Has your GS1200 been reliable...or not?

[theop]

its a shi&e piece of plastic seal, the size of 20p.. Real piece of cr@p worth 2pence that demands the whole bike being dismantled in order to get to it. Like 9hrs of labour at a specialist. Had mine done twice before I sold the bike.. Unbelievable that BMW did not care to design such a weak link to be easier to get to, or make it stronger.

It was the single most serious reason why I sold it. That and the fD failure it sustained.

 

[Wberesford]

2010 30 Year Anv edition
1800 miles on it
1.5months old
Needs new Fog light switch.....

At this point, it is only fair indeed worthy that I mention the BMW team (Northampton) who are sourcing a new switch and will arrange the replacing of it all. Now it is support like this that must get factored into the overall cost of these machines!

That said -

Would I let that put me off of the bike? NOPE! Not a chance. Would I buy another one or recommend one to someone else - YEP absolutely!

Cheers

WB

 

[theop]

hahaa, thats all you need to know WB! 1.5 months old and here we go! May your GS experience be faultless mate, but statistically you are running a slim chance.

Lets see how you fare in 3 years and 20k miles.

 

[bisbee]

Sadly it's a no from me as I watch the recovery truck take it back to the main agents with suspected final drive failure at just 13000 miles

 

[paulhull]

I'm on my second GS and - touch wood - this one hasn't missed a beat over 14000miles since March 09.

BUT - my previous GS left me stranded twice. On the first occasion in southern Spain and when the dealer looked at it they could find no fault altho' the diagnostics showed it had stopped and repeatedly refused to start again. The bike started when it was at the dealers.
On the second occasion, fortunately I was only a hundred miles away and this time the dealer identified the fuel sender unit (I think I've got that right, it's the common fault I have seen referred to on here) as the problem and replaced it.

I got rid of that bike when the warranty was running out and bought an RT.

Having said that I've gone back to the GS and love it. Rode an RT last week when my bike was being serviced and didn't really enjoy it all.

 

[casperfelix]

Had a 2003 1150GS that I took from 18k miles to 40k odd and apart from regular service items it purred.
I've taken my current 2008 1200GSA from 7k miles to 12k in the last 3 months and apart from warped front discs (replaced under initial warranty) and a dodgy fuel meter (replaced under initial warranty) it's also purred.
Must admit I'm a realist about what you can expect from any piece of machinery and my BMs surpass my realistic expectations. My current bike is a brilliant bit of kit. Have added a Sargent seat and it is now the perfect short, long any distance cruiser.

 

[rogerdodge]

well ive got the bike back on the road at last after a 6 week wait,
while they were replacing the crank shaft oil seal they noticed the gearbox input shaft seal was weeping, thats the one i had replaced 10k ago the one that bmw have supposd to have modified, so let me see thats three oil seals replaced in 28k not bad going. i did suggest they put a couple of hinges in the middle of the bike so i can change the seals myself in future.oh! and by the way, while i'm on a roll ive just had it mot'd and they said that the rear brake had some fluctuation when they tested it, what's that mean then say's i, your disc could be warped say's he.
happy days.

 

[David Lee]

yes, my 2007 GS A has been reliable.

Nothing major at all in 26k

 

[D6]

check out all the other manufacturer forums

All modern bike manufacturers have reliability issues, BM gets knocked more for it than others, due to price and previous high standard.



Problem with hi tech is reliability, as it relies on electrical circuitry

i do check out other forums, bmw reliability still seems the worse,
bmw had PREVIOUS HIGH STANDARDS, you got it right there, not so good now, more money? id expect a better bike?
hi tech? reliable?
the japs manage to put those words in one sentence just fine

 

[Wberesford]

hahaa, thats all you need to know WB! 1.5 months old and here we go! May your GS experience be faultless mate, but statistically you are running a slim chance.

Lets see how you fare in 3 years and 20k miles.

