Can you home service a 1200GS?

[955matt]

Hi,

my friend is looking at getting a 1200 GS and has been told by the bike shop selling it that they cant service it as it needs special tools.

Is this right or is it basicaly a newer version of my 1150 to service?

Many Thanks Matt

 

[Slowdown]

I guess Torx bits are 'special' tools....

You may want a GS911: http://www.hex.co.za/gs911/index.html to see the error codes etc, but you're getting serious if you're doing more than this: http://www.r1200gs.info/howto/

I guess it all depends on how good your mate is a spannering

 

[GerryC]

Did the 40,000 kilometer service myself - piece of cake? Oh yes please but my hands are dirty, I'm servicing my bike you see.
Seriously its seriously easy except for bleeding the brakes - that's a dealer job...but some clever bod may be along with a recipe for that.
Some one left the cake out in the rain, I don't think that I can take it cause it took so long to bake it and I'll never find that recipe again .........WTF thank Friday its

 

[Jon P]

The dealers have always said that the bikes should not be serviced at home! I remember being very clearly told that when I bought my first 800GS in 1990..........it needs very special tools sonny - you can't do it in your shed.

Sure, there maybe a couple of jobs best left to a dealer - though I remember that Clymer said you can't bleed the brakes on ABS equipped K bikes without a special dealer tool - simply not true.

Then of course came the fuel injected boxers with extra valves.........easy. I keep thinking about getting one of those new GS911 scanners but figure that if I don't know about any faults then I won't worry about them. Of course, if I do notice something amiss then I might think about spending the money on the thing ar spend the money at the dealer.

I reckon that if you are capable to change the oil in a car then you can do the routine work on an air cooled twin cylinder motorbike. I know that valve adjustment might worry some folk but it really is a straight forward procedure an certainly easier than changing shims.

 

[RickG]

It's in BM's interest to make servicing a mysterious and apparently dangerous process for the home mechanic, it's a big earner for them as there's no way the profit from a few bike sales will keep the shiny showrooms open.

If you've regularly serviced your own bikes you'll realise what a doddle the GS is in comparison with anything enclosed in acres of plastic and running shims instead of simple locknuts to set the valve clearances.

'But it's got two computers' the salesman says. Yeah well they either work or they don't and while they do they require no intervention. Yes there are software upgrades, but if it aint broke...

I've just flushed and bled the brake fluid using info' from the avdrider site for the 1150..absolute doddle. Yes it's safety critical but I was careful and after doing the job I didn't test the brakes by trying to stop from 100mph into a hairpin.

It's mostly a combination of common sense and the use of collective wisdom from this and other web pages in the face of ever more complicated proceedures built into the service routines by BMW that rely increasingly on diagnostic computing, most of which is designed to speed up the job for their guys

Bottom line is it's easy to service most things on the GS, but stay in your comfort zone and take care, just like everyone that has ever serviced their own vehicles always has, or always should.

 

[BigAlMacMac]

My dad had a problem on his 1200 GS, The ABS flashed and said take to a dealer. Our friend, a very serious car spanner, came over and with help from the advrider website completely bled the abs and fixed the problem, having never seen a GS before.

I guess its down to your skills and competence not just having special tools. I could not have done what he did with all the tools in the world.

Having said that. not sure he would want to tackle creating a website or even a decent sized spreadsheet.

Its down to your skills and competence.

FWIW: my 1200 goes to BMW for a service but I do my KTM myself

 

[shugie]

At the end of the warranty period, I intend to do at least some of the more basic servicing myself. Sure there are special tools for BMW, but most of them just make a job easier and faster, rather than possible.

Exceptions might be brake bleeding on ABS bikes, but Jim VonBadens video shows that this can be done using a special funnel that screws into the top of the ABS unit. Since I don't have one, next time the fluid needs changing I'll probably ask NOG to do it for me, then they can check the computer as well, this being another exception.

