Confusion regarding reliability.

Sooty09

Sooty09

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Im totally confused regarding the reliability of a new R1200GS. Iv have had previous R1150Rs with very little trouble except for clutch slave cylinders and terrible corrosion. I left the BMW camp and have had a Kawasaki Versys for the last 18 months and over 20000 miles with no trouble at all, no corrosion and 65 MPG min. I am now ready to try a new 09 R1200GS but form reading this web site and many others + talking to occasional riders the impression is they are likely to only manage 45mpg, and only a few miles between gearbox failures, seals leaking or major electrical faults etc.
Are the new bikes now reliable enough for me to run for 15000 miles per year, for three years with a medium amount of TLC.
 
Yep. The question mark is the fuel pump controller (the latest version may or may not be a solution) but there is a workaround or you can carry a spare. Apart from that my impression is that they are no more prone to failure than most other bikes. Corrosion can still be a bit of an issue (particularly the front cover) but a medium amount of tlc should be sufficient. If the worst comes to the worst, 2 of your 3 years will be covered by warranty; good chance of goodwill in the 3rd year (if dealer serviced) or you could take out an extended warranty.
 
Sooty09 said:
Im totally confused regarding the reliability of a new R1200GS. Iv have had previous R1150Rs with very little trouble except for clutch slave cylinders and terrible corrosion. I left the BMW camp and have had a Kawasaki Versys for the last 18 months and over 20000 miles with no trouble at all, no corrosion and 65 MPG min. I am now ready to try a new 09 R1200GS but form reading this web site and many others + talking to occasional riders the impression is they are likely to only manage 45mpg, and only a few miles between gearbox failures, seals leaking or major electrical faults etc.
Are the new bikes now reliable enough for me to run for 15000 miles per year, for three years with a medium amount of TLC.
Click to expand...

Yes - look after it and service it on schedule. My mpg is typically 50-52mpg, but the 1200 is more powerful than the 1150 and it you use it then mpg drops - would be magic if it didn't!
 
I have an 05 reg 1200gs. I've covered 2000 miles in my first month of ownership. It's now showing just under 10k

MPG ranges from 40 - 50 depending on the usual.

No faults so far (touch wood, cross fingers etc), well, apart from the gearbox fillerplug being loose :eek: :eek: and I can't blame that on the bike.

It uses a bit of oil (they all do that sir??).

Am getting the hang of wheelies, especially 2nd to 3rd gear (see MPG details).

The pegs make a funny scraping noise in the corners.

I guess I'm still a hooligan, but at least me knees don't hurt anymore.... :rob :rob
 
Reliable? Maybe.

I have a July 2006 1200 GS.

Full BMW service history, 25000 miles and an extended warranty.

I took out the third year warranty, worried about the final drive's reliability.

Lo and behold, last Friday a strange whirring noise appeared, getting louder and louder. The bevel/final drive sounds and feels wrecked.

My last bike was a 54 GS, which also needed a new drive, two sets of front brake discs and had to be pulled apart for a gearbox leak.

Confidence now shot, I went to my local Yam/Suzi etc dealers this am to see what took my fancy. Nothing unfortunately. They did tell me that yesterday, one of their customers who also has a 12GS rang them from Italy, to tell them that the bearings had collapsed in his final drive.

So, I still love my GS, but wouldn't entertain having one without a warranty.

Get one, they are ace, but budget for that £300 for the start of year 3 plus the excess.
 
Of course there are problems with some bikes but the vast majority of owners have no issues and are happy little bunnies :)

I do a similar mileage to what you want to do, ride all the year round and I have to say my bike has been 100%. Had a couple of issues but they were fixed with the minimum of fuss and unlike some drama queens who post on this and other bike sites, I don`t expect anything mechanical to be completely bullet proof. As long as things are fixed properly, or are fixable by me, I just get on with it.

My opinion is, the more you ride it, the less hassle you get and that goes with most bikes/cars/trucks.

You will not get 65 mpg:eek: I reckon mine does around 45 but don`t bother checking too often but I do use the loud pedal as it was designed. Remember it`s a big heavy bike:augie

Go for it and don`t be swayed by the nay sayers who are in the minority and they probably have 1150`s and are jealous :thumb
 
You can slice it any way you want 12GSs of any year aren't reliable. Still a cracking bike mind, so I'd still recommend you buy one!!
 
GSmonkey said:
You can slice it any way you want 12GSs of any year aren't reliable. Still a cracking bike mind, so I'd still recommend you buy one!!
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Hard to define reliable - would be nice to see some MTBF stats, where F was defined as failed to proceed when called upon.

Done 39,500miles on my 05 and it has never failed to proceed, no fuel pump failure, no faulty EWS, no flat battery etc - had a few niggles and a puncture, but has not broke down, yet - now I have just tempted fate so it will probably be going home on a flatbed tonight!
 
Mine's an '04 with 13,500 miles, coming up to 5 years and i've just replaced the battery, that's about it,....you've still got to look after them.
 
Engineer said:
Hard to define reliable - would be nice to see some MTBF stats, where F was defined as failed to proceed when called upon.

Done 39,500miles on my 05 and it has never failed to proceed, no fuel pump failure, no faulty EWS, no flat battery etc - had a few niggles and a puncture, but has not broke down, yet - now I have just tempted fate so it will probably be going home on a flatbed tonight!
Click to expand...

I do 15k a year, so put my bikes through the wringer. The jap bikes take the abuse, the beemers haven't, whether it be mechanical or electrical failure.

There's lots of reasons that the GS is so good (which is why we own them), I just wouldn't put reliability as one of them.
 
look at it this way there are over 500,000 of these puppys out there with a percentage like that the odds are stacked against the reliability stats of say hondas and kawasakis who have sold a fraction of the above numbers.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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