build quality

[mwalters]

been looking to buy a1150adv seen a few & the build quality looks doesn't look that good a lot of corrosion on the ones i've seen my 94 1100gs is better nic do i keep the 1100 or do i go to the orange side?

 

[jonnie comet]

I like my 1150, but the 1100 is a better built 'bike IMHO......I didn't know this when I bought the 1150, and my mate was selling an 1100 that was a minter. I now wish that I had bought that 'bike......would also have saved three grand......

I would keep the 1100

 

[dirtydog]

Build quality is SHITE on 1150!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Build quality is SHITE on 1150!

Possibly Sh1ter on the 1200GS as well

 

[mwalters]

so what u sre telling me is they're shite had a test ride on a ktm adv well impressed do'nt know about carrying a passenger

 

[dirtydog]

I love my ADV, it handles well, great engine, great 2 up but it's still has a shite finish.

Still sooner have it than a KTM though

 

[daj]

The GS build quality v's KTM's awful 'back up service' and reliability...it's a tough one. Don't get me wrong, I like KTM, (I have a 640SM at the moment) they are fantastic fun. I also appreciate my GS. I have to sell one bike in the spring and I know which it's going to be...OK it'll cost me a small fortune AFC50 and WD40, but hey-ho. Hopefully I'll spend less time waiting around for the RAC

 

[Schwarz Baron]

I'd like to know what you boys are doing with these bikes if their build quality is shite. I've had 2 GS's so far 1100, and 1150, waiting on my 3rd. Nothing wrong with the build quality of either, both used in all sorts of conditions, a quick wash and wipe down, (Is this the key?) there wasn't a pick of a difference between the quality and finish of either. Slight corrosion on the front forks of the Adv, but hey, I new were it had been and wasn't surprised. No other bike I have owned has stood up to such abuse, and mileage. My Adv was a peach and I loved it, even just for its sheer road presence. I can't wait to get my hands on the 12Adv, and I am guessing it will be no different to the others. No I'm not sponsored by BWM. Just go for it my friend, only you can be the judge of the build quality question. The KTM I know is a super machine, both in looks and performance, but I would be asking questions about after sales and parts back -up. On that question, I feel that no-one comes close to the German mark for that....Good Luck whatever your decision.... P.S. have a look at how many answered your request with a negative towards the question, compared with the numbers in overall membership on this forum alone. That should be enough to give you a push in the right direction....

 

[Warthog]

Admittedly, I am relatively new to Beemer ownership as this is my first GS (1150), but I must confess, I don't see what the problem is regarding buikd quality. What exactly is supposed to be so bad about these bikes? The quality is as good as on any Honda I've owned, if not better, as weight saving is obviously not a major consideration for BMW. Only the design of the Beemer do I find quirky (By this I mean indicator switch system: very silly). Plastics don't seem flimsy, the paintwork doesn't seem to chip. Plastic lugs are chunky. Indicators are sturdy as are wing mirrors. My only complaint is the small amount of blistering of paint on the exhaust ports on the cylinders, but as they are so exposed, I'm not that surprised.

So what is so bad: Should I be expecting something?

 

[Dellis]

I've got two GSs a 2001 which has some corrosion on the fork brace but other than that there's nothing and my 2003 which has been used over winter and plastered in road salt shows no signs of the abuse. I do tend to wash them off every couple of weeks but don't always immediately after a salty ride.

I've not owned a jap bike for a quite a few years the last three were a '92 FZR1000 Exup which needed constant attention to keep it in reasonable nick, a '91 VFR750 that stood the test of time well and an '89 GPZ900 which, like the Yam, started to fester at the first sight of salt. The GPZ and VFR were used as my sole form of transport so they saw all weathers.

The european bikes I've owned before and after my brief spell on jap machinery have generally been much better finished with higher quality paint and fastners. The two GSs have been at the better end of the spectrum.

As usual all IMHO

Dave

 

[dirtydog]

I'll tell you what the problem is; under 8K on the clock and I'm on my second gearbox and second pair of front discs and rest of it aint looking to good either!

So, let's hear it from anybody on here who does over 15k a year, ride all the year round, in any weather and off road and who still thinks the build quality on these bikes is acceptable let alone good!

BTW; the bike gets washed a couple of times a week and is treated with 365 and GT85

 

[Schwarz Baron]

I'll tell you what the problem is; under 8K on the clock and I'm on my second gearbox and second pair of front discs and rest of it aint looking to good either!

