i've heard very different from a guzzi dealer
you're probably right about the other 2 though.
FPC Carry Spare Vs Replace anyway
- Thread starter Rasher
- Start date
i've heard very different from a guzzi dealer
you're probably right about the other 2 though.
FPC temporary fix doesn't have to be expensive
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1936111&postcount=21
About 20p per item and easy to carry. Cut the blue connector off the old FPC and then graft it onto the leads to the black connector. Easy peasy. My FPC failed in the middle of nowhere and I was up an running in 30 minutes
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1936111&postcount=21
About 20p per item and easy to carry. Cut the blue connector off the old FPC and then graft it onto the leads to the black connector. Easy peasy. My FPC failed in the middle of nowhere and I was up an running in 30 minutes
(RIP) Johno23
Registered user
Rasher, don't want to appear rude, but why the fuck did you buy a 1200?
You complained and moaned about them constantly before you bought one, then bought one
, and enjoy nothing more than moaning about it now, even when it hasn't actually gone wrong, you moan about it possibly going wrong
Don't get me wrong you can moan about whatever you like, It's a free country, just seems a little strange to me that's all.
You complained and moaned about them constantly before you bought one, then bought one
, and enjoy nothing more than moaning about it now, even when it hasn't actually gone wrong, you moan about it possibly going wrongDon't get me wrong you can moan about whatever you like, It's a free country, just seems a little strange to me that's all.
grasmith0149
Registered user
I had an FPC failure on my last 12GS. Brought a new one , fitted it and made a spare by canabalising the busted one (See http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/index.cfm?fa=contentGeneric.nvxszdkebklxuaer&pageId=428065 ). I now carry that under the seat, just in case but I'm not paranoid about it.
Hey Sh*t happens
Hey Sh*t happens
I did not realise how bloody unreliable BMW's are until after I had bought it, as well as FPC's blowing up all over the place on a daily basis it seems FD's are still failing earlier than a bloody chain - another one reported yesterday with a mere 14k on the clock.
The things are bloody hand grenades and must be one of the least reliable bikes made in the last 30 years, yet command a huge price and massive servicing costs.
I really did think they were a bike you could expect 100k from without too many problems, high revving rocketships such as R6's easily exceed 50k these days despite producing 20% more power from an engine of half the capacity and cost about half as much as a 1200GS.
It is not hard to make electronics reliable these days, despite taking £11k of people for the GS BMW still refuse to spend a few pence more to provide a reliable FPC, same goes for the FD.
It is not so much the fact the FPC / FD are so shite, but even if you do replace them they will just let you down again, on the 8th model year these problems should be well banished.
Unfortunately I cannot afford to swap the bike out right now and I do thoroughly enjoy riding it so have to make the best of it, hopefully it will struggle to 20k without blowing the FD / gearbox / Valves and I can sell it before the inevitable £1500 failures start mounting up.
DavidJames
Registered user
. . . all much easier to do at home at a time of your own choosing
You'll guess that's what I did for peace of mind.
And I fought the hard fight another day to swap out the Ring Antenna after a couple of intermittent dodgy warning lamps, a cut-out on the move and reluctance to start.
Been fine since.
IIRC* you just need a torx to get the side panel off + smaller one for the FPC itself.
you can get the connector out with your fingers. there's no need to disconnect the battery.
* i've only done one in the field and a couple in the garage to check that the ex warranty units i've scrounged are working ok. FPC failure is a pretty rare occurrence these days
you can get the connector out with your fingers. there's no need to disconnect the battery.
* i've only done one in the field and a couple in the garage to check that the ex warranty units i've scrounged are working ok. FPC failure is a pretty rare occurrence these days
It seems the tool requirments are simple enough, the stock toolkit has most of them and I always add some decent pliers, adjustable spanner and a couple of screwdrivers for longer trips.
Plus with the breakdown cover if you get stuck the breakdown people should have tools, but I doubt they would have the spares.
May still go for the replacement option, but then would I trust the old one in an emergency?
Maybe a new FPC plus carry the wire (at least you do not have to worry about these breaking down) or butcher my old FPC to create my own wire.
At the end of the day I am trying to avoid a holiday breakdown / being flattened in the fast lane of the Motorway.
Carrying a spare wire still leaves the potential of getting into trouble in the outside lane, and I often wonder mid overtake "what if the FPC conks out now" - It has been a long time since I had a bike that I often thought may kill me (TL100S, no steering damper, worn rear tyre)
Plus with the breakdown cover if you get stuck the breakdown people should have tools, but I doubt they would have the spares.
