Has your GS1200 been reliable...or not?

[jpooch00]

Twin cam engines with bucket and shim valve clearance adjustment have been around for over 40 years now, so this is proven to be reliable technology. Shim adjustment is a bit more fiddly than the screw and locknut, but is still possible for DIYers and likely to give a more consistent and accurate valve clearance.

Suggesting that this will cause the engine to become unreliable is groundless and pointless

They haven't been used on Beemers until the HP2 Sport.

And I can't see any way that shims will give as accurate of a clearance as an infinitely adjustable screw, unless you use over sized ones that are individually hand-lapped to an exacting thickness to get identical clearances on the respective valves.

 

[jpooch00]

As always people state no failures, however my discs warped and I have big issues with engine case corrosion !!!!!!!!! try fixing the engine corrosion without bmw warrenty doing it ? And to answer the statement that shims have been around for a while blah blah well I suggest that shaft drives have been around probably even longer ? and again what has the number of posts got to do with peoples knowledge, reaserch and opinion ?

See what I mean? It's the same on all the GS forums.

Totally spurious and meaningless arguments when the facts show just the opposite. If these bikes were so reliable and durable, then there wouldn't be threads like this one.

Oh well... To each his own. My opinion is just that, an opinion.

 

[jpooch00]

2 posts and suddenly you are telling us our steeds are a load of shite

There is no doubt that BuMW have had some issues with the 1200 but the vast majority are riding around without having any problems. The unlucky few who have had issues shout very very loud and it skews the perception of the bike in my opinion. I've done 50k with only one issue which was dealt with promptly and efficiently and I'm a happy owner.

if anyone is green enough to think that other manufactureres are perfect and the grass is greener, you are diluded. I work in the truck industry and have known £100,000 trucks to be piles of shite but it doesn't mean they all are.

The 1200 is the best selling bike on the planet so perspective needs to be allowed here and of course, you don't have to buy one!

Speaking of "shite" - sorry but I'm pretty sure that you're full of it if you actually believe that these 1200's are anywhere close to the best selling bikes on the planet! If I'm wrong, then so be it, but show me some supporting figures.

 

[Mr K]

Speaking of "shite" - sorry but I'm pretty sure that you're full of it if you actually believe that these 1200's are anywhere close to the best selling bikes on the planet! If I'm wrong, then so be it, but show me some supporting figures.

You are wrong.

They are the best selling bike in their class.

See MCN.

Seems about your level.

 

[Twotter]

You are wrong.

They are the best selling bike in their class.

See MCN.

Seems about your level.

Play fair now, Sgt Bilco was the one who first said the R1200GS was the best selling bike on the planet and jpooch00 was replying to that.

Ding, ding, round two...

 

[jpooch00]

You are wrong.

They are the best selling bike in their class.

See MCN.

Seems about your level.

Best selling bike in class and best selling bike on the planet are two totally different things.

This argument is about YOUR level.

Sorry, but that's no argument at all.

Try again, don't give up!

 

[Twotter]

So at the risk of disrupting a fine debate augie), can I just ask jpooch00 what are you riding at the moment and what bikes, apart from the R1200GS, are you considering???

 

[jpooch00]

So at the risk of disrupting a fine debate augie), can I just ask jpooch00 what are you riding at the moment and what bikes, apart from the R1200GS, are you considering???

Hey Twotter,

Currently I'm riding a '94 Harley Dyna Convertible and an '82 FXE. In the past I've owned and loved my '73 Kawi Z1, a '75 Goldwing, and several other H-D's. Every one has been stone-reliable and they were/are all kept factory stock. The only total POS bike I've ever owned was a brand new '03 Road King - my first and last new Harley. What a total bummer THAT was! If I had done the research on that purchase that I've done on these GS's, I would never have bought it in the first place. I took a horrific financial hit getting rid of it, but I try to look at it philosophically as "an expensive learning experience". I have to say that I DID learn to do the research before jumping into something like that again!!

When I found out about "adventure riding" I thought that it would be something new and different to try and that led me to start researching the GS's. After about a year of reading all the web pages I could find (well, not ALL, but at least a few hundred!), I realized that these bikes just are not for me. I've been on again - off again about this for months now, but I'm just gonna have to follow my best guess and forget about it once and for all.

I was kind of taken in by all the hype for the new Ducati Multistrada 1200's, but I don't really believe for a minute that they're going to be as off-road-capable as a GS and I already have two pavement-oriented bikes. Plus, with all the electronic and electrical gizmos on this first-ever model...

