000km low mileage bought it from the main BMW dealer, and believe me these bikes really hold thier value in France! But nearly every GS forum I have visited is like a horror story site, I must say had I visited these sites before hand its very doubtful that I would have bought the bike 
where are moderators/invigilators/censors/brown shirts when you need them. surely this does not qualify as a technical question. this should be moved to the newbie/indecisive/disappointed section - (do we have one of those, if not, why not).
thats me firmly on the band wagon following on from the shambolic episode that was the 'Basket of washing dropped' fiasco and the subsequent lambasting that generated, would anyone care to join me. be warned though the air is thinner up here on the moral high ground.
CB
Oopps did not realise this was tech only sorry
Mr K
Registered user
That's what I like to hear!
Had problems: ABS pump failed at 90 miles, replaced under warranty.
On me 3rd FPC, but for me the riding experience outweighs the niggles.
Dellis
Registered user
Ride it and enjoy. I've done 80,000 plus miles on my two 1200's and enjoyed the experience, prior to that I had two 1150's 
I've just sold my last 1200 and have bought a KTM for a change as much as anything.
Dave
I've just sold my last 1200 and have bought a KTM for a change as much as anything. Dave
MGJ
Registered user
+ 1 on that
No worries
Last R1200 GS 30000 no issues at all - my 2010 KTM 990 2000 miles and 2 warrentee issues - My new BMW leaves me happy.
Last R1200 GS 30000 no issues at all - my 2010 KTM 990 2000 miles and 2 warrentee issues - My new BMW leaves me happy.
sven
Registered user
Apart from a headlamp bulb my GS had been faultless for 11100 miles.
Just had it MOT'd and serviced as the weathers picked up, taken it for a thrash this weekend and the clutch is slipping when cold. Found some oil misting at the gearbox joint, so it looks like the usual oil seal failure
Hopefully Allan Jefferies will be able to secure some goodwill contribution from BMW as failure at such a low mileage is, quite frankly, appalling
Might just part ex it for a Twincam, although I did quite fancy a Triumph Explorer
Just had it MOT'd and serviced as the weathers picked up, taken it for a thrash this weekend and the clutch is slipping when cold. Found some oil misting at the gearbox joint, so it looks like the usual oil seal failure
Hopefully Allan Jefferies will be able to secure some goodwill contribution from BMW as failure at such a low mileage is, quite frankly, appalling
Might just part ex it for a Twincam, although I did quite fancy a Triumph Explorer
Country Bumpkin
Registered user
Oopps did not realise this was tech only sorry
i personally dont mind a jot but i do get the impression there are those that see posting threads in the technical section that technically arent technical as terribly annoying and a bally waste of time dont you know.
CB
BMW ownership doesn't bother me in the slightest, but some BMW owners do rather worry me
I think that is personal, I am concerned that the bikes are not as good as the average Jap bike and generally repairs are very expensive.
I never worried when riding Jap bikes, but I am worried my 4 year old GS with 15k won't be up to a holiday, and last year it suffered several faults - none stopped it, but it does not give me much confidence (and one of the faults has now re-occured)
When local I just ride it, I don't think it will kill me, maybe lose me a days wage or ruin a day out, but when setting of on tour I wish I was on a Jap bike.
A real shame as it is such a great allrounder and if it were not for BMW's corner cutting I think they would be the best bike on the market.
Ride it and enjoy it for now, that's what I do, but I doubt I would ever buy another BMW
why
why ya still got it then . imho these bikes are fantastic and i reckon a lot of issues with them are down to poor maintenance . simple things like making sure the fuel controller is not full of water when you put the bike away . yea i know it shouldnt be where it is but it is so a bit of cloth and soak the water out of it job done . how many people jet wash the shit outta the bike blasting water past seals etc the fd being the main one . if i had a bike i wouldnt go on a trip with through fear of it breaking then id get rid of it . as we all know theres thousands of these bikes out there with no issues and theres plenty of jap bikes with issues . hayabusa and b king clutch basket bolts coming loose and grinding through the casing niceee . regulators on nearly all suzukis being replaced cos some are bursting into flames niceee . metal shavings in the vfr1200 honda engines the list goes on but il stop there cos me dinners on the table . just ride it there great bikes
why ya still got it then . imho these bikes are fantastic and i reckon a lot of issues with them are down to poor maintenance . simple things like making sure the fuel controller is not full of water when you put the bike away . yea i know it shouldnt be where it is but it is so a bit of cloth and soak the water out of it job done . how many people jet wash the shit outta the bike blasting water past seals etc the fd being the main one . if i had a bike i wouldnt go on a trip with through fear of it breaking then id get rid of it . as we all know theres thousands of these bikes out there with no issues and theres plenty of jap bikes with issues . hayabusa and b king clutch basket bolts coming loose and grinding through the casing niceee . regulators on nearly all suzukis being replaced cos some are bursting into flames niceee . metal shavings in the vfr1200 honda engines the list goes on but il stop there cos me dinners on the table . just ride it there great bikes
mossop
Registered user
i too was like you , i bought an 09 gsa just beforexmas then joined this forum , 5 mins later i thought i'd made the worst buy of my life , reading all the doom and gloom on this forum nearly had me selling it straight away. only problem i've had is the fd bearing starting to go but that was replaced under warranty , no worse fault than the cush drive / wheel bearing replaced on my vstrom , injection fault on my triumph rs sprint , severe electrical problems on my fjr , if it breaks sort it they are no less reliable than jap bikes