So, let's hear it from anybody on here who does over 15k a year, ride all the year round, in any weather and off road and who still thinks the build quality on these bikes is acceptable let alone good!

BTW; the bike gets washed a couple of times a week and is treated with 365 and GT85[/QUOTE


Dirty Dog.

My case has already been stated, you obviously have a friday bike. I sympathise greatly, but there are, I believe over 4,ooo members on this forum, over 90% of which do not seem to have major problems with build quality. There will always be one, or two that are exceptions to the rule. You my friend are obviously one of them, but I hope you get it sorted to your satisfaction,

 

[dirtydog]

I'll tell you what the problem is; under 8K on the clock and I'm on my second gearbox and second pair of front discs and rest of it aint looking to good either!

So, let's hear it from anybody on here who does over 15k a year, ride all the year round, in any weather and off road and who still thinks the build quality on these bikes is acceptable let alone good!

BTW; the bike gets washed a couple of times a week and is treated with 365 and GT85[/QUOTE


Dirty Dog.

My case has already been stated, you obviously have a friday bike. I sympathise greatly, but there are, I believe over 4,ooo members on this forum, over 90% of which do not seem to have major problems with build quality. There will always be one, or two that are exceptions to the rule. You my friend are obviously one of them, but I hope you get it sorted to your satisfaction,

Sorry I disagree, most people need to be a little more honest and admit that these bikes are not well built. I'm talking about the 1150 and the 1200, the older bikes I've seen do seem to hold up better. It's hard to swallow that these 'expensive' bikes are not all they're cracked up to be. As I've said before, these bikes have cult status and we all know what sort of vehicles lie within these realms.......piles of shite

It's not that I think I have a Friday bike, in fact some of the bikes I've seen around the same age are no better or worse than mine. Speak to anybody who's worked for BM long enough and I'm sure if they're honest they'll admit to you how they've seen the quality of their machines slowly spiral down. I guess it must be hard for them to keep up with the demand and keep their prices competitive ,so quality does inevitably suffer.....FACT!

 

[Paul Wakefield]

The ones I've had have apparently been well built. The fuel pump went on the 1200GS but I put that down to a teething problem (it was one of the very first) due to a poor seal design which I believe is now sorted.

Finish OTOH was not so good but not poor either. I had the usual fork brace issue on the 1150 and there were one or two other bits of corrosion after 4 years (in all weathers mind you). The 1200GS finish seemed OK though I only had it for 12k miles/15 months; I know a number have had corrosion on the front engine cover but mine was fine. So far the 1200RT is fine but of course this is only its first Winter and only 8k miles but I'm quite hopeful.

Speaking to Phil at NOG yesterady; he believes BM have been listening to the finish complaints and hopes the latest production will be much better. This seems to tally with Dutchman's thread on the improved finish on new models.

Dirty Dog, if you've been through 2 gearboxes and 2 sets of discs in 8k miles, you DO have a Friday bike. That is not the norm and clearly not acceptable.

Paul

 

[dirtydog]

Well, I guess at the end of the warranty everything will have been changed and I'll have the equivalent of a new bike ....pile'o'shite!

I guess I'm just to 'ard' for it

 

[mwalters]

I'm with u all the way on this one dirtydog are they overpriced & overated.But think i'll keep my old 94 better built 1100 for a while
mike

 

[BBB61]

Back in December 1996, I bought a year old R1100GS. It came with the panniers and heated grips and cost me £7600. A new one was retailing at £9285 on the road, without the panniers and heated grips. Also on offer was a new one in Kalahari (the murky green/yellow) at £8500. Compare those prices with the cost of a new 1200GS at £8715 without ABS ( £9510 with). I guess something has had to give when the latest version is only £225 more expensive than its predecessor 9 years later.

 

[dirtydog]

Back in December 1996, I bought a year old R1100GS. It came with the panniers and heated grips and cost me £7600. A new one was retailing at £9285 on the road, without the panniers and heated grips. Also on offer was a new one in Kalahari (the murky green/yellow) at £8500. Compare those prices with the cost of a new 1200GS at £8715 without ABS ( £9510 with). I guess something has had to give when the latest version is only £225 more expensive than its predecessor 9 years later.

Exactly Bob