So currently I'm not seriously considering any new-bike purchase. The only reason that I was thinking about a GS was to have a different riding experience, but I don't think that I would ever be really confident enough in its ability to get me home to fully enjoy owning one at this point, though.

So screw it. I'll just be happy with what I already have and save my $$$'s for something else.

Wishing you the best and ride safe.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Hey Twotter,

Currently I'm riding a '94 Harley Dyna Convertible and an '82 FXE. In the past I've owned and loved my '73 Kawi Z1, a '75 Goldwing, and several other H-D's. Every one has been stone-reliable and they were/are all kept factory stock. The only total POS bike I've ever owned was a brand new '03 Road King - my first and last new Harley. What a total bummer THAT was! If I had done the research on that purchase that I've done on these GS's, I would never have bought it in the first place. I took a horrific financial hit getting rid of it, but I try to look at it philosophically as "an expensive learning experience". I have to say that I DID learn to do the research before jumping into something like that again!!

When I found out about "adventure riding" I thought that it would be something new and different to try and that led me to start researching the GS's. After about a year of reading all the web pages I could find (well, not ALL, but at least a few hundred!), I realized that these bikes just are not for me. I've been on again - off again about this for months now, but I'm just gonna have to follow my best guess and forget about it once and for all.

I was kind of taken in by all the hype for the new Ducati Multistrada 1200's, but I don't really believe for a minute that they're going to be as off-road-capable as a GS and I already have two pavement-oriented bikes. Plus, with all the electronic and electrical gizmos on this first-ever model...

So currently I'm not seriously considering any new-bike purchase. The only reason that I was thinking about a GS was to have a different riding experience, but I don't think that I would ever be really confident enough in its ability to get me home to fully enjoy owning one at this point, though.

So screw it. I'll just be happy with what I already have and save my $$$'s for something else.

Wishing you the best and ride safe.

Good for you or better still get the bus, if it breaks down at least there will be another along in 15 mins. As for shims being garbage and rockers being better, you need to do some more research I think on that one. Rockers are levers and there are numerous wear points in them. Shims only have one wear point as far as needing adjustment. As a result most shim heads only need checking every 24000 miles most never needing adjusting until later on in life and in the car world never actually get adjusted in over 100000 miles of operation. Rockers on the other hand need constant adjustment so how accurate can they ever be if the clearance changes after only a few thousand miles? Sticking a strip of steel between two surfaces and going by feel is hardly accurate anyway and I know lots of people who couldn't accurately set tappets to save themselves. Couple that with the basic fact they need set regularly and there is no way you can possibly argue that a screw and locknut is more accurate. I am not defending BMW's use of going over to bucket and shim more the engineering principle that its simply more accurate, massively less prone to wear, much more efficient and will ultimately save large amounts of labour costs at service time. This is why just about every modern engine out there uses them.

 

[jpooch00]

Good for you or better still get the bus, if it breaks down at least there will be another along in 15 mins. As for shims being garbage and rockers being better, you need to do some more research I think on that one. Rockers are levers and there are numerous wear points in them. Shims only have one wear point as far as needing adjustment. As a result most shim heads only need checking every 24000 miles most never needing adjusting until later on in life and in the car world never actually get adjusted in over 100000 miles of operation. Rockers on the other hand need constant adjustment so how accurate can they ever be if the clearance changes after only a few thousand miles? Sticking a strip of steel between two surfaces and going by feel is hardly accurate anyway and I know lots of people who couldn't accurately set tappets to save themselves. Couple that with the basic fact they need set regularly and there is no way you can possibly argue that a screw and locknut is more accurate. I am not defending BMW's use of going over to bucket and shim more the engineering principle that its simply more accurate, massively less prone to wear, much more efficient and will ultimately save large amounts of labour costs at service time. This is why just about every modern engine out there uses them.

Yeah, uh huh. And the 1200's are the best selling bikes on the planet too!

I don't think so. But if it makes you feel better, then by all means keep believing that line of BS.

Cheers

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Yeah, uh huh. And the 1200's are the best selling bikes on the planet too!

I don't think so. But if it makes you feel better, then by all means keep believing that line of BS.

Cheers

OK, I meant to say that the 1200 is one of the best selling bikes on the planet so let's clear that one up It's certainley the best selling in it's class and there must be more than just marketing hype to back this up.

I really don't understand why you have even posted on this subject because you have obviously made your mind up you won't be buying one
I should think if you investigate everything to depth you have, you would be living in a feckin cave because nothing is 100%.

