GS911 for travel?

[dippy]

Planning a long trip and I'm wondering if it's worth taking a gs911 unit. I know it's a diagnostic tool but would this tool be of any use for a long trip?

do any of you fine folk have experience using one and are they all they made up to be?

 

[HTB1]

GS911

I have one and use it occasionally to remind myself how to use it, like carrying spares, puncture repair kit etc it may come in useful one day. Some say
all you need when travelling is a credit card but I haven't seen many travelling that light.

 

[Timolgra]

Planning a long trip and I'm wondering if it's worth taking a gs911 unit. I know it's a diagnostic tool but would this tool be of any use for a long trip?

do any of you fine folk have experience using one and are they all they made up to be?

I have one and never needed to use it but be very wary of advise like........

, like carrying spares, puncture repair kit etc it may come in useful one day. Some say
all you need when travelling is a credit card but I haven't seen many travelling that light.

 

[dippy]

Thanks for the replys.

I'm guessing that if someone has a problem with a fairly new bike in the uk they would initially take to garage rather than start diagnostics themselves? but travelling, especially out of the way like Africa one would have limited options and self diagnosis would be of more use?

does anyone know of anyone that has used the GS911 to successfully get thier bike moving again or is this unit used more for information of what's going on?

 

[Fanum]

A GS911 won't tell you what a problem is.
It will indicate which system is showing a fault......but if you've broken down, I reckon you will already have a good idea about that.

So, you then have to narrow it down to a component, which involves the same sort of diagnosis skills that you would have had to use without a 911 anyway.


True, it will reset the fault code, but having a code saved is of zero importance.

They are extremely useful for garage work, tuning and tweaking, but personally I would say they are of limited use in the real world breakdown cases, and in fact could mislead you as they have others who have posted up here that their 'GS911 says it's THIS fault".....then it turns out that it's not, but it's another part on the same system.

Then again, I must admit I don't own one and I ride an 1150 tractor that any blacksmith can fix......I don't think there's anything that a GS911 would have helped me out of, but I don't know about your 650s

 

[Bem]

Planning a long trip and I'm wondering if it's worth taking a gs911 unit. I know it's a diagnostic tool but would this tool be of any use for a long trip?

do any of you fine folk have experience using one and are they all they made up to be?

I bought one as part of the Group Buy and am very pleased despite the cost. Useful to have the basic vesion on the phone so one can at least have a stab at things when "on the move" - or not.Also full version on computer so Bluetooth version still makes sense.Originally had ongoing diag. problems with the Dealer not being able to see things on my 12, so comforted to be able to see things for myself - problems solved. Works on my 650 too.

 

[Mark Hooton]

IMHO a good bit of kit

I think they are good pal - had a problem on my 2006 GS with the servo assisted brakes - cleared the fault and all was ok.

A visit to BMW would have cost about £70.................

Thing is that they don`t fit the latest LC socket :-(

 

[v8legend]

A GS911 with a bluetooth to a smart phone will hardly take up any space. If any faults were to occur, then it could point you in the right direction, and let you prioritise a visit to a dealer if needed.

I had a warning light come on 1 year ago. A trip to a mate with a GS911 showed it was a fault with the fan. He cleared the faults, and using the GS911 he tried to spin the fan up. Didn't work. However, I then knew what the fault was, and rode the bike accordingly until I got a replacement fan. Something you could do on a trip (if it wasn't hot).

If I had one, then I'd take it on a trip with me. Probably more useful than the tool kit!

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

It sounds like a good idea but it'll probably be just another expensive bit of tat that you can't or will likely never use, and which takes up valuable space in your pannier.

It might find a fault that turns out to be incorrect, or it might not find a fault at all (e.g if it's an intermittent problem).

Don't be afraid of things going tits up, that's when the adventure really begins. I'd not bother with it personally save the money for the road.

Bon Voyage

 

[dippy]

thanks everyone for the input. it seems like it's a useful tool to have around so ordering today but seems there's some dodgy ones around to heed and then i'll make up my mind to take on the trip or not over the months leading up to it.

thanks again