Common problems with 2003 1150gs

[truman]

i have bought a 2003 1150gs and it has 37,000kms on it.
i am planning on doing some touring on this bike and was wanting to know of any common problems i should look out for and any "must have" spares that i should carry with me. What should i replace / change over with this amount of kms before heading off (please don't say the bike)! Any advice would be much appreciated. cheers.

 

[sproggy]

Common problems include:

Final drive bearing failure
Coil pack failure (on twin-spark models like yours)
Hall Sensor (HES) failure
Servo failure (if you have servo/ABS brakes)
and maybe a few more I haven't thought of......

That doesn't mean you'll suffer them, and they can happen at pretty much any time/mileage but do a search for any of these on here and you'll find loads of information.

Depending on who you ask, you'd take a final drive bearing and seal, an HES and an alternator drive belt with you as spares on a tour on the basis that these are pretty easy to fit but not always so easy to get hold of in the middle of nowhere. Failure of any of them would cause you major problems without available replacements.

Don't worry about it too much, though - these bikes are generally pretty tough and you just need to be aware of the potential issues and how to identify them.

 

[D6]

petrol and european cover,
look on here and you will sell it,
only the bad uns get posted about,
just go for it
you wont get anything more reliable, take an alternator belt if anything, puncture repair kit, and underpants

 

[mandon]

slave cylinder, tps,

 

[sproggy]

petrol and european cover

Or maybe Australian cover?

 

[D6]

Or maybe Australian cover?

DOH

 

[John Armstrong]

Starter motors have caused a few problems, plus dying batteries.

Might think about a suspension overhaul if you're doing many miles off tarmac roads and loaded up.

 

[iftikartaxis]

Chances are the problems you MAY have got will have already been sorted
my 04 reg had the bearings go for the pivot to the final drive £18 each x2
stick coils £60 each 2 mins to fit
little rattle on timing chain tensioner £50 inc new oil filter plus oil
so all in all not a massive job 1 hour
what a fantastic machine love it to death
gearlever sticking half a hour some wd40 cheapy cheapy cheap

"Praise the lord and pass the Ammunition"

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Truman, 37k kms is very little for these bikes so likely you have got a good one!
I'll bet you even have a real tool kit!
Check all usual service things, leave the fuel filter alone unless it has had dirty fuel in.
Also:
Use 20/50 mineral oil, cheap, works and keeps engine quieter.
Check Fuel QD couplings are ok, get spare o-rings and maybe replace the couplings with metal type, a bugger if they break.
Check oil level by leaving on side stand for 10 minutes when hot, then on main stand and read level.
Change alt belt, keep old for spare
Check rear pads, they wear a bit quicker that you might expect.
Check rear wheel bearing and paralever pivot play, easy to fix but critical.
Accessory socket terminals get corroded, remove starter cover, unplug and give it a good clean. Don't lose the likkle rubber grommet on the cover locating pins.
If the battery is suspect, replace with Odyssey AGM type. Will drive you mad otherwise.
No need for trickle charger, sure sign of goosed batt if needed.
Twinmax very good for synching throttle bodies which makes a big difference to vibes.

Bin

 

[Steptoe]

Just take spares for parts that will leave you stranded if they fail.

Hall sensor.
TPS.
Rear bevel bearing and seal.
Alternator belt.

You could take a clutch slave cylinder as a spare but all depends where your going. If it does fail you can ride clutchless, except if your off road or in sand.

 

[clivewhilde]

I'm going to regret this.

TPS?

 

[D6]

Truman, 37k kms is very little for these bikes so likely you have got a good one!
I'll bet you even have a real tool kit!
Check all usual service things, leave the fuel filter alone unless it has had dirty fuel in.
Also:
Use 20/50 mineral oil, cheap, works and keeps engine quieter.
Check Fuel QD couplings are ok, get spare o-rings and maybe replace the couplings with metal type, a bugger if they break.
Check oil level by leaving on side stand for 10 minutes when hot, then on main stand and read level.
Change alt belt, keep old for spare
Check rear pads, they wear a bit quicker that you might expect.
Check rear wheel bearing and paralever pivot play, easy to fix but critical.
Accessory socket terminals get corroded, remove starter cover, unplug and give it a good clean. Don't lose the likkle rubber grommet on the cover locating pins.
If the battery is suspect, replace with Odyssey AGM type. Will drive you mad otherwise.
No need for trickle charger, sure sign of goosed batt if needed.
Twinmax very good for synching throttle bodies which makes a big difference to vibes.

Bin

or if you own a 1200, repeat this every time you go down to the shops

 

[Rob Farmer]

I'm going to regret this.

TPS?

Throttle position sensor - the little black box on the left hand throttle body.

 

[truman]

thats awesome, thanks everyone for your comments...what a wealth of knowledge there is in this forum!! cheers.

 

[Bigyin]

I have an 03 1150 with similar mileage that came with the following faults all fixed under warranty over the first few weeks.

Coil Packs
Dying Battery
Knackered starter motor
Rear light bulb melted into the reflector after 6 weeks of ownership

Done 3500 miles in the 8 weeks and love the bike to bits

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

The main problem with them is they are amazing bikes and might just like it more than your significant other!

 

[GS TRV]

The main problem with them is they are amazing bikes and might just like it more than your significant other!

+ 1

 

[kwallace21]

I always take a pair of fake comedy breasts with me when I tour. Endless uses.

 

[MattW]

I always take a pair of fake comedy breasts with me when I tour. Endless uses.

A 'camel front' - you need to patent that.

 

[peter wallis]

add to the list fuel pump,mines just failed at 48,000