It's gone a bit bubbly
- Thread starter solidback
- Start date
solidback
Registered user
All I wanted was some idea if this was a known problem with the final drive.
52blackshadow
Registered user
My 2 pennorth.............
My winter hack (R1100RT) has been abused over the past 5 or 6 winters, and the front engine casing hasn't started to bubble yet. My 1200GS was used for a month earlier this winter and when washed down half the paint flaked away fromthe front engine cover.
Anyone who says the 1200 is as well finished as the older oilheads needs to take a serious look at the latest models. U have run BMWs as primary transport for over 20 years, and have reccomended them to hundreds of people looking for practical bikes to ride. Recently I've not felt able to reccomend BMW to anyone, and when I get round to doing something about it I'll be getting rid of my 1200GS and looking for a nice KTM to replace it.
Ride safe,
Shad.
My winter hack (R1100RT) has been abused over the past 5 or 6 winters, and the front engine casing hasn't started to bubble yet. My 1200GS was used for a month earlier this winter and when washed down half the paint flaked away fromthe front engine cover.
Anyone who says the 1200 is as well finished as the older oilheads needs to take a serious look at the latest models. U have run BMWs as primary transport for over 20 years, and have reccomended them to hundreds of people looking for practical bikes to ride. Recently I've not felt able to reccomend BMW to anyone, and when I get round to doing something about it I'll be getting rid of my 1200GS and looking for a nice KTM to replace it.
Ride safe,
Shad.
You are wasting your breath Solidback.
You wont break through, they are all like a stick of rock with BMW stamped all the way through it.
BMW have very clevery built up a cult convention throughout the world and brainwashed the lot of them.
I had to laugh at the guy who said ACF50 is crap...........
It is the best corrosion preventative product in existence.
Get it sorted under warranty and then consider your options like I am.
If you want a private chat just mention it here and we can exchange mail addresses and discuss the true side of these machines.
I find that very insulting BMW TEKKY, but I will let it wash over my head, because I am thick skinned, when your as ugly as I am, you have to be
blackshadow, everyone knows the finnish on BMW's have been going down, and its not all explained in water based paints either, I to have a R1100Rt and it is corrosion free, replacing parts because of paint problems, must be costing the manufacturer a fortune, and for that reason, they should be looking into the problem, but from what others say, it may not be an isolated case, but it doesnt effect every bike, as others have pointed out, and other manufacturers have problem also, my fazer 600 is so bad, that I cant risk taking it out, where as my Divvie 900 is much better, but not perfect.
Shep
Shep of the Dessert
Its a known problem, the front engine cover corrosion is a very common fault, the final drive corrosion is less common but happens occasionally.
Your dealer should replace the parts under warrantee, and before anybody tells you that the 1150's are better, thats bollocks, many many 1150's have corrosion issues especially the fork brace and fork legs and alot have the same engine cover issues.
Get them changed ASAP and enjoy your bike
BTW i feel under use is the biggest problem most GS's suffer with so get out and use it
Shep
I've ridden mine in Winter-but not this one granted...
Through the Sahara.
On beaches.
Dropped five times....off road, once at 55mph.
And nothing to moan about........18500miles..... I think the more you fuss, wash and use chemicals the worst it will get.
Jet wash, WD40
Every two/three months fuss over it with a bit of polish........and as Shep said-use it. It loves getting warm.....
Through the Sahara.
On beaches.
Dropped five times....off road, once at 55mph.
And nothing to moan about........18500miles..... I think the more you fuss, wash and use chemicals the worst it will get.
Jet wash, WD40
Every two/three months fuss over it with a bit of polish........and as Shep said-use it. It loves getting warm.....
Whats corrosion?? Should I be worried my 1983 r80g/s will catch it 
If I park it next to a rufty tufty 1200???
Saying that, my 1952...250cc BMW single is better finished than my 1980 R100cs
If I park it next to a rufty tufty 1200???Saying that, my 1952...250cc BMW single is better finished than my 1980 R100cs
solidback
Registered user
Thanks for the replys everyone, I think some may have percieved my post as a moan... it wasn't, I was just after info.
I really like the bike and use it in preference to the car whenever possible. Looking forward to the better weather and as many hours in the saddle as I can squeeze in.
I really like the bike and use it in preference to the car whenever possible. Looking forward to the better weather and as many hours in the saddle as I can squeeze in.
Hi solidback
I don`t think most of us thought you were moaning, just asking a question. Hope your dealer sorts it which i`m sure they will
Unfortunately, a few people on this site like to use any opportunity to slag off the product when in reality, it`s a great product with some issues which we all know about. Feck me, even Bentley and Boeing have issues
The sooner they feck off and buy a KTM/Yamaha orwhatever they think is the dogs bollox and find out that nothing is perfect the better
.
No, I`m not blind to the GS issues but like to put some perspective on things!
I don`t think most of us thought you were moaning, just asking a question. Hope your dealer sorts it which i`m sure they will
Unfortunately, a few people on this site like to use any opportunity to slag off the product when in reality, it`s a great product with some issues which we all know about. Feck me, even Bentley and Boeing have issues
The sooner they feck off and buy a KTM/Yamaha orwhatever they think is the dogs bollox and find out that nothing is perfect the better
. No, I`m not blind to the GS issues but like to put some perspective on things!
Shep
Shep of the Dessert
Hi solidback
I don`t think most of us thought you were moaning, just asking a question. Hope your dealer sorts it which i`m sure they will
Unfortunately, a few people on this site like to use any opportunity to slag off the product when in reality, it`s a great product with some issues which we all know about. Feck me, even Bentley and Boeing have issues
The sooner they feck off and buy a KTM/Yamaha orwhatever they think is the dogs bollox and find out that nothing is perfect the better
No, I`m not blind to the GS issues but like to put some perspective on things!
