Newbie

[edlees73]

Hi All,
New to this malarkey only ever had off road bikes, so picking up a 2nd hand 2008 1200GS today. Is there anything I should know / adjustments I should make in the early days? And anything I should look out for?
Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[yamasaki]

Hi edlees, welcome!

just got one myself and only been out twice, so somebody with more exp will be along soon with more info. But from a relative newcomer to R1200 just ride it and if you do any adjustments ( screen, seat, footpegs, suspension... ) do them in small amounts and singley so you know whats better and whats not.

cheers
Yamasaki

 

[Hexme]

Welcome Edlees, plenty of info in this section, love mine. Just ride it and enjoy!

 

[NZRalphy]

Seat is adjustable.
Springs are a bit soft if you ride two up.
Bar clamps can be rotated 180 to move bars for taller shorter folk.
Tall folk need a small screen extension to get a quiet air bubble

Get the riders manual and READ it, there are soooooooo many knob question that would have been answered it the manual was looked at.

Service it yourself .... it isn't difficult, see under 'youtube', keep records, honestly it won't hurt resale, and you'll know it has been done properly.
Get a 20-100nm torque wrench.
The bike has a dry clutch so car oil is ok for the engine. Change it at 10000km. Pay the extra and use synthetic if you'll have the bike for MEGA mileage
Rear hub and gearbox oil at 20000km read the manual for spec of oil. 180ml in rear hub.
Change the air filter so you know it is good, the std paper elements flow way more air than your engine needs and filter mega fine dust.
Spark plugs will go a fair distance, Iridium plugs seem to keep their edge a LOT longer - but cost more.
Get the bike warm and check the throttle body balance at 3500-4000rpm......get 4m of tube, cable tie to 2m plank so you end up with a 2m u-bend, half fill with some oil (doesn't matter what), plug in the two loose ends into the side of your throttle bodies, should be even oil levels in the tube.
ABS pumps can fail and normally it is a sticking 12v motor brush on the abs module, there are threads on the web how to fix em.
There is a ECU interface tool that lets you read error codes and reset service reminders and and change instruments and things - GS911 - it'll pay for itself if you don't go to a BMW shop!

Do not, Do not, Do not !!!!!......ever idle the bike to 'warm it up' - first the engine does not need it, second many people have melted(fucked) their bike!

Set the front and rear preload with even sag roughly 30% when sat on the bike.

Stuff will wear out or break, don't panic and start moaning. Please.

Tyres - there is no 'right' tyre, buy some and if they are wrong.... wear'em out and buy different next time. Read the manual for size and pressures.

Read the riders manual.

 

[Bungy]

I'm guessing you'll find the GS heavy but comfortable. Do you intend riding off road?

 

[edlees73]

Thanks NZRalphy - great insight & information!

 

[oldnfat]

Welcome, you got the right year....quite a few upgrades over the 2007 model. You don't say how many miles the bike has done or service history or whether it has ESA.

General points.

If you park the bike on the side stand on anything approaching an slope with the bike facing down hill, make sure you leave it in gear. Many have rolled off.

Weak points....not many.

- fuel gauge - the fuel strips go giving whacky fuel readings. Don't bother getting it fixed by BMW...it will probably go again. Most just use the trip. I joined the BMW owners club so that I could use their GS911 (look it up) to re set it. Also has many other uses as well especially at servicing time. There is also a work around to reflash with out the GS911 posted on this site.

- headlight is crap - many upgrade the dipped beam with a HID conversion although some are experimenting with LED.

- rear shock - these do go....BMW will want a ridiculous amount of money for a new one telling you they can't be rebuilt....they can for about £150 .....plenty of info on this site when needed. General view seems to be they are goosed at about 30k especially if there has been allot of two up touring.

- final drive - some seem to last for ever...some not. When (not if) it goes generally you get load of warning...about £450 to get that sorted better than new.

- front timing cover - road crap being thrown at them means they get pitted and corrode. Many get a crud catcher to fit to the front. On my 48k GS I fitted one and has no problems.

 

[Bounce]

Hi All,
New to this malarkey only ever had off road bikes, so picking up a 2nd hand 2008 1200GS today. Is there anything I should know / adjustments I should make in the early days? And anything I should look out for?
Any help will be greatly appreciated!