Update - after me doing some chasing of the dealer the issue is I am glad to say "sorted"

Not expected I have to say (the failure) but it is after all a numbers game! To be honest the issue for a new bike owner shouldn't be one of bike reliability it, as people correctly point out.......it should already be there! However, the way your dealer reacts / responds when there is an issue will be the deciding factor.....right now I am smug knowing that I have a 2 year warranty.........and that is what part of my outlay pays for!

Cheers

WB

 

[coyotedave]

Other than the recalls, which have never let me down, mine has been faultless. 2007 gs. Going in today for its 1st MOT, 37k and counting.

If i have any problems now i blame you lot.

 

[Demonbaker]

Bought my 2009GS ex Demo bike from NOG with 2500 miles on the clock, now had the bike for 14 months and nearly 10,000 miles. Been over to France a couple of times and Scotland and back in a weekend, also ridden off road a few times and never had a problem.

 

[GeorgeH]

Had mine from new.... the ignition switch failed, headlight leaked...replacement headlight broke, engine/gearbox seal replaced, usual fd seal replaced, fd failed, driveshaft failed, replacement fd failed. Went Japanese. For me I lost confidence in its reliability so she had to go.
I want a few years experimenting with others...

 

[Sgt Bilco]

hahaa, thats all you need to know WB! 1.5 months old and here we go! May your GS experience be faultless mate, but statistically you are running a slim chance.

Lets see how you fare in 3 years and 20k miles.

Feck me, you just never give in. Are you related to my ex wife because she was like a stuck record

The reality of the 1200 is, they have sold 1000's so more bikes will have issues but I reckon it's a small percentage that have real ongoing problems. I would hazard a guess that it's about the ame problem rate as any other manufacturer.

I personally think anyone who experiences a lot of problems is pretty unlucky.

 

[(RIP) Johno23]

Feck me, you just never give in. Are you related to my ex wife because she was like a stuck record

The reality of the 1200 is, they have sold 1000's so more bikes will have issues but I reckon it's a small percentage that have real ongoing problems. I would hazard a guess that it's about the ame problem rate as any other manufacturer.

I personally think anyone who experiences a lot of problems is pretty unlucky.

That sounds about right, i believe it's one of the best selling bikes in the uk.

 

[L'Escargot]

Mmmmmm !

2009 GSA,bought new.Had some probs early on due to crap service (1st one)
Not set up properly !!
Now,nearly 20,000 miles later,Croatia,Hungary,Prague (cant spell Czechoslovakia !) etc,I still love the bloody ugly thing !

Just had Fuel Gauge pack up,dealer said 'Ah another one' !! Anyone else had this problem ? They said they do a quick fix but it may not last very long !!!!

Apparently its due an update or something !

Apart from the above,its been fine,and out in all weathers.

I think the service intervals are a joke though,not enough miles and too much bloody money !

 

[Yellow Peril]

2006 gsa 46000 miles still going strong great bike

 

[(RIP) Johno23]

2009 GSA,bought new.Had some probs early on due to crap service (1st one)
Not set up properly !!
Now,nearly 20,000 miles later,Croatia,Hungary,Prague (cant spell Czechoslovakia !) etc,I still love the bloody ugly thing !

Just had Fuel Gauge pack up,dealer said 'Ah another one' !! Anyone else had this problem ? They said they do a quick fix but it may not last very long !!!!

Apparently its due an update or something !

Apart from the above,its been fine,and out in all weathers.

I think the service intervals are a joke though,not enough miles and too much bloody money !

Had the same problem with gauge/computer, ran out of petrol when telling me i had 31 miles to go.The dealer recalibrated it but haven't tested it yet, will rely on odometer instead.

Have to agree about the service intervals and cost though .Although the valve clearances will always require adjustment on 6000 miles.

 

[stross]

07 12.000 miles knocking on left hand side cylinder droped valve or top end will find out thursday or friday 3 hours for the rac no good

 

[Glyno]

05 27k miles. perrrrrrrrfect thanks