May still go for the replacement option, but then would I trust the old one in an emergency?
Maybe a new FPC plus carry the wire (at least you do not have to worry about these breaking down) or butcher my old FPC to create my own wire.
At the end of the day I am trying to avoid a holiday breakdown / being flattened in the fast lane of the Motorway.
Carrying a spare wire still leaves the potential of getting into trouble in the outside lane, and I often wonder mid overtake "what if the FPC conks out now" - It has been a long time since I had a bike that I often thought may kill me (TL100S, no steering damper, worn rear tyre)
you know the old one's ok, as it's still working now.
obviously, it could fail at any time, but then so could the new one. or any other component for that matter.
you really do worry too much.
It was seeing that bloody Ewan and Charlie DVD, they did about 20,000 miles and needed two trucks full of spares to make the trip, I figure my 3,000 mile trip will require at least a small hatchbacks worth.
I thought the FPC just saved wear and tear on the pump by stopping the pump when the fuel distributor manifold was up to pressure? How does it reduce fuel consumption? I thought the downstream fuel pressure is constant and set by fuel distributor regardless of the upstream pressure delivered by the pump (with fuel usage governed by the requirements of the moronic's fuel map and sensor inputs)?
In answer to the OP's question - if you're going to buy one anyway, I'd fit the new one and carry the old one as a spare. Did the same when I changed the working but 16 year old hall sensor plate on my 1100 - would rather do it in the comfort of my garage than by the side of the road. However at £150 it took an effort of will to remove a working component and replace it with another working component - bloody expensive piece of mind. What to FPC's cost?
In answer to the OP's question - if you're going to buy one anyway, I'd fit the new one and carry the old one as a spare. Did the same when I changed the working but 16 year old hall sensor plate on my 1100 - would rather do it in the comfort of my garage than by the side of the road. However at £150 it took an effort of will to remove a working component and replace it with another working component - bloody expensive piece of mind. What to FPC's cost?
STUBBS
undead
It may not be it's primary purpose, but i was told by bmw, that the fpc reduces the fuel flowing through the filter thus negating the need to change it.
So use all that money saved on filters to buy a spare fpc.
So use all that money saved on filters to buy a spare fpc.
Surely the fuel flow is dictated by the amount being used by the engine?
Injectors need a presurized rail and I really do not know why they do not just have a pump that comes on with the ignition (operated by simple and extremely reliable solonoid) like everyone else
And if they are going to use something else sure a Mean Time Before Failure of two years is not acceptable in this day and age, especially on a component that upon failure could easily cause death or serious injury.
And if they are gonna insist on using cheap shite they should at least have the decency to sell them at a fair price, I bet they pay about £3 each for these things and than knock them out at £80 a pop. They should be no more than £20 each and part of the service schedule (maybe 2 years / 24000 miles)
Profit over customer safety seems to be BMW's stance on all things shite and dangerous.
If the pump runs continuously the fuel unused by the engine is recycled back to the tank from the fuel distributor (hence the return line going back to your tank). So it will reduce flow through the filter (although as Cookie says, it's unlikely that this is the FPC's intended purpose
)Where do you get this massive servicing costs from?
I had a kawasaki ZZR1400 and a GTR 1400 and they both needed servicing at 4500 miles and then 7000 miles.
BMW is at 6000 - so one service for every two service schedules at Kawasaki.
I am sure if you traded your 1200 GS against similar aged ZZR then you would get a good deal.
Then you can stop moaning and get riding and save £20 of the FPC bypass.
I've had three go on mine over the years. Random mileage and age. When I go to Europe this year, I won't be taking one for sure.
Take a puncture repair, this is a sensible precaution. If you're only going to Europe, there are BMW garages all over the place, so I wouldn't expect you to be out of commission for too long.
Stop worrying and enjoy the bike
Take a puncture repair, this is a sensible precaution. If you're only going to Europe, there are BMW garages all over the place, so I wouldn't expect you to be out of commission for too long.
Stop worrying and enjoy the bike
If you're only going to Europe, there are BMW garages all over the place, so I wouldn't expect you to be out of commission for too long.
Stop worrying and enjoy the bike
My sentiments entirely
you're obviously a *glass half full* kind of guy
with that history, i'd be taking two spare units