If you want a proper dual sport which will handle off road and tarmac, nothing else comes close IMHO. Other bikes are better on road, some better off road but nothing I have seen does both as well.

I've done the TAT, the Dalton highway, the Dempster and Top of the World Highway on my GS with my cousin on his 1200 and I can say they took an absolute hammering but did the job with no real worries. OK, we had to ride round a couple of issues but I don't think anything else would have done these tough roads and then get back on the highway to cruise serenely and comfortably 4000 miles back home.

Good luck with your search for the perfect bike.......

 

[Paul Wakefield]

As ever with most of these discussions, there seems to be a confusion over quality of finish and reliability.

Finish quality on BMs has been dodgy for at least the last decade in certain areas (notably front cover or fork braces on the earlier 1150). These are disappointing and not really acceptable but have no impact on reliability.

The 1200s are fairly reliable once you take into account 2 issues: The ring antenna and the fuel pump controller. The former appears to be solved (ages since I've seen a problem reported except where the replacement has not been carried out). The FPC seems largely sorted - reports seem well down. In any event one can carry a spare or know the workaround (again not ideal and probably unnecessary with the latest bikes but, if you are truly concerned about it, there is a solution).

Solve those two points and 1200s are pretty good by all accounts. Yes there are lemons out there and yes there are other issues (e.g. final drive) but I really don't get the impression that % failures are higher than for other brands. Anecdotal of course.

Just for the record my own personal experience is I've had more minor niggles (but nothing earth shattering) on my recent BMs whereas earlier ones (in the "more reliable" era) had more serious problems. Luck of the draw I suppose. (And, touch wood and maybe it is the benefit of ACF50, the finish on my 1200s have lasted far better than my 1150).

 

[beemerboy9]

USA vs Europe

No machine is perfectly reliable.
If my BM breaks down in Europe I am usually no more than 1.5 hours (60-70 miles) from a dealer.
If it broke down in the USA I would expect to be 1/2 day or more (250 miles+ ) away from a dealer - enough to seriously disrupt a holiday.

This would give me a different perspective on machine reliability (like the contributor from Boulder, Colorado).
Would others feel the same? But I am sure we would all still buy a BM because it is reliable enough

 

[Mike L]

I once had a pannier lock freeze. a squirt of WD 40 sorted it. Does that count as unreliable? Had the WD been in the wrong pannier I'd have been fooked.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

hang on a minute here, I have a serious suspicion that jpooch00 is someone else playing games. Nobody could actually be that blinkered and dumb at the same time, it has to be an act!

 

[jpooch00]

OK, I meant to say that the 1200 is one of the best selling bikes on the planet so let's clear that one up It's certainley the best selling in it's class and there must be more than just marketing hype to back this up.

I really don't understand why you have even posted on this subject because you have obviously made your mind up you won't be buying one
I should think if you investigate everything to depth you have, you would be living in a feckin cave because nothing is 100%.

If you want a proper dual sport which will handle off road and tarmac, nothing else comes close IMHO. Other bikes are better on road, some better off road but nothing I have seen does both as well.

I've done the TAT, the Dalton highway, the Dempster and Top of the World Highway on my GS with my cousin on his 1200 and I can say they took an absolute hammering but did the job with no real worries. OK, we had to ride round a couple of issues but I don't think anything else would have done these tough roads and then get back on the highway to cruise serenely and comfortably 4000 miles back home.

Good luck with your search for the perfect bike.......

Well, I totally agree that it's the best selling bike in its class. No argument on that.

I only finally made my mind up yesterday not to buy one of these bikes after coming to yet another forum - this one - and finding the same problems, issues and stranded stories that I've found on all of the others.

Anyway, after nearly 61 years I choose to do everything possible to help me to make financial decisions that produce the fewest disappointments and losses. I've had plenty and have tried to learn from them all. Plus, I don't have to have one of these bikes to be happy, as I stated earlier. After all, for me it would never be anything more than an expensive toy at best. I already own two great rides and I've simply decided not to spend what, for me, is a substantial amount of money on something that could very well prove to be nothing more than a huge aggravation and pain in the ass - been there, done that.

But everyone has to make their own decisions, mistakes, and triumphs. We're all different and to each his own.

Peace, and have a great new year, y'all.

 

[Big Nick]

Why someone who doesn't even own a GS would be commenting on this thread is beyond me?
Go out and own one for a year or two then let us know YOUR experiences not what you've read of somebody elses!

