GS Corrosion

[columbus]

Scottoiler

I have only had my gs for around a month but my last bike was a blackbird which I had for 4 years and it was used in all weathers. Lukily for me there is a hose/car wash where I work and I would give it a quick rinse when the weather was bad or there was salt on the road, the same when it came home.

I am sure that we all realise that if we don't look after something then it will deteriorate / break / fall to bits when we need it most. I do agree that manufacturers should take this into consideration more but as was previously sa

 

[columbus]

Scottoiler

I have only had my gs for around a month but my last bike was a blackbird which I had for 4 years and it was used in all weathers. Lukily for me there is a hose/car wash where I work and I would give it a quick rinse when the weather was bad or there was salt on the road, the same when it came home.

I am sure that we all realise that if we don't look after something then it will deteriorate / break / fall to bits when we need it most. I do agree that manufacturers should take this into consideration more but as was previously said they are after a profit and corners will be cut which we end up paying for.

Anyway my point is this, one night at the petrol station I met the sales director for Scottoiler ( which I had fitted ) and he told me about a new product they had which is basically a spray on anti corrosion agent. Since the scottoiler worked I gave the spray a try. Coated the bike and left it for a week without washing. When I went to wash it and hosed it down first most of the crud just fell off. I recoated it didnt wash it for a month with nearly the same result. This stuff works and my GS is already treated and it's easier to do than the bird since there isn't any fairing.

This is the web page for spray and as I said it has been a success for me to the point where it is now used on my car and you do see the difference.



http://www.scottoiler.com/fs365.htm

 

[AdamZ]

Had my GSA in last week for cast wheels and chipping and at the same time asked for the wire straps on the panniers to be added.

Made a comment bout the lower fork brace being a bit pitted.

Got it back on Tuesday with all done including new forks and lower fork brace. All very pretty and thanks Southport SBKs. Apparently there are no more fork braces in the country... so others will have to wait.

Don't know if it is the new forks, the chip, the cast wheels or the Pirrelli Corsa's but she is a totally different bike now and turns faster than Nippy Norman can hi-jack a thread...

Reckon its the fork brace...

 

[walkon40]

I used to have a '95 F650, where all the silver parts (basically the engine casings) lost the paint, it all started bubbing up nicely. BMW didn't have a solution for it (other than me taking the engine apart and getting it powder coated.

For 12k miles I had a '98 R850R, which didn't show any sign of paint bubbling, and have now bought a 2000 1150 GS with 26k miles on the clock, and it has the same problem as the F650. After all the talk in this thread about "yeah, same problem with mine" and quality of BMWs etc., does anyone have a lasting(ish) solution, that doesn't require me taking the bike apart (which I wouldn't dare anyway, as I'm not a mechanic ). And before someone argues - my bike gets a liberal coating of WD40 once a week (and yes, I ride it every day, throughout the year, so there will be wear and tear, don't know about the previous owner, though )

Martin

 

[Brother 52]

Fork Brace Corrosion

My 2000 GS 1150 has the corrosion problem on the front fork brace.

I spoke to Balderstons about it and they said that because of the age BMW would do nothing about it.

Has anyone had one replaced and what were you charged ?

Balderstons said that they may start some sort of subsidised exchange scheme but although taking my name they have never got back to me

Shame BMW are destroying their reputation for build quality I keep my bikes a long time and its a fact Honda's are better built
it may swing it when looking for my next bike.

52

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Just going through all the threads on corrosion, suggest you all do the same using 'search'. Depressing reading, I would suggest the only answer is for everyone to swamp BMW with claims, instead of just accepting this shoddy quality.If people don't complain, then the consensus amonst the manufacturer is that the quality of the finish is acceptable. Their quality department can only make assessments based on defective returns, so RETURN THE BLOODY THING!

 

[Paul Wakefield]

In answer to one of the early posts on this thread, yes 1150 fork braces are known for corroding and will(should) be replaced without question when under warranty. Why BM have never solved this long term problem, goodness knows. You could understand an early batch, but the 1150 has been in production since 1999 and as sure as eggs is eggs, a warranty replacement will corrode as well!

Interesting to see how the 1200 stands up. I haven't seen too many corrosion comments yet. I know the bike is still young but many are now about a year old and have been through a winter.

Paul

 

[Snooky]

Will B*W replace items that have already been replaced? Reason, I got mine off someone on this site and had already hade the fork bits done, but starting all over again, so will they replace again or will I have to argue?
Also what are the chances of getting the front panel of the engine replaced as this is getting bad around all the bolts?

 

[beakmeister]

Re: Fork Brace Corrosion

My fork brace is also corroding, but luckily is the only thing suffering so far.

My 1150 is a late 99 model with 28,000 mls on the clock absolutely imaculate all over with one exception, the fork brace ball joint carrying thing, the paint is bubbled up in places and some is missing, looks bad but it seems to be common. I am thinking of taking it off over next winter and having it powder coated.

 

[voRTex]

My '03 1150GS has just been in for fork brace (by the mudguard) and new lower force assemblies from corrosion and pitting. The bike was in all day and there was clearly a lot of work done and bits replaced. Nice job....but this problem must be costing B*W a serious amount of money.

I wondered what the work would cost....£1K? Possibly. While I was collecting the bike another GS pulled up. The guy was in to buy a system 5. We got chatting and his bike was much worse than mine..and in warranty but he thought nothing could be done!

He ended up booking his bike in for the same work plus new wheel rims!

V