Well said
I can never understand people that always want to piss on other peoples fire, if they dont like a product, don't buy it, of course tell people if you have problems then all can make a judgment, but the acidity that some people seem to save up just to post on t'internet only leaves me feeling a little sorry for them, it always comes across as a little sad.
Get out and ride the bikes and stop bleating
Shep
ts2
Registered user
Just a question, is your rear brake OK? Only reason I ask, is brake fluid is a pretty good paint stripper, and the pic reminds me of the bubbling you get when you use paint stripper.
Anyhow I'm only 800 miles into owning my bike (6000 total for the bike), and no problems so far. If some on here are to be believed I'm going to die when the servo brakes fail, and the wheel rusts off.
So far I've not died, but it could be any day now! It was nice knowing you all!
TobyS
Anyhow I'm only 800 miles into owning my bike (6000 total for the bike), and no problems so far. If some on here are to be believed I'm going to die when the servo brakes fail, and the wheel rusts off.
So far I've not died, but it could be any day now! It was nice knowing you all!
TobyS
Colin Brown
Registered user
Hi
2005 gs Mint - and I am a big stick of BMW rock every time I look at the Bike. Driving you could'nt wipe the smile off my face if it fell to bits.
2005 gs Mint - and I am a big stick of BMW rock every time I look at the Bike. Driving you could'nt wipe the smile off my face if it fell to bits.
Paul Mac
Guest
Well I like to piss on BMW's parade because the 1200GS is a heap of shite. Worst bike I ever owned and cost me thousands to get rid of the POS. All you idiots who swallow the line that BMW are a quality motorcycle builder pull your heads out of your asses and look at the crap that BMW now try to pass off as a premium product. NEVER again will I waste my money on these crappy designed and crappy built toys.
Not bad for a four year old!........D.O.B....May 5 2003?
So what you are really saying is that you are not a big fan then................
Narcoda
Registered user
unfortunately you little outburst
says more about you than it does Bmw Gs 
- hope you are enjoying your new...car?
Thank you for enlighting us to the quality issues BMW are suffering, us being idiots with our heads up our arses, means that we would never have known that, they do pass them of as a premium product, which now that you have pointed it out, are clearly failing, maybe you would consider being our leader, as your clearly much brighter than the rest of us, and as you have shown we need someone to think for us, we could name you Wolf, and if you agree, you can call us sheep, how does that sound
Davy F
Registered user
About time for a little reality check.
Look at the Japanese bikes that have been ridden throughout the year in all weathers. They are no better and plenty are worse than some of the examples I've seen here. But because we pay a premium, we like to slag off any failing in the product (it seems). And there is a sort of Catch 22. Plenty of GS owners ride throughout the winter and hope to get by with minimal care. The only time any of my bikes made it pretty much through a winter without any corrosion issues was my TDM850 Yamaha (a bike not known for its durable finish). However, I had covered the thing with WaxOil, and I mean coverd it ! I didn't wash it down once and come the end of Spring, I cleaned it all off and was pleased to find it had done very well. Parts of the exhaust were the main casualties and some minor rust on things like the horn bracket.
So if you do want to ride through the winter, forget about WD40, ACF50 etc. WaxOil is the way to go.......but bear in mind that it just won't look too pretty by the end of the sad season, until you clean it.
Look at the Japanese bikes that have been ridden throughout the year in all weathers. They are no better and plenty are worse than some of the examples I've seen here. But because we pay a premium, we like to slag off any failing in the product (it seems). And there is a sort of Catch 22. Plenty of GS owners ride throughout the winter and hope to get by with minimal care. The only time any of my bikes made it pretty much through a winter without any corrosion issues was my TDM850 Yamaha (a bike not known for its durable finish). However, I had covered the thing with WaxOil, and I mean coverd it ! I didn't wash it down once and come the end of Spring, I cleaned it all off and was pleased to find it had done very well. Parts of the exhaust were the main casualties and some minor rust on things like the horn bracket.
So if you do want to ride through the winter, forget about WD40, ACF50 etc. WaxOil is the way to go.......but bear in mind that it just won't look too pretty by the end of the sad season, until you clean it.
I'm not a BMW groupie (ride KTM) but nevertheless I would be intereted to know what make of bike you are going to get that wont rust / corrode at all with salty british winter roads.
Pressurized
Registered user
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Erm, KTM.
No, really, I've been very impressed with my 990. I can't say it hasn't corroded at all - the screws holding on the end cans are pretty brown - but that is it. Apart from the short section of exhaust pipe immediately d/s of the cylinder, but that would polish out. Nothing like engine casings or subframes - they are mint.
I've used it pretty much throughout winter and clean it about once a fortnight with lots of water. It gets a liberal spray of FS365 afterwards but that's all.
My old 1200 GS got the same treatment but didn't fare half so well.
Sorry, guys, but it's a fact. KTMs are better made than BMWs.
Narcoda
Registered user
who cares if KTM are supposed to be made better than BMW?... i bought a GS thats why i use the GS forum, i didnt want a KTM otherwise i would have bought one...
The issue of bike corrosion (any bike) is much similar to human ageing
... it will definately happen, but its about making the most of what you got when you got it... fed up? rusty bits? we'll all look old one day...live for the moment, stop making plans, start living, ride your GS into the ground, throw it away and buy another one...choose life!
