GS 1200 Rallye Edition: Red rear frame getting spotty

[TunturiSport]

Hello! I bought my beautiful R 1200 GS Rallye edition brand new in January 2014 (it is a 2102 model). I have now ridden 17 000 kms, usually on tarmac. I washed it and noticed this: The inner surface of the red-colored real frame is full of small ( < 1 cm) paint damages probably caused by small stones. I wish I could attach an image of it. If this is the result after one year, what will be the situation after ten years? Do you think the paint quality is OK? Have other Rallye Edition owners experienced this? Should I complain, the bike is still under warranty. Should I by a hugger or something?

 

[Blackal]

Water-based paint, and you've maybe done more "off-piste" miles than most........

Have a go at warranty claim, but yes - a rear hugger or Slingwotzit (rear) and Fender extender + Hooton protection plate at the front - should minimise most stone damage.

Al

 

[sagalout]

Mine is fine (2012 Rallye, 12k miles inc winter). I have had a couple of actual chips where I accidently caught it with a spanner, but no corrosion of stone chips on the red frame. I do have some on the cylinder heads and rear wheel hubs though.

 

[NeilCol]

I really wanted one of these, but out of my price range at the time.

Red frame looks awesome to me.

 

[Fanum]

Touch up the frame, then use helicopter tape or something similar....Go for 3m stuff as some of the cheaper copies are crap.

It's exactly the sort of thing that it was made for

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_WrdKhdKuMg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[sagalout]

I really wanted one of these, but out of my price range at the time.

Red frame looks awesome to me.

Yeah, they seem to be a bit marmite, especially when they first came out, but I love mine and you don't see too many around in the same colour. Have a few free pics!

Untitled by sagalout, on Flickr

IMG_6007 by sagalout, on Flickr

 

[Bendy toy]

Main crash bars and frame look fab but car park tumbles can soon have it looking shabby. At least OEM BMW crash bars are stainless.
Touch up the marks and protect with tape. If it ever becomes a problem the back end comes off easily enough for zinc electro plating and repaint or powder with conductive zinc undercoat.

 

[TunturiSport]

Thanks all for your kind advice. Yes, I may have spent more time off road than average but I suppose the bike is built for that. About the tape, good hint but would a thick layer of varnish do the same? The damages are widespread on the surfaces of the short red tubes, would need many short tapes. It seems difficult to find repair paint of the red color from Finland (code should be M03). A hugger might protect from the stones but may not suit for off road riding. It is good to know that the rear frame can be easily taken off to paint it again. Blackal, what is a Slingwotzit? What do you folks think, is this a warranty issue?

 

[MattW]

I'd definitely try for a warranty claim (but perhaps say most of your km's have been 'road based' )

The slingwotzit that Blackal refers to is a Mudsling:
http://www.nippynormans.com/product...venture-all-years-not-lc-models-mam-m-sling09
Expensive for what they are but do an excellent job of protecting the rear frame and shock etc.
I have one on my GSA together with the matching front fender extender.

 

[Bendy toy]

Thanks all for your kind advice. Yes, I may have spent more time off road than average but I suppose the bike is built for that. About the tape, good hint but would a thick layer of varnish do the same? The damages are widespread on the surfaces of the short red tubes, would need many short tapes. It seems difficult to find repair paint of the red color from Finland (code should be M03). A hugger might protect from the stones but may not suit for off road riding. It is good to know that the rear frame can be easily taken off to paint it again. Blackal, what is a Slingwotzit? What do you folks think, is this a warranty issue?

Helicopter tape is purely preventive. It wont repair already damaged paint or cure the resulting corrosion. If its looking scabby you'll be looking at conductive zinc powder coat or electroplate and paint. Powder is unlikely to match the colour.

 

[Greenman14]

My 14000 mile Rallye has had a Mudsling for most of its life and the frame is just fine. I think the paint is pretty good, not exceptional but way better than a couple of Kawasakis I had, maybe even as good as a Honda? Let battle commence!

 

[TunturiSport]

My 14000 mile Rallye has had a Mudsling for most of its life and the frame is just fine. I think the paint is pretty good, not exceptional but way better than a couple of Kawasakis I had, maybe even as good as a Honda? Let battle commence!

Does the mudsling protect the rear subframe? In the pictures it seems not.

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

Yeah, they seem to be a bit marmite, especially when they first came out, but I love mine and you don't see too many around in the same colour. Have a few free pics!

IMG_6007 by sagalout, on Flickr

Great photo and a great looking bike. Don't think I've ever seen one in the flesh.

 

[JerseyNeil]

And that's a lovely pitched roof you have on your top box

 

[Greenman14]

The Mudsling doesn't protect the frame, a hugger would do that better. It protects the shock very well but does seem to direct crap onto the torque arm and onto the back of my boots.