You're about an hour away from Melton Mowbray, home to Mikeyboy (his user name on the forum)....he's a 1st class independent m/c engineer that many forum members (myself included) have used for a range of m/c services. BTW - if you want to send him a PM via the forum, you'll need to be a subscriber which'll cost you £12 per annum)

I've no idea of your bikes history, mileage, service record etc.....but you won't go wrong in booking in with him to give your GS a thorough health check to begin with; then when you've got the peace of mind that it's mechanically sound, get some miles under your belt you and see what 'things' you notice (tyre feel, suspension set up, wind buffeting, brake performance, seat height, poor standard lights etc.....the list goes on).

Then, when you have your list of items, undertake the searches on the forum for info, hints, tips, reviews etc.... but be mindful that opinions vary so what is 'right' for one isn't always 'right' for another.

But what this will give you is a solid start point to go shopping....enjoy the journey

Link below will give you some food for thought in the meantime....

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showth...ods-for-a-1200-GS?highlight=top+modifications

 

[Bendy toy]

I have Les Wassal HID on dip and main beam. The extra light solves the weak main beam issue.


Sent via iPhone so expect strange words

 

[NZRalphy]

Oh, and change the brake fluid now. Repeat every 2yrs. Happy brakes.
The clutch uses an oil NOT brake fluid!

 

[tuftywhite]

Have a look in the East Midlands section too.

Come to a breakfast.

 

[Hexme]

The bike has a dry clutch so car oil is ok for the engine.

Is this Okay? Hate to mention oil on here

 

[IrishGaucho]

Lads above have given pretty much all great advise.

As they've mentioned, invest a few quid and do a full service of oils and filters all around just to be sure. Call BMW with your VIN and see if your bike has anything pending for recalls, mine had the rear flange and pump replaced under warranty as an example (she's also 2008).

Give it a good clean and do ACF50 treatment, If you come from the offroad world, I'm sure you're an expert on this already.

Put a shit ton of miles on her, you'll love every second of it.

Cheers,
Rami

 

[Bendy toy]

Give the alternator a really good soaking with ACF-50. The coil core laminations eventually rot and shatter the casing.
ACF offers some hope of staving off the inevitable.


Sent via iPhone so expect strange words

 

[oldnfat]

Give the alternator a really good soaking with ACF-50. The coil core laminations eventually rot and shatter the casing.
ACF offers some hope of staving off the inevitable.


Sent via iPhone so expect strange words

Feck me.....at what mileage does this happen? Never had this problem but max mileage I have ever done n one is 48k.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Feck me.....at what mileage does this happen? Never had this problem but max mileage I have ever done n one is 48k.

Well, at 135,000 miles, mine is an original alternator so I guess rarely if ever

 

[stanley]

Some good advice above.... But....
Please use the proper oil: it has a much tougher life than car oil is designed for,
And letting it warm up for a couple of minutes is a good idea: let the oil circulate and the tolerances move towards their ideal.
These bikes are sold worldwide; sometimes they get stuck in traffic jams; sometimes moving slowly in off-road terrain.... Warming it up for a few minutes will not harm it!



Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

 

[oldnfat]

Well, at 135,000 miles, mine is an original alternator so I guess rarely if ever

It only seems like yesterday you were celebrating the 100k.....they grow up so quickly don't they!

 

[TLSgazza]

Give the alternator a really good soaking with ACF-50. The coil core laminations eventually rot and shatter the casing.
ACF offers some hope of staving off the inevitable.


Sent via iPhone so expect strange words

Feck me.....at what mileage does this happen? Never had this problem but max mileage I have ever done n one is 48k.

Well, at 135,000 miles, mine is an original alternator so I guess rarely if ever

Mine has been fine at 68.000 miles now.
The final drive,shaft drive and fuel strip are a different matter though.

 

[duckspeed]

Keep away from the bike with power washers they push water into places it would not normally get.
They get all giddy with their Aldi cheap washers on a Sunday and then put them away wet.
Ohh the alternator has failed! No shit Sherlock.
Ohh and Welcome by the way