GS1250 Rusty

[dredgetall]

My 1250 GSA is in the repair shop as it won’t start when hot (another 4 GSAs are also awaiting a fix) BMW have been good and lent me a standard 1250GS the bike is a 69 plate and last night I noticed 5 spoke tips at the wheel hub are going rusty ....the bike is only THREE months old.
Sorry if this post is in the wrong place and Merry Christmas to everyone.

 

[Wierpig]

Shock horror! Metal exposed to salt goes rusty!

 

[dredgetall]

I don’t know where you live we have had only rain since October if they put salt down then we are in trouble.

 

[Fullchat]

Its not a new phenomenon. I believe some were putting in a dab of lacquer or ACF 50 using a cotton bud.

 

[Valley Boy]

I don’t know where you live we have had only rain since October if they put salt down then we are in trouble.

The council have been putting salt down here now and again for the last month (Wales)

 

[Joe 90]

Hello there, I'm new to this forum and my 1250ADV. I'm interested in your comment about hot start problems and "4 others in for fix".
I took my bike out for first time yesterday, its spent 3 weeks in my garage with a new optimate can-bus charger connected thru the accessory socket since it was delivered. It was easy enough to start from cold, and 5 mins later after filling up the tank, but another 10 mins later at my mate's house it wouldn't start and I had to boost the battery .
I got home and did some investigating.... found that battery terminals charging voltage through the acc socket is only 13.4v and a bit erratic, compared to 13.8v when plugged straight to the battery....same can-bus program on charger.
until I read your post, I was putting my problem down to a less than fully charged battery, even though I would have expected it to be full after a bit of riding around.... now i'm not so sure. an you expand on your issue and knowledge of the "fix" ?
thanx Loz

 

[brummy bloke]

Welcome to the forum and merry Christmas. Take your bike back to the dealer and get them to check it out. mine threw up an error code for charging and service guy let it slip that it isn't unheard of for the battery to fail early doors.my battery normally shows 14.4 volts according to tft and bmw charger

 

[DickDastardly]

I don’t know where you live we have had only rain since October if they put salt down then we are in trouble.

Gloucestershire have been putting salt down since beginning of November. The roads haven't been dry since late September/early October, so the salt spray makes a right mess of everything. They seem very keen to use the salt stocks!

 

[dredgetall]

BMW Non Start

Vines in Guildford are working in conjunction with German HQ to fix the starting issue, all I can say is that it doesn’t do it on the standard Gs just the GSA. I will keep you up dated but I think there is a lot of head scratching going on.
I have attached a picture of my GS1150 (2003) with no rust on any of the wheels are we saying that the salt used now is more aggressive

 

[jefformston]

Vines in Guildford are working in conjunction with German HQ to fix the starting issue, all I can say is that it doesn’t do it on the standard Gs just the GSA. I will keep you up dated but I think there is a lot of head scratching going on.
I have attached a picture of my GS1150 (2003) with no rust on any of the wheels are we saying that the salt used now is more aggressive

What mileage do you have on that? I’ve no rust either on my 2001 R1150GS, but signs of use, your wheel & forks look new!

 

[dredgetall]

Gs

Mine has done 15000 but I feel it could be left in a salt quarry and still not be effected by rust. I’ve had five GS1150s and never suffered from rust. Two of my friends with the GS1200s have emptied can after can of ACF on their bikes but still suffer from rust.

 

[jefformston]

Mine has done 15000 but I feel it could be left in a salt quarry and still not be effected by rust. I’ve had five GS1150s and never suffered from rust. Two of my friends with the GS1200s have emptied can after can of ACF on their bikes but still suffer from rust.

I suspect the care and attention given to the bikes will have a lot to do with corrosion or lack of. Dealer bike probably ridden every day, maybe a quick rinse off now and again. 16 year old GS with only 15k on the clock, ridden very occasionally probably not in winter or when it’s wet, washed and polished after every ride and kept in a nice warm garage. Pretty easy to guess which will rust. I’ve seen plenty rusty 1150’s over the years, with paint peeling off and corrosion eating away the alloy. Corrosion on a motorbike of any make is not new or unusual they will all do it if neglected, it’s the nature of metal & basic science. I’m pleased that I’ve managed to keep it at bay on both my 1150 & 1200, but they do get rinsed after every ride, even after a 60 mile commute from work in January, then washed every weekend if I’ve used them during the week. Up until a few years ago I used liberal application of WD-40 to help stop corrosion, now I wipe over with a ACF50 soaked cloth which seems to work well. It goes along way, in 3 years of use on 2 bikes I’ve only used about 300ml. I don’t commute on the bikes anymore but still ride year round and in all weathers. Bottom line is it takes work to keep corrosion away if the bike is used on a regular basis, what every age the bike.

 

[Joe 90]

Oh well, count me in on the non-starting issue. This time though I didn’t stop whilst out, came home, turned off, waited a minute, tried to start, no go. Checked batt V, fully charged as near as. Waited 30 minutes, started lazily, killed engine, started normally. The symptoms are best described as “engine lock”, it doesn’t manage one engine rotation and load is so high it pulls battery V down to shut tft down and upset a few ecu’s.
I’ll be speaking to supplier tomorrow, but they r 200 miles away so I think Bowker Preston Are going to meet my bike earlier than expected.

 

[Joe 90]

Just an update for anyone affected by the hot (non) start issue. Bowkers did a professional job of investigating and fixing the problem. BMW HQ first asked for software update, after which the easily repeatable fault could no longer be repeated. HQ also instructed a new battery, not a direct replacement but a different/new part number. Either way, have used bike over 200 miles and several stops around N Wales today, faultless. Big thanks to Bowker for sorting it, especially as I bought it down south.

 

[dredgetall]

Update

I am picking up my GSA1250 next weekend, Vines have replaced the battery and now say that the non starting from hot issue has been resolved but have pointed out that this is still to be endorsed by the BMW big daddy’s in Germany.
I will keep you up dated

 

[oddshapedballs]

Why oh why are so many still hell bent on being BMW early adopters, I was in a dealer last week talking to the parts guy and he was telling me of the woes the workshop was going through trying to fit in all of the 1250 fixes.

 

[Deleted account 221212001]

Until new owners start rejecting their £20k bikes and returning them to their dealers for a full refund BMW will continue to use them as guinea pigs instead of delivering a consumer ready product saving them a fortune in research and development. It’s a win, win for BMW.

 

[fire3500]

Well, certainly puts me off upgrading. I sporadically hanker for an olive green GSA LC or one of the Rallye GSA with the blue frame... seems like there are many more faults than I could tolerate though. Shall stick with the ole TC.

 

[oddshapedballs]

Well, certainly puts me off upgrading. I sporadically hanker for an olive green GSA LC or one of the Rallye GSA with the blue frame... seems like there are many more faults than I could tolerate though. Shall stick with the ole TC.

You'd be a fucking idiot to change to the newest model so early in it's run, as for "upgrading"....really??!!

BMW need minimum 2 years after they release anything to get the product right, imagine how many more failures they'd have if anyone actually used their new 1250 as an overland adventure bike!

 

[stick]

10000 on mine so far , all good , well thrashed ,ridden in all conditions , cared for . Great bike