Check your cooling fan.

[martin c s]

While riding through Catania in Sicily last week I got stuck in traffic and the bike got very hot and the oil light started flashing although the temp gauge did not move. After letting it cool down I rode slowly back to base. Imagining the worst (faulty oil pump) I looked at F800 Riders forum and found many similar stories and all pointed to the cooling fan being jammed with mud. As I hardly ever ride off road I thought this could not apply to me but when I shoved my hand in from the left the fan was locked solid by a small piece of gravel and the motor had burnt out.
Upon dismantling the fan I found it was quite rusty and had probably not worked for a while in the cold U.K. climate.
Then came the shock. Rang BMW Catania - 200€ for a new motor! So today when I turn up at said BMW dealer they refused to order me one because I did not have an Italian Fiscal card number! (Whatever that is?) So I will have to order it from a U.K. dealer and wait for it to be posted out.
So this is just a warning to you all to check your fan is spinning freely as it will probably be expensive.

 

[Ash]

So much for an Adventure Motorcycle
And I spose it's worth checking ones warranty Status before we venture across the water
Hope You get sorted
( €200 for that little motor !!! FECK )

 

[Adeeelnv]

I hear my fan come on sometimes, so I think it should be ok. I have never seen the temp go above normal, which I thought was a bit strange.

 

[v8legend]

A fairly well known issue. Check out my recent problem http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=315004&highlight=cooling or an earlier thread http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=244755&highlight=radiator

The general advise is to blast the back of the fan every time you wash your bike. It didn't stop mine failing though.

 

[martin c s]

Thanks for the response guys. Hi V8 remember meeting me at a service area, I think it was the M6.
The thing that surprised me about my experience was the attitude of BMW Catania. What if my bike had completely broken down?
I always imagine all these BMW dealers around the world are just waiting to help the stricken biker!

 

[v8legend]

Hi V8 remember meeting me at a service area, I think it was the M6.

Yes Martin, I remember it well. it was the M5 over near Tewkesbury, you were travelling to/from Devon. I was meeting someone else off UKGSER to collect a 1200GS topbox. Your bikes still going well then, after the piston slap problems?

 

[martin c s]

Yes BMW fitted new engine under warranty mind you I've still not done 15000 miles in nearly 5 years but I'm trying to remedy that now in Italy. Well I will as soon as I get my cooling fan working again. I read your post I'm sorry I had not seen it as I don't always get WiFi here. It seems poor design that allows crud to get thrown up there on an "Unstoppable" adventure bike, as I said I only occasionally ride on gravel tracks.
BTW can thoroughly recommend the sud Tirol region in northern Italy that is if you can find a bit of road that does not have a german on a 1200GS on it!

 

[martin c s]

Sorted. First I emailed CW and asked if they could post the part to me, they said they would but were worried about it getting lost in the post and would want £220 inc postage.
So I tried BMW Ragusa who I am near to now and they were fine ordered the part on Wed , I paid £151.75 and it arrived Sat morning. So I fitted it this morning, new one was slightly different as the Stat seems to be built in to the motor.
Working fine now must remember to check frequently that its free.

Moral of this if you find yourself in southern Sicily and you need help with your bike go to Ragusa and not Catania.