But oil changes, brake pads, valve settings, alternator belt, throttle balancing, and general checking and fettling are all things I did on the 1150 and will do on the 1200 as well, it's really not that different.

 

[Jon P]

It's in BM's interest to make servicing a mysterious and apparently dangerous process for the home mechanic, it's a big earner for them as there's no way the profit from a few bike sales will keep the shiny showrooms open.

If you've regularly serviced your own bikes you'll realise what a doddle the GS is in comparison with anything enclosed in acres of plastic and running shims instead of simple locknuts to set the valve clearances.

'But it's got two computers' the salesman says. Yeah well they either work or they don't and while they do they require no intervention. Yes there are software upgrades, but if it aint broke...

I've just flushed and bled the brake fluid using info' from the avdrider site for the 1150..absolute doddle. Yes it's safety critical but I was careful and after doing the job I didn't test the brakes by trying to stop from 100mph into a hairpin.

It's mostly a combination of common sense and the use of collective wisdom from this and other web pages in the face of ever more complicated proceedures built into the service routines by BMW that rely increasingly on diagnostic computing, most of which is designed to speed up the job for their guys

Bottom line is it's easy to service most things on the GS, but stay in your comfort zone and take care, just like everyone that has ever serviced their own vehicles always has, or always should.

Well Said!

 

[955matt]

Thanks guys thought the dealer was talking rubbish,


Does £5999 sound about right for a 2005 with 17k on the clock,standard GS with heated grips but no ABS good clean condition no extras.

Thanks Matt

 

[GS TRV]

I'd rather not bother

 

[araspitfire]

I have everything I need here to do a complete service and tyre change/ballance... Including oil and filters...

I only need the extended funnel in Jim's video to do my own brake system bleed... I'll likely make one myself out of a bolt??, a funnel and some hot-glue/epoxy...

But in the annual service schedule there is some funky thing that involves one of the computers and the brakes... not sure what that is, but I'm sure my GS911 won't do it...??? Anyone?

Al...

 

[Steve E]

I service my 1200gs myself. Its a doddle. I do take the bike to my dealer to have the 'diagnostics' and ABS done though. My dealer even stamps the service record for me.(I do buy all my parts, except oil from them).

Steve

 

[littleredrooster]

Thanks guys thought the dealer was talking rubbish,


Does £5999 sound about right for a 2005 with 17k on the clock,standard GS with heated grips but no ABS good clean condition no extras.

Thanks Matt

Sounds cheap to me! I almost got that much for my 05 as a part-ex price!

 

[Owen Snell]

Thanks guys thought the dealer was talking rubbish,


Does £5999 sound about right for a 2005 with 17k on the clock,standard GS with heated grips but no ABS good clean condition no extras.

Thanks Matt

Look at the prices from BMW dealers, they are a lot higher. I haven't checked recently, but autotrader should give you a good guide to current values. Seems reasonable if it has a decent warranty with it

 

[BBB61]

I'd rather not bother

Why bother contributing if you have nothing useful to say?

 

[Hexme]

Why bother contributing if you have nothing useful to say?

Totally agree.

 

[orange]

I fancy doing a bit of home servicing. Is there a service schedule and what should be done at each service?

 

[VAL. H.]

Once the warranty expired I decided to do the oil and filters. Haven't had a go at the tappets yet, but there probably the same as on any bike.

I buy most of the bits and bobs from Motorworks or my local dealer 'NOG'. My plan is to get a yearly service when the bike goes in for it's MOT.

Our 650s only go to BW for a diagnostic check. I do everything else.

I'd rather not bother

I'd rather not bother too. But with the mileage I do I'll save over £600 a year.

Why bother contributing if you have nothing useful to say?

Totally agree.

Interesting contribution gentlemen. Why bother indeed.






Val.

 

[955matt]

Thanks for all your advice

One test ride later and the deal is done another GSER to the fold

Matt.