Now what do I do?

[sye]

It's been a very long time since I posted but here goes.

I had a very brief love affair with a then 18 month old 6000 mile 1200gs a couple of years ago and to be honest, we didn't get along too well. I had a few problems with the bike even at that low mileage. I had the fuel tank and left cylinder head replaced under warranty and try as I might, I could not get rid of the buffeting and the servo brakes took a lot of getting used to.

Anyway, two years on and I am looking at retiring from work in August 2009 at 55 and thought I would buy myself a little present. I already have two VFR750's, a 1986 and a 1997 and intend on keeping them.

I will be buying the bike new with a view to keeping it until either I or the bike pops it's clogs. I narrowed my choices down to the 1200 or 800gs a few months ago and returned to lurk here and have a look at what was going on with these bikes.

What horror stories there are to be found! Have BMW lost the plot? It seems as if there are more problems than ever and that BMW customer service has gone down the pan. I confess that now, I don't know what to do?

I do have a couple of other choices knocking around in my head so come on guys, convince me I would not be mad in buying either of the above bikes or I will end up owning three Honda's.

 

[Popeye]

S'probably been said a million times before but if you try and convince yourself a bike is right for you it never will be.

Buy with your heart and not your head - apply too much logic to it and you'll go nuts.

 

[MikeP]

You are right. Don't buy any BMW. If you have the sort of doubts that you express and need reassurance here, it's not the right choice for you.

Cheerio!

 

[ovenpaa]

S'probably been said a million times before but if you try and convince yourself a bike is right for you it never will be.

Buy with your heart and not your head - apply too much logic to it and you'll go nuts.

I agree - we have an expression in my house "On the day" (This is why a HP2 ended up at home instead of a new kitchen, as my wife pointed out, we had a kitchen but we did not have a HP2) Regardless of what the research shows get what you really want

 

[sye]

S'probably been said a million times before but if you try and convince yourself a bike is right for you it never will be.

Buy with your heart and not your head - apply too much logic to it and you'll go nuts.

You are of course right. I have bought every bike I have ever owned with my heart and this should be no different. My heart says 1200gs but it has to last a long time. It may be the last bike I ever buy so my head asks the simple question. Will it?

 

[Popeye]

............. but it has to last a long time. It may be the last bike I ever buy so my head asks the simple question. Will it?

It might do - but then again it might not. If you really like the bike and it breaks down fix it.

 

[gsbiker]

You are right. Don't buy any BMW. If you have the sort of doubts that you express and need reassurance here, it's not the right choice for you.

Cheerio!

Sye's concerns are normal, I have never owned a BMW but I love the 1200GS but when you read about the horror stories here and other places it does give you doubts - why would it not???

I have done some research on this bike, read alot of negative reviews but still my heart wants one so I am planning on getting one early next year!

 

[MikeP]

Sye's concerns are normal, I have never owned a BMW but I love the 1200GS but when you read about the horror stories here and other places it does give you doubts - why would it not???

Who's suggesting it should not be the cause of some doubt?

What I do question is the point of asking the members of a forum dedicated to the BMW GS (despite the fact that for some reason that escapes me, we have a section for KTM's ) for validation of a choice they have already made?

I have done some research on this bike, read alot of negative reviews but still my heart wants one so I am planning on getting one early next year!

Exactly and if you change your mind in the meantime, that too will be your decision.

 

[Schtum]

You are of course right. I have bought every bike I have ever owned with my heart and this should be no different. My heart says 1200gs but it has to last a long time. It may be the last bike I ever buy so my head asks the simple question. Will it?

Welcome back........



.....and no, you can't have the ZTechnik screen back.....!


We both know that if you get one it's highly unlikely to be the last bike you ever buy. If you want one, get your arse up here and get someone we both know to sort you out a deal.....

 

[sye]

Welcome back........



.....and no, you can't have the ZTechnik screen back.....!


We both know that if you get one it's highly unlikely to be the last bike you ever buy. If you want one, get your arse up here and get someone we both know to sort you out a deal.....

Hi Mike, it may well be the last bike I buy? The garage is nearly full now and surely will be when the next bike joins them.

I will be retiring on my 55th birthday and will be venturing into the land of the self employed. God willing I will earn a living at it but my belt will be tight for a while that's certain.

The reason I asked the question in the first place is that here is where the expertise lies. I didn't bank on a few people thinking I was dissing their P&J as that was never my intention.

I am aware that there have been some changes made to the 2008 1200gs and was hoping that some of the niggles may have been ironed out. No more servo I believe? A redesigned tank and sender assembly so the fuel relay problem should be a thing of the past? The reinforcing bracket is now standard for the wingletts I am told?

I was genuinly looking for some insight into if a fine machine had been made better or not.

Anyway Mike, I may just take you up on that offer next summer. Don't double book the spare room.