 

[Twotter]

Hey Twotter,

Currently I'm riding a '94 Harley Dyna Convertible and an '82 FXE. In the past I've owned and loved my '73 Kawi Z1, a '75 Goldwing, and several other H-D's. Every one has been stone-reliable and they were/are all kept factory stock. The only total POS bike I've ever owned was a brand new '03 Road King - my first and last new Harley. What a total bummer THAT was! If I had done the research on that purchase that I've done on these GS's, I would never have bought it in the first place. I took a horrific financial hit getting rid of it, but I try to look at it philosophically as "an expensive learning experience". I have to say that I DID learn to do the research before jumping into something like that again!!

When I found out about "adventure riding" I thought that it would be something new and different to try and that led me to start researching the GS's. After about a year of reading all the web pages I could find (well, not ALL, but at least a few hundred!), I realized that these bikes just are not for me. I've been on again - off again about this for months now, but I'm just gonna have to follow my best guess and forget about it once and for all.

I was kind of taken in by all the hype for the new Ducati Multistrada 1200's, but I don't really believe for a minute that they're going to be as off-road-capable as a GS and I already have two pavement-oriented bikes. Plus, with all the electronic and electrical gizmos on this first-ever model...

So currently I'm not seriously considering any new-bike purchase. The only reason that I was thinking about a GS was to have a different riding experience, but I don't think that I would ever be really confident enough in its ability to get me home to fully enjoy owning one at this point, though.

So screw it. I'll just be happy with what I already have and save my $$$'s for something else.

Wishing you the best and ride safe.

I'm a real virgo so I also like to do a lot of research into a prospective bike purchase too. I don't think I've had any bike be completely reliable as there was always something to consider. My current bike is a CBR1100XX and that broke down within a month of buying it, knackering the exhaust cats and burning a hole in my rukka trousers! £70 later I've had the loom fix done, datatool alarm removed and fitted a pair of shiny Micron cans. The supplying dealer owes me a free 24k service so I'm back on the road again and I love my bike to bits

The GS, in it's various forms, is very popular and this thread has shown a number of owners who have had problems but still rate their bikes enough to keep riding them, or stay with the brand. There has to be something in it

Nothing wrong with riding your own ride but a test ride wouldn't cost you anything and you might find the positives outweigh the negatives

Personally, I don't like the look of the 1200GS but that still leaves the earlier 1150/1100/850 oilheads, or even an airhead of some description.

Felix sit annus novus

 

[jpooch00]

I'm a real virgo so I also like to do a lot of research into a prospective bike purchase too. I don't think I've had any bike be completely reliable as there was always something to consider. My current bike is a CBR1100XX and that broke down within a month of buying it, knackering the exhaust cats and burning a hole in my rukka trousers! £70 later I've had the loom fix done, datatool alarm removed and fitted a pair of shiny Micron cans. The supplying dealer owes me a free 24k service so I'm back on the road again and I love my bike to bits

The GS, in it's various forms, is very popular and this thread has shown a number of owners who have had problems but still rate their bikes enough to keep riding them, or stay with the brand. There has to be something in it

Nothing wrong with riding your own ride but a test ride wouldn't cost you anything and you might find the positives outweigh the negatives

Personally, I don't like the look of the 1200GS but that still leaves the earlier 1150/1100/850 oilheads, or even an airhead of some description.

Felix sit annus novus

Actually, I DID do a couple of demo rides on the '09 adventure models. Demo bikes here need to accumulate 3000 miles before they are sold, so the dealers really encourage folks to do long rides. On the first, the fuel gauge was not functional at all and I was thinking "wow, this thing gets GREAT mileage!". When I mentioned it to the sales guy he said something like "Yeah, that's a problem with most of these bikes".

On the second, on a different bike at a different dealership, it started running rough about 5 miles out and was running on one cylinder when I limped back in to the dealership. The sales guy told me that it was the second time that had happened with that bike and that the service techs couldn't find anything wrong with it. Sure enough, when he re-started it, it ran just fine.

That's when I had my WTF! moment and started researching these bikes & found out about all (or at least a lot) of the common and on-going issues with them.

I totally agree, demo rides are great!

Cheers

 

[aligar1]

r1200

Hi
Had mine since Jan o9 up todate 8k, not a thing wrong keeps getting better,but i do have 2 years cover via BMW.

Having said this i did have a 1150gs, and apart from a new gear box in two and half years it ran fine,but mileage got the best of me.

Can I wish all you Tossers a HAPPY NEW YEAR and trouble free:
beer: