Goodbye GS

[russ_fae_fyvie]

After getting my first BMW in 2010 when I got my F800GS, I was originally quite excited with the bike and as a winter commuter (50 miles per day in all weathers) it handled the roads well, BUT, the reason she has gone is because of the terrible Dealer support and the corrosion issues if you ride it on winter roads.

I think everyone and his dog will have read my many previous posts last year about the engine casing corrosion (which had also been going on for a while with others) however after a lot of badgering BMW eventually sold me a LH case and Sump which I fitted late summer 2013.

Then before the winter I gave the whole bike a liberaly dose of ACF50 AND anti corrosion grease everywhere, I also replaced all the casing bolts with stainless and again coated them all with the anti corrosion grease.

I then ran is through the winter, washing and reapplying ACF50 until 3 weeks ago when I decided to give it a thorough clean and degrease.

What do I find ?

Yes the same corrosion starting all over again on the same casings. All along the sealing edge the paint is starting to lift again and at a couple of the bolt holes.

This just confirms that the paint is NOT applied and sealed properly, the fact its along the machined edges where the paint finished proves that.

So I have decided enough is enough. I don't want to have to go through that every winter or end up with a bike that looks like sh1te.

So the GS is going in part ex for a totally different bike, a CB1000R, I still have my Crosstourer which I know will stand up to winter roads (having had Hondas for years I am speaking from experience) but the CB will now be my weapon of choice for commuting.

I had hoped that BMW's reputation would be proved by a bike that will go through British winters but obviously not and especially when the dealers refuse to accept what is blindingly obvious.

I actually started to get dissalusioned a year earlier when I tried to buy a K1300S (before I got the Crosstourer) but it seems most of the BMW dealerships are more interested in selling cars because I went down to John Clark in Dundee to put a deposit on a 2nd hand one and ended up standing around for an hour because the salesman was busy trying to sell cars and the only bike salesman was on holiday ! The following day I tried the Crosstourer at my local Honda dealers and put my deposit on that instead.

So bye bye BMW, I won't miss you !!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Well said

 

[Neil W]

Seems to be a problem with dealers who have car/bike franchises, the solus dealers in general are better.
I find the attitude of owners who maniacally defend bmw to the hilt despite well known faults and problems even more bloody annoying

 

[duckspeed]

I recon a deburing around all machined edges before painting would solve the problems at a stroke.
It needs the manufacturer to be bothered enough to want to improve.
As the same problem has been with us for years they clearly don't.




Sent using witchcraft

 

[Mad_Accountant]

I'm really sorry that we have lost you.

I own a BMW c1 (2002) an r100r (1992) a k100rs 16v (1992) and a GS Adventure (2003)

The GSA and the k100 have paint that can corrode off, the c1 and the r100r don't so I tend to run them through the winter and that policy seems to work out well.

I know I'm a grumpy old cynic (I'm truly sorry about that) but I was shaken to the core recently when, in preparation for my retirement in a few weeks, I downsized from a 16 year old Volvo v70 to a Brand new Fiat Panda 1.2.

I don't need a fast car (I have a GSA) nor a luxury car (my Camper van has all the extras I could possibly wish for) what I needed was a value for money runabout.

I did not get what I was expecting!! For £6995 on the road I got a car which is £30 to tax, £130 to insure, 45 mpg even in local runabout duties, a three year 100,000 mile warranty and an 18,000 mile service interval.

It is actually cheaper to run than my C1 and any of my bikes.

Somewhere along the line I have been brainwashed into thinking that vehicles that can't be run through the winter are acceptable. That tyres every few thousand miles make sense. That the paint issues and steering head bearings on the Fs are par for the course. That 1.5 hours labour at £108 per hour to change the rear tyre on a c1 is part of the fun.

Discovering a value for money vehicle that is an absolute hoot to own and drive has seriously shaken my faith in BMW.

I love the whole "world of BMW" the bikes, the dealers, the tours, the model launches. It's just that the equation is for me now unbalanced. What I put into it versus what I get out if it no longer works.

I am seriously thinking of bailing from the whole damn lot and just keeping my lovely k100 RS. It keeps me in touch with the scene for minimal financial involvement and "limited liability"

So I know where you are coming from and I wish you well.

Regards.

 

[MikeMike]

Seems to be a problem with dealers who have car/bike franchises, the solus dealers in general are better.
I find the attitude of owners who maniacally defend bmw to the hilt despite well known faults and problems even more bloody annoying

Exactly, Neil, very well put!

 

[gspod]

Surely the only people you own and ride a motorcycle for practicle reasons are people who commute into London - and they mostly ride scooters.
I have a 100 mile daily commute into a city and I use my bike because I enjoy it - not because it's cheaper/quicker/easier to park etc.. Evan in the rain I prefer riding my bike than sitting in a car listening to Chris Evans bleating on.
Even in the early 1980s it was cheaper to buy and run a car than a motorbike.
Golfers fork out £thousands ever year as do others with such hobbies. The fact is we can do our hobby everyday for just a few quid more.
I'm sorry but biking hasn't been a practicle pastime since the sixties and I was only 6 then

 

[Scorched_Earth]

''Evan in the rain I prefer riding my bike than sitting in a car listening to Chris Evans bleating on.''

What's wrong with Chris Evans?! Ginger-ist!

 

[Engineer]

I don't know why people say Hondas are corrosion resistant, they are not - there was one of those new NC700 thingies outside my local Tescos a few weeks ago, it was a 63 plate bike and the exhaust headers, banjo bolts and disc carriers were a corroded mess. It had obviously been ridden throughout the winter and was far worse than any of the 3 1200Gs that I have owned.

So I conclude that Hondas are just a shit if not worse than BMWs

 

[colint]

So I conclude that Hondas are just a shit if not worse than BMWs[/QUOTE]
+1
Just my two pennath
When BMWs were at their highest quality they were more expensive compared to any of the opposition but now the difference is less and in some cases they are cheaper, but the quality of the BMW is not as good as it used to be but is at least as good as the competition.
I work in the manufacturing industry everything nowadays has to be built to a price to compete, but also the coatings are now of a less durable quality due to the reduction in VOCs required by the world.
I choose to ride BMs because you don't have to feck about with multi-adjustable suspension just chuck the luggage and her indoors on, wind up the suspension bit more wind in the tyres and set off they handle as well loaded as solo.
You pays your money you takes your choice, I ride all year round and haven't suffered from any corrosion issues on any of the BMs I've owned.
I lose my company car (gladly) in July and will then commute on the bike really looking forward to this so next winter will show up any issues.

 

[gspod]

''Evan in the rain I prefer riding my bike than sitting in a car listening to Chris Evans bleating on.''

What's wrong with Chris Evans?! Ginger-ist!

The odd time I have to take the car and listen to him he talks so much about what he had to eat the night before that I find I've eaten all my sandwhiches before I've got to work

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Surely the only people you own and ride a motorcycle for practicle reasons are people who commute into London - and they mostly ride scooters.
I have a 100 mile daily commute into a city and I use my bike because I enjoy it - not because it's cheaper/quicker/easier to park etc.. Evan in the rain I prefer riding my bike than sitting in a car listening to Chris Evans bleating on.
Even in the early 1980s it was cheaper to buy and run a car than a motorbike.
Golfers fork out £thousands ever year as do others with such hobbies. The fact is we can do our hobby everyday for just a few quid more.
I'm sorry but biking hasn't been a practicle pastime since the sixties and I was only 6 then

You are quite correct, of course. Having had several journeys home from work this week (in the Panda) that have taken over 1 hour 15 for a FIVE MILE JOURNEY, I agree that some things are beyond costings.

Needless to say I am on the C1 today as the offending traffic lights will not be repaired until the end of next week.

The relative costs reflect economies of scale BUT I have discovered that the world of VW van repairs and servicing are rather more real world than the same regime in my cars and I suspect this is because van owners would simply not put up with the sort of shit that car customers seem to tolerate.

Insane traffic jams aside, I find the Panda a real pleasure to drive and so it has to be my default vehicle for routine travel.

The 800s are more economical to buy and run than the 1200s but the point of the op was quality re casings etc, I would also be well miffed with the steering head bearings durability.

Managing my (rather excessive) fleet is a constant hassle but maybe once retired (at the end of May) I shall have a different outlook so I shall not take any decisions until then.

By the way, what bike do you use for your 100 mile city commute?

Regards

Phil

 

[gspod]

1100gs - although I take my wife's 800 at least once a week to try to spread the milage.

Enjoy your retirement.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Thank you.

1100gs - what a great bike !!! My first GS was an 1100 and came complete with Touratech Zega panniers, bash plate on centre stand and Satnav mounting kit. The only thing I did not like was the ABS self test on initial ride off (and occasionally during the journey).

I would have saved myself shedloads of money over the years if I had kept that bike.......

 

[russ_fae_fyvie]

I got rid because I have never had engine casings corrode off any of the Honda's I've owned since 1977 !! (ok at least since everyone started painting the engine casings!)
You only have to look back in other threads to see this corrosion problem on the F800GS and the 650 is common and has happened to lots of other 650/800 BM's.
I'm not saying Hondas are perfect but I have always just been able to jump on and ride, the BM problem was made worse by the attitude of the dealers which I have never had with Hondas, probably because bikes are a necessary evil to BM dealers who would much rather sell a nice shiney car then a smelly bike, especially after they have your money !
I'm also not saying that BMW are the worst, I had similar problems with a Triumph and an even worse problem with a KTM, now all resigned to my past. Having had one sort of Honda or another since 1977 I can honestly say the reliability is 2nd to none and as I ride all year round that is the most important thing to me especially on my 60 mile daily commute (which I enjoy in all weathers !!)

 

[MIKA]

I can sympathise with you Russ, having owned an 1150 & 1200GS- the later of which I owned for 7 years and it had all the usual problems including corrosion and replacement casings when in warranty

I too jumped ship and bought a CT and have ran it through the last 2 winters and having cleaned all the ACF50 off it just a couple of weeks ago due the salt still being on the road, I was pissed off to find a lot of the fasteners and ABS sensor rings have all suffered including the finish to both wheels which I just can't get to an acceptable shine no matter how many times I clean them, also the rear shock preload has partially seized (this is getting to be common on all the VFR1200's), I just hope that when I eventually get to my dealer Honda are as good as BMW were at replacing parts

The main reason for me leaving BMW was due to the poor finish over recent years, in fairness to the Honda all the main casings are still excellent but like every other manufacturer I don't think the quality is as good as it was in years gone by