 

[Bryn]

I've not had a 1200 (Yet) and love my 1150 GSA... I'll be keeping that for another 3 and a bit years before I too can retire (early )

I'll decide then if the niggles with the 1200 have been put to rest.. or I'll stick with the 1150 for a bit longer

 

[Schtum]

I am aware that there have been some changes made to the 2008 1200gs and was hoping that some of the niggles may have been ironed out. No more servo I believe? A redesigned tank and sender assembly so the fuel relay problem should be a thing of the past? The reinforcing bracket is now standard for the wingletts I am told?

I was genuinly looking for some insight into if a fine machine had been made better or not.

Anyway Mike, I may just take you up on that offer next summer. Don't double book the spare room.

I understand the strategy, Sye. Honestly, I do - after all, I'm the guy who prides himself on just how far ahead he looks both on the road and metaphorically. However you can also have a lot of fun on the way before you get to the point of a hazard at which you need to take appropriate avoiding action.

You're right, there are no longer servos on the brakes; even my '07 bike doesn't have them. The downside for me is that the brakes no longer have quite that two-finger brick wall effect. It's probably too early to make predictions about DM pump controller failures on the '08 bikes. The winglet supports have never been an issue for me - my '07 bike has a pair of pre-drilled steel strips from B&Q supporting my winglets where the '04 bike only had washers.

However, I suspect that there will always be issues with some bikes. BMW don't have Honda levels of build quality and I can't see them achieving them before you retire.

On the even more positive side, the gearbox on the '08 bike is improved and is almost Japanese slick. Also, the wheelbase is slightly shorter, making the bike slightly quicker turning - particularly important if you get a bike with ESA where you can't alter the front and rear preload, independently of each other. It has to be said that, besotted as I am with my '07 bike, the '08 model does ride very well.

Sir is, of course, always welcome to rest his head in our humble abode. There's even another larger spare room, these days.....

 

[Garryc]

...BMW quality is myth.

..The aftersales is hit n miss - We dont make bikes Sir "We Just Sell Them"!!!

...BMW Customer Service - We dont sell bikes Sir We just make Them
and your bike is failling to bits, cause you didnt wash it every time you rode it. Didnt you read the hand book sir - so you've invalidated your warranty!!!

..BMW have ditched quality for innovation and that bubble has burst and only when folks stop buying bikes, will BMW start addressing the qualitity issues.

...In the current climate that might be sooner, rather than later.

...Find a good dealer that you can trust, regardless of the brand.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

...BMW quality is myth.

..The aftersales is hit n miss - We dont make bikes Sir "We Just Sell Them"!!!

...BMW Customer Service - We dont sell bikes Sir We just make Them
and your bike is failling to bits, cause you didnt wash it every time you rode it. Didnt you read the hand book sir - so you've invalidated your warranty!!!

..BMW have ditched quality for innovation and that bubble has burst and only when folks stop buying bikes, will BMW start addressing the qualitity issues.

...In the current climate that might be sooner, rather than later.

...Find a good dealer that you can trust, regardless of the brand.

Garry, may I suggest you buy a Honda or something you prefer?

 

[brassmonkey001]

This is why a HP2 ended up at home instead of a new kitchen, as my wife pointed out, we had a kitchen but we did not have a HP2

I think I might be in love with your wife!

 

[Garryc]

Bilco,

After 5yrs, 3 bikes 140K miles(full dealer service) it looks like I might just be heading that way...

I spent plenty of cash and time with BMW, so well within my rights to air my views.

If you've got a probelms with the facts, TOUGH - you guys need to stop being so "sensitive" to criticism on the forum....

...The forum, should be used to drive customer service up not down....

If you search my threads, you wont find too many issues or me bleating everytime something, fell off, broke, rusted, went on fire, warpped...

I havent totally given up, but BMW are making it very hard....

 

[ExploringRTW]

I'm in agreement with BarryC.

I Love GS's, having had an 1100 GS, an F650 Dakar and an 1150GSA.

Ironically, the 1100 was the most unreliable with the cylinder head gasket being replaced 3 times, the head then being skimmed & then finally replaced. The differential was also replaced, an fork oil seal went, a wire snapped near the steering yoke (which cut the engine out when turning right !! : ) and the ABS unit packed up, all before 19,000 miles. When I was in Cape Town talking to one of the BMW dealers there I saw a failry new 1200 GS spilt in two for a clutch/transmission related problem. This is nonsense.

BMW have been making these style of engines and transmissions for a long time now and we should expect newer models to be more reliale, not less. I really hope, and I mean this, that those guys who've gone for a fully loaded 08 1200GSA and intend a seriously long trip, get what they have paid for. A reliable, fully functioning RTW'er.

I will add however that the Dakar has now done just short of 60,000 miles (with only 2 minor faults) on an RTW and the 1150GSA did about 25,000 miles fully loaded-two up on all sorts of terrain in Australia and New Zealand with only a rear light bulb needing replacement.

Incidentially, when riding across South America with 3 other BMW's & an old Kawasaki KLR 650, guess which was the only bike to start without the aid of a cooker underneath the engine on freezing cold mornings ? Yes, the KLR !! and that was a repeated experience for about 10 mornings.

In short, BMW do need to get back to making a consistently reliable product that deserves their 'old' reputation.