New To GS's, Advice on Maintenance?

[james0133]

I am looking to move from sports bikes to a GS1200 for a trip and its looking like a 2007 model. I am after some advice on the maintenance of these bikes.
I have had bikes all my life and I've always done my own maintenance but people are telling me that with BMW you need to plug them in. Do people do there own maintenance and if so is a diagnostic software needed and where is the best place to get it?
Any advice would be really appreciated apart from "it is not a good idea to do your own maintenance" because I believe a home mechanic with the correct tools will do, if anything a better job.
Thanks

 

[Canuck]

MAINTENANCE

Well there is a little gizmo call a gs911. Do a search for it on here... and google... you'll learn all you need to know. Well you'll learn about the gs911 thing... I can't comment on what you'll need the rest of the time you are awake

 

[Stevie73]

Good luck! Whatever you do, don't ask about oil!! 20/50, but I didn't tell ya...

 

[Pukmeister]

Welcome to the mad house.

You could start by looking here:

http://www.r1200gs.info/howto/

As far as the electronics/software goes, the bikes are pretty reliable and need no input from the owner at service time. A few people are doing their own servicing on 1200 models once out of warranty (myself included) and as the design is an evolution of the boxer twin, they are mechanically similar to previous designs and are easy/user friendly to work on.

The GS-911 device is on my birthday present list.

 

[RickG]

If you are used to doing your own servicing you'll be pleased by how easy a GS/a is to work on compared to pretty much anything else, mostly because the bits you need to get at are sticking out in your face, but also because most everything else doesn't need messing with as the computer takes care of it. No need for special tools, shims or anything complicated for normal stuff.

If it goes wrong then plugging it in may be necessary to diagnose something like a sensor fault but I'd not worry until circumstances dictate. If you feel happier seeing what the computer has in mind, then the GS-911 is a neat tool, or just get a dealer to hook it up for a fault check alone.

 

[james0133]

Thanks a lot Guys! I am glad to hear there are people out there working on there own bikes, regardless of what dealers would have you believe.
I found it the same with Ducati motorcycles, where they would have you believe that it is some sort of dark art to maintain them and can only be carried out by magicians working alone in laboratory's. Where as the truth of it Ducatis are easier and nicer to work on that Japanese bikes, but the workshop side of BMW and Ducati, would I imagine be a very lucrative side of the business.

 

[james0133]

Do you have to have the GS-911 to change the break fluid, which I believe also involves testing the ABS system?
I presume a service light comes on if you service the bike your self but don't use the GS-911?

 

[Pukmeister]

Do you have to have the GS-911 to change the break fluid, which I believe also involves testing the ABS system?
I presume a service light comes on if you service the bike your self but don't use the GS-911?

People have changed their ABS system fluid without doing the pressure test afterwards without problems. Basically it holds the brakes on and checks the pressure doesn't drop eg air being compressed in the brake system.

On the earlier bikes there is no service light to come on (thankfully).

 

[RickG]

Changed my (ABS) brake fluid OK without computer assistance, as have lots of others. Cautionary road test afterward to check OK before letting rip.

 

[Pukmeister]

Changed my (ABS) brake fluid OK without computer assistance, as have lots of others. Cautionary road test afterward to check OK before letting rip.

Any advice, I need to do mine this week.

 

[EasySushi]

Any advice, I need to do mine this week.

Hi Pukmeister,

Your welcome to pop over to mine, I live near Liphook, I have the funnel thing and GS911. It take a couple of hours as the tank has to come off.

Ty

 

[Gabby]

Always do my own and have never plugged it in !!!!!!

Got 63,000 miles on the clock and BMW have not seen it since 12,000 miles

 

[james0133]

Always do my own and have never plugged it in !!!!!!

Got 63,000 miles on the clock and BMW have not seen it since 12,000 miles

That is what I like to hear!! Keep up the good work, my friend

 

[pistonbrokescooby]

service

hi
oil change and filter in less than 10 mins ,can't be easier than that .other things take a little longer and if you get stuck ,plenty of info on the net ,
dealer for electrical bits .
done mine for the last 8 years .
still going .

 

[RickG]

Any advice, I need to do mine this week.

Key thing is to not let the reserviors run empty. The ABS pump does all the work for you so the fluid gets forced through the pipes quite fast. If you ain't careful with the topping up, the pump will draw air in, which just means you'll need to be even more careful you get it all out!

A very nice guide on how to do it is over on the advider site. It's for 1150's but the process is the same for 1200's. Read it through a couple of times before you try it for real.

http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/service_abs3.pdf

I made the filler they describe as it goes a long way to prevent air getting in but others just rely on good aim to pour fluid into the reserviors. Didn't bother with the wooden blocks between the pads either. There is an argument that unless the brake servos are operated (by telling the computer that's what you want to do) you leave some old fluid in the system. Can't see the volumes are significant.

Sounds like EasySushi has it covered for you though.

 

[Pukmeister]

Thanks guys.

I made a balls up a few years back bleeding a mates 1150GSA with ABS through a total ignorance of how the system works. We accidentally popped a brake piston whilst cleaning his front calipers, so I refitted it and naively tried bleeding in the conventional way. When the ABS pump started squealing we knew something was very wrong so we gave up and then got recovered to SPC for a fluid change. Ironic as I have a lot of experience with hydraulic systems being a marine engineer by profession.

Ty, I would very much appreciate the use of your stuff and a helping hand to prevent drawing air into the ABS pump, I have sent you a PM. Hope to speak later.

Regards

Adam

 

[Pukmeister]

A big thanks to Ty (Easysushi) for the replacement of brake fluid and checking of faults with his GS-911. It's a doddle with the correct gear and a little patience.

Bike is now fully serviced, all fluids replaced and clean filters, everything top line. Valves and TB synch were still spot on since the last time (4000 miles ago).

Gotta save up for a GS-911, very impressive little device.

 

[EasySushi]

A big thanks to Ty (Easysushi) for the replacement of brake fluid and checking of faults with his GS-911. It's a doddle with the correct gear and a little patience.

Bike is now fully serviced, all fluids replaced and clean filters, everything top line. Valves and TB synch were still spot on since the last time (4000 miles ago).

Gotta save up for a GS-911, very impressive little device.

Your welcome


Ty

 

[spagforth]

GS ownership and maintainance

First bit of advice is to avoid this part of the web site like the plague otherwise you will end up depressed and paranoid as to what can go wrong. I am on my 4th GS now, big mileages, all weathers all terrains. Stick to service intervals fill it with petrol keep a check on the oil and just ride it. The only time I have been let down in over 25 years of BMW ownership is the latest 08 GS anntenae ring ignition but these have all been sorted now. Ride and enjoy, end of.

All the best Spagforth

 

[Pukmeister]

I disagree Spagforth, I enjoy the satisfaction of doing the servicing myself as a skilled technician, and also enjoy the money I save. I can also afford to service more regularly to keep her running sweetly eg valves and throttle synch, oil changes. Labour costs are the lions share of the servicing bill, plus dealers don't exactly invoice the consumables as cheap either.

If I weren't an engineer by trade it still wouldn't put me off doing my own servicing, the bikes are so basic.

My major service just cost me £71 inc Vat, including the re-useable SAF-XO for the FD and the re-useable K&N cleaning/oiling kit. All fluids changed and a new oil / cleaned K&N air filter fitted. With the money I save over the next few services, I can buy myself a GS-911. I'm not worried about lower resale value as the bike will fetch less used, but cost me a lot less to maintain and run. The money I saved this time paid for my replacement rear brake disc & pads.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1726226#post1726226

I rest my case.