in praise of the 12GS??!!

[Hector]

Warranty

My 05 plate has done 26K .I didn't extend theWarranty, but gear box seals were replaced at Bhanstormer foc,although the warranty was six weeks over. with 24k. recorded. No other problems since new. Good idea to build up a reserve fund.

 

[Ali-bear]

... The GS may have all the "Modern" trappings like Electronic Engine Management, Fuel Injection, Cat Converters etc etc but in General Engineering Terms it is a very basic piece of kit. We all know that the Design (engine/transmission) goes back to the Arc and as such should be one of the most refined and reliable Motorcycles on the Road, but it isn,t. I think the fact that the GS has sold by the Truck Load is because it,s being a "Blinding Ride" which was more down to luck on BMW,s part rather than them actually setting out with this as an end result. ....

Another way of reading this is that it is a well proven design that is now highly refined.

The reason you have all heard of so many problems on here is because this is the place folk come to when they have problems with their bikes.

Love my GS

 

[NoBMNoMore]

Same Dilemma

I had the same dilemma a year ago - except the warranty was only £470. I folded as I had already had a new gear box after 1000 miles and various other issues. I agree with the other comments. If the 1200 is so reliable why would the warranty insurance be so high? It is almost bound to go wrong. At least that is what they (BMW/insurance company) think! Read the TWO article of last month about BMW build quality. Everone (other than BMW) thought quality had fallen dramatically with the new ranges.
I won't do it again. You will never have as fruitless and icy conversation as the one you have with BMW 'Customer Service' when it all goes wrong. Good luck.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

IIf the 1200 is so reliable why would the warranty insurance be so high?

Not just the 1200. I believe the 1150s were the same price more or less and they seem to be perceived as generally more reliable though not without problems.

You will never have as fruitless and icy conversation as the one you have with BMW 'Customer Service' when it all goes wrong. Good luck.

Never been my experience. I have had excellent BM support.

Personally I wouldn't pay for the extra warranty but save the money and try for BM goodwill in the event of a major problem.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

There are plenty of crashed ones for s/h parts ,so not realy a problem i have picked up some s/h parts just in case, & will sell on if i sell the bike for a different bike (not much chance of that) as i love it

Done the same here Mark

For example, got a very low mileage FD for just over a ton on Fleabay.

Andres

 

[Davy F]

I had the same dilemma a year ago - except the warranty was only £470. I folded as I had already had a new gear box after 1000 miles and various other issues. I agree with the other comments. If the 1200 is so reliable why would the warranty insurance be so high? It is almost bound to go wrong. At least that is what they (BMW/insurance company) think! Read the TWO article of last month about BMW build quality. Everone (other than BMW) thought quality had fallen dramatically with the new ranges.
I won't do it again. You will never have as fruitless and icy conversation as the one you have with BMW 'Customer Service' when it all goes wrong. Good luck.

I take it that this is a first and last post then..........

 

[NoBMNoMore]

Not quite the last post

'but save the money and try for BM goodwill in the event of a major problem'

Right up there with 'I have in my hand a piece of paper' for sheer naivety and wishful thinking!

This is a bike with problems, six-hundred pounds plus is alot of money. BMW won't bail you out (stand on me on that one) and your bike will almost certainly fail mechanically in some way.
God I am a sunny bugger.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Right up there with 'I have in my hand a piece of paper' for sheer naivety and wishful thinking!

..........BMW won't bail you out (stand on me on that one) ........

Well I was speaking from experience so unless they have changed very recently, I reckon they are pretty reasonable on goodwill. Perhaps its my sunny disposition.

 

[ktmmark]

Done the same here Mark

For example, got a very low mileage FD for just over a ton on Fleabay.

Andres

I have a gearbox (7000 mile) + FD (1000 mile ) fuel pump (new) tank & sidepanel plastics, spare rear spoked rear wheel
So Andres if you have a problem call me (thats what friend are for)

 

[GUZZZI]

How many GS12's including ADV's have been sold in the UK does anyone know the figure???? There are lots of stories of WOE but how do the risk figures actually stack up?? Everything has a risk but if we have the right data we can informed decisions based on that and maybe the the amount ofspare wedge in the bank.
So how many have been sold in the UK ???

 

[supergooner]

1200 GS So far so good! i hope!

Hi MARK,

I have an 06 plate GS and love it!

So far so good. The only thing (and all you out there who really know about the engine might be able to help) is when i am in 2nd gear between 4.5 to 5 thousand rev's i have suddenly noticed a strange sound, wait for it, like a whum whum whum whum noise!? stick it in third and it stops. Doesnt do it in any other gear only 2nd. Even my Mrs noticed it!

I have no idea what it is and my local dealer say they couldnt find anything wrong and not to worry. Oh, and i still have another 6 months warranty left. Any ideas folks?

For a bike marketed for its alleged reliability, we shouldnt have to pay for EW after only 2 years!

Cheers

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

isn't that the classic 'harmonics' noise on the GS? Mine does it, sounds like a weird surging sound but it happens in most gears if you keep the revs constant.

Think there has been a lot of discussion on it before

 

[ktmmark]

Hi MARK,

I have an 06 plate GS and love it!

So far so good. The only thing (and all you out there who really know about the engine might be able to help) is when i am in 2nd gear between 4.5 to 5 thousand rev's i have suddenly noticed a strange sound, wait for it, like a whum whum whum whum noise!? stick it in third and it stops. Doesnt do it in any other gear only 2nd. Even my Mrs noticed it!

I use ear plugs works on both the wife & the whum whum noise

 

[Deleted Member I]

Well worth buying the extended warranty!

I was rescued by BMW assistance last Saturday after a major failure on my bike ..

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Three year warrantee

Obviously the mileage will be important as well as the sort of riding - and lay off period if any. After two years I had about 10,000 kms on the clock and I visited my dealer for his advice about an extra service whilst the guarantee still operated. (A three year warantee here is ONLY for bikes bought on a three year HP.)
The dealer put on his helmet and gloves and rode off on my bike, returning in about 15 minutes to say -"don't bother."
Now, a year later with another 6,000 kms on the clock, I can see that he was right.

 

[brianmaslen]

Warranty woes

Interesting topic this one, I faced a similar situation when my BMW 530 reached the end of 3 year warranty, £970 for an extended year. I paid the money and claimed 9 months later for a replacement diff which would have cost over £2k. I had decided that I would use an independent for servicing as under the terms of the warranty and international law you do not have to use a main dealer providing the work is carried out to the same standard and OEM parts are used. I drive just under 30k per year and the "insurance" was for peace of mind. However when my bike gets to 2 years and approx 15k miles I shall this time bank the money and take my chances, unless of course I see something expensive on the horizon.