I broke my New R1200GS!

[Slowcoach]

I don't b****y believe it? Huh, Victor Meldrew was a lucky bloke!

2018 R1200GS LC TE model, 670 miles on the clock. Rode it home after its first service. Oil leak on the garage floor morning after; under the swing arm pivot point.

Called dealer, bike collected for diagnosis.The result is..

Top of the range rear shock bust, oil splattered all over the back end. Too close to the rear tyre for comfort, thank goodness the mudsling was fitted.

Dealer says "never seen this before" shock unit can't be repaired and will be totally replaced under warranty.

Question, unlucky or common fault?

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Should have bought a Ducati

 

[JJH]

I’m surprised you didn’t notice it on the way home handling wise. JJH

 

[Blackal]

I’m not convinced that the shocks fitted are ‘quality’ - I think they prob just rely on clever electronics, to work.

Reckon good manual shocks are better, and Wilbers E-shocks -the best.

But - could you justify that on top of the current RRP of the bikes?

Hope it gets back on the road soon

 

[Traffic893]

Unlucky, unless there has been a dodgey batch of shocks fitted. Time will tell.

 

[Boxerlust]

Those shocks are made by SACHS and not OHLIN$$$...
But I remember 12 years ago on my then new R1200S my Ohlins front shock took a leak at only 600 miles...warranty replaced it and then never another problem for 60K miles.

 

[JJH]

Also I’d be checking the rear wheel/tyre just in case the test ride included a jump or 2 JJH

 

[Slowcoach]

Mmmmm

Should have bought a Ducati

After I had exhausted my vocabulary of expletives it did cross my mind!

Here was me thinking the 1200 would be well sorted by now!..what a fool lol

 

[Slowcoach]

I’m surprised you didn’t notice it on the way home handling wise. JJH

It went a bit soggy as I was getting near home but on inspection I did not see any oil leaks. Seems to have weeped out of the shock overnight...

 

[JJH]

I presume the outer seal was the last to give way. JJH

 

[zoltan]

I don't b****y believe it? Huh, Victor Meldrew was a lucky bloke!

2018 R1200GS LC TE model, 670 miles on the clock. Rode it home after its first service. Oil leak on the garage floor morning after; under the swing arm pivot point.

Called dealer, bike collected for diagnosis.The result is..

Top of the range rear shock bust, oil splattered all over the back end. Too close to the rear tyre for comfort, thank goodness the mudsling was fitted.

Dealer says "never seen this before" shock unit can't be repaired and will be totally replaced under warranty.

Question, unlucky or common fault?

It happened on my RT but it had 17000 miles, replaced under warranty. They had to replace the handle bar controller as well. Total cost was just under £2000...in 2009

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

Slippy question is that, needs some thought...........

 

[Skid06]

there's nothing top of the range about the Sach's shock, Monkey Metal budget job and the new 1250 will be the same..
you want a pair of the these

 

[beaver]

there's nothing top of the range about the Sach's shock, Monkey Metal budget job and the new 1250 will be the same..
you want a pair of the these

mine is a non-ESA... and thats where I intend to go in the future... anyone selling some??

 

[Boxerlust]

@skid06 - that is what I run on my 17 GSA.Ohlins TTX with a 170 nm rear spring.
Good shocks but the yellow fault triangle is always on.But compared to the ESA-Sachs I think a slight improvement but not a 2K improvement...I think BMW should collaborate with Ohlins and give us ESA-Ohlins as a factory option where you can set the spring-rate for your weight

 

[Skid06]

@skid06 - that is what I run on my 17 GSA.Ohlins TTX with a 170 nm rear spring.
Good shocks but the yellow fault triangle is always on.But compared to the ESA-Sachs I think a slight improvement but not a 2K improvement...I think BMW should collaborate with Ohlins and give us ESA-Ohlins as a factory option where you can set the spring-rate for your weight

I agree with all that you say..they should up their game with the top of the range stuff with an ohlins, wp option, the Sachs Shocks are nearing 2k so no difference on price really..on my 16 LC its a huge improvement..but it does have the 17" front

 

[spoonz]

Problem is that if BMW fit ohlins as oem they won't be much better than the sachs. Oem Ohlins are not built by Ohlins and are mass produced in the far east to be cheap and the ohlins name is more of a licensing deal than much else.

I have had 3 Aprilia bikes, 2 of which had oem ohlins and 1 had Showa. The Ohlins blew seals on a regular basis and the Showa model had by far the better suited ride quality for road use. The TTX in pics above is a totally different animal to the oem stuff.

 

[Morety]

Problem is that if BMW fit ohlins as oem they won't be much better than the sachs. Oem Ohlins are not built by Ohlins and are mass produced in the far east to be cheap and the ohlins name is more of a licensing deal than much else.

I have had 3 Aprilia bikes, 2 of which had oem ohlins and 1 had Showa. The Ohlins blew seals on a regular basis and the Showa model had by far the better suited ride quality for road use. The TTX in pics above is a totally different animal to the oem stuff.

Agree. I had a few Aprilias too. My 2001 RSV never blew front seals which is more than I can say for the 2004 RSVR with ohlins forks. To be fair, it was the design of the seal that was the real issue. I changed mine for the twin lipped version used on the R1 and never had any further issues. The Ohlins rear shock I found a country mile better than the standard Showa though, which, if pushed hard (lets say on a second run round the mountain at the IoM LoL) overheated and the damping just became all soggy and errr....interesting, especially when cranked over at 140+ mph!

 

[Morety]

Problem is that if BMW fit ohlins as oem they won't be much better than the sachs. Oem Ohlins are not built by Ohlins and are mass produced in the far east to be cheap and the ohlins name is more of a licensing deal than much else.

I have had 3 Aprilia bikes, 2 of which had oem ohlins and 1 had Showa. The Ohlins blew seals on a regular basis and the Showa model had by far the better suited ride quality for road use. The TTX in pics above is a totally different animal to the oem stuff.

Agree. I had a few Aprilias too. My 2001 RSV never blew front seals which is more than I can say for the 2004 RSVR with ohlins forks. To be fair, it was the design of the seal that was the real issue. I changed mine for the twin lipped version used on the R1 and never had any further issues. The Ohlins rear shock I found a country mile better than the standard Showa though, which, if pushed hard (lets say on a second run round the mountain at the IoM LoL) overheated and the damping just became all soggy and errr....interesting, especially when cranked over at 140+ mph!

BTW...I remember your handle from Aprilia performance forum....small world! We may have even met at one of Griff's dos...(assuming you're the same Spoonz?)

 

[squibb34]

Probably not much option other than OE for our unfortunate OP, when under warranty.

My K16 blew the front by 4k, could have been earlier & then cleaned up prior to trade-in. Absolute piece of crap & the replacement was never that convincing, but at least it didn't leak.

Wilbers seem the best value option IMHO. 5yr guarantee, can be customised to the owners needs & can be